Ball State University Athletics
Soccer Takes Part In NAU High Altitude Tournament
September 08, 2011 | Soccer
What's On Tap . . .
For the second time in program history, Ball State travels to Flagstaff, Ariz., to take part in the Hilton Garden Inn High Altitude Tournament on the campus of Northern Arizona ... The Cardinals took part in the NAU Tournament in the 2006 season ... The Cardinals will open the weekend Friday night against the host Lumberjacks at 7 p.m. (PT) before meeting Lamar Sunday morning at 10 a.m. (PT) ... Live stats for both games will be available on www.ballstatesports.com courtesy of Northern Arizona.
Series History . . .
Ball State and Northern Arizona have met once before when the Cardinals took part in the NAU Tournament in 2006 ... The Lumberjacks posted a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals, with all three goals coming in the first half ... Former Cardinal Megan Ridley scored the Ball State goal while Sarah Vallen and Cee Cee Ordorfer scored for Northern Arizona.
Sunday's game will mark the first ever meeting between Ball State and Lamar.
Benyrova Named MAC Defensive Player of the Week . . .
Freshman defender Pavla Benyrova was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Tuesday afternoon ... Benyrova, a member of the Czech Republic National Team, was part of the Cardinals' defense which only allowed two goals against on the weekend and guided Ball State to a come-from-behind victory at Indiana State Friday night ... She scored her first career collegiate goal in dramatic fashion against the Sycamores, posting the game-winning double-overtime goal to lift the Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over ISU.
Benyrova scored on a shot from 40 yards out into the side netting, beating Indiana State goalkeeper Emily Lahay in the 104th minute of action ... The victory improved Ball State to 8-0-0 all-time against its in-state rivals ... She spent the past three seasons as part of the Czech Republic National Team (2009-11) and made seven appearances during the 2009 season in World Cup qualifying.
Last Time Out . . .
Ball State suffered a 1-0 loss at regional rival Xavier last Sunday afternoon, despite out-shooting the Musketeers by a 22-8 margin ... The Cardinals dominated play in the second half, holding a 15-2 edge in second half shots ... Xavier goalkeeper Katie Markesberry posted a season-high 10 saves in the shutout ... The Musketeers scored the game's lone goal in the 24th minute of play as Jessica Brooks beat goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler from eight-yards out.
Scouting The Cardinals . . .
Ball State enters the weekend with a 2-3-0 overall record, including a 2-2-0 mark away from home this season ... The Cardinals have scored six goals in five games, while allowing 10 goals against, five of which came against No. 19 Illinois ... Ball State is out-shooting opponents by a 67-62 margin this season with freshman Becca Sutton leading the way with 10 shots.
Five different Cardinals have scored goals this season with junior midfielder Maggie Brown leading the way with two goals ... Junior defender Amanda Dreyfus has dished out a team-high two assists this season ... In goal, Aubrey Buehler has played 236:37 and owns a 1.90 goals against average ... Sophomore Layne Schramm has played 227:49 and has a 1.98 goals against average.
Scouting The Lumberjacks . . .
Northern Arizona enters the weekend with an 0-6-0 record on the season, including losses at Arizona State, Missouri and Nebraska ... The Lumberjacks have scored five goals in six games while allowing 26 goals against, including eight to the Cornhuskers.
Sam Monahan and Sarah Tarver lead the team with two goals apiece while Katie Tribbey has dished out a team-high two assists ... NAU has used two goalkeepers primarily on the season with Lauren Weaver owning a 3.74 goals against average in 313:14 ... Natasha Slaughter has played 223:36 and has a 4.03 goals against average.
Scouting Lamar . . .
Lamar enters the weekend with a 1-2-0 record, including a 3-0 loss last weekend to Houston Baptist ... The Cardinals have scored seven goals in three games while allowing five goals against ... Lamar will open the weekend against Evansville Friday.
Kristin Bos leads Lamar with six points total as she has scored a tema-high two goals and has handed out two assists ... Five other Cardinals have tallied a goal this season while Grace Bowman is tied for the team-lead with two assists ... Jennifer Gibbs has played all 270 minutes in goal ... Gibbs owns a 1.67 goals against average and owns a shutout against Grambling State when Lamar posted a 7-0 victory.
All-Tournament Honors . . .
Junior defenders Skylar Chew and Brigit Reder along with junior midfielder Maggie Brown earned All-Tournament accolades at the WKU Tournament in the first weekend of the season ... Chew and Reder led the Cardinals to a season-opening shutout while Brown scored two goals in two games to open the season.
Looking Ahead . . .
Ball State returns home for just its second home contest of the season next Friday as the Cardinals host Marshall ... Game time is set for 4 p.m. at the Briner Sports Complex.
