Ball State University Athletics
Field Hockey To Host Indiana In Home Opener
September 16, 2014 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State field hockey team (3-2) will host in-state rival Indiana (5-0) Wednesday afternoon on the Ball State Turf Field at the Briner Sports Complex at 4 p.m. The Cardinals are ranked number one in the Mid-American Conference this season going into their home opener.
Ball State is coming off of a road loss at Ohio State after falling 3-2 in overtime. Junior Bethany Han (Lititz, Pa/Warwick) opened the Ball State scoring while sophomore Merinda Morley (University City, Mo./University City) tied the game at two with 11 minutes remaining to bring the game to overtime. Junior Shelby Henley (Novi, Mich./Novi) tallied 5 saves for a 0.625 save percentage, but Ohio State's Peanut Johnson snuck in a shot off of a turnover to get past Henley 3:31 into the overtime.
The Cardinals lead the MAC in scoring margin (0.20) and goals allowed (11). Ball State is also ranked second for scoring average (2.38), goals against average (2.18), goals scored (12), goals scored per game (2.40), goals allowed per game (2.20), assists (12), assists per game (2.40) and saves per game (7.60).
Han is ranked fourth in the MAC in goals (3) and goals per game (0.60) and ranked fifth in points (7) and points per game (1.40). Other Cardinals making an appearance in the rankings are seniors Bianca Velez (Virginia Beach, Va./Floyd E. Kellam/Beach Premier) and Tori Widrick (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia/BC Cyclones) who are tied with each other for second in assists (3) and assists per game (0.60) while Henley is first with a 0.771 save percentage and second in saves per game (7.40) and goal against average (2.18).
SCOUTING INDIANA: Indiana currently holds an undefeated 5-0 record in the 2014 season. Senior Audra Heilman has scored eight goals and tallied four assists for Indiana while goalkeeper Maggie Olson has allowed just four goals against with 23 saves in the books for a 0.852 save percentage. The Hoosiers have recorded 76 shots on the season resulting in 19 goals to their opponents four.
SERIES HISTORY: The meeting with the Cardinals will be the Hoosiers third trip to Muncie since 2010 with the last two games resulting in Ball State victories. The Cardinals came out on top with a 3-2 victory in 2012 on the Ball State Turf Field and again back in 2010 in the 2-1 win after Ellen Vonderbrink scored in the second overtime. Sunday's game marks the 23rd meeting between Ball State and Indiana with the 17-5 advantage to the Hoosiers.
Looking ahead, the Ball State field hockey team will be back in action Sunday, Sept. 21 when they travel to Northwestern.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State field hockey, check out BallStateSports.com and follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateFH on Twitter.
- BallStateSports.com -
