Ball State University Athletics
Experienced Cardinals Primed for MAC Soccer Tourney
October 31, 2015 | Soccer
MAC Tournament Quarterfinal
(1) Ball State vs. (8) Akron
Sunday, Nov. 1 (1 p.m.)
Muncie, Ind. (Briner Sports Complex)
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MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State soccer team begins its quest for a Mid-American Conference Tournament championship Sunday at the Briner Sports Complex.
The Cardinals (14-3-2, 10-1 MAC) already have a regular season title under their belt, and they enter the league tournament as the No. 1 seed. A win Sunday over Akron would mean the semifinals and finals would also be played in Muncie next weekend.
Ball State will be hosting No. 8 seed Akron (6-12-1, 3-8 MAC) for the second time in 10 days. The Cardinals topped the Zips by a 1-0 score Nov. 23. They registered 22 shots that day, including 11 on goal, and held Akron without a shot for the entire 90 minutes.
That was Ball State's first game after its only loss of the conference season. Following an Oct. 18 overtime defeat at Western Michigan, the Cardinals were locked in on their championship run. They did not allow a single goal over their final three games.
Ball State is the No. 1 seed for the third time in its history, but the Cardinals are looking to win the championship and earn the league's automatic NCAA tournament bid for the first time.
The program has certainly paid its dues with deep runs in recent seasons and is seeking to cash in on those experiences. Ball State lost in the championship match to Western Michigan in 2013 and fell to eventual champion Buffalo in overtime of the semifinals last season.
Eight players who saw action in that 2013 title game are still playing key roles for the Cardinals, and they are eager for another shot to win the tournament.
Ball State enters tourney play looking to continue its assault on the school's record book. The team's 10 conference wins were the most in program history, and the Cardinals are now just one shy of the school record for total victories in a season (15 in 2005).
Ball State's regular season championship -- its first since 2007 -- gave the program the opportunity to play its tournament games at home. The Cardinals had only six home games this season but won them all for their best home record ever.
For a complete preview of Sunday's quarterfinal game, check out This Week in Ball State Soccer.
