Ball State University Athletics
Soccer Visits Toledo, Central Michigan This Weekend
September 30, 2015 | Soccer
Game 11
Ball State at Toledo
Friday, Oct. 2 (4 p.m.)
Toledo, Ohio (Scott Park)
Live Stats
Game 12
Ball State at Central Michigan
Sunday, Oct. 4 (1 p.m.)
Mount Pleasant, Mich. (CMU Soccer Stadium)
Live Stats
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Just two games into the Mid-American Conference schedule, the Ball State soccer team is one of only three teams without a mark in the loss column.
The Cardinals (6-2-2 overall) managed to grind out a pair of one-goal victories last weekend to join Miami and Western Michigan in starting the MAC season 2-0.
The league slate continues this weekend as Ball State heads back on the road yet again for visits to West Division foes Toledo and Central Michigan.
Ball State owns the top overall record in the MAC largely because of its effectiveness across the entire field. The Cardinals have scored the third-most goals in the league (1.7 per game) and have allowed the third-fewest (0.8).
What makes them difficult for teams to defend is the fact that goals can come from all over the place. When Leah Mattingly scored the game-winner last Friday against Eastern Michigan, she became the 10th Ball State player with a goal this season. That's the most of any team in the MAC.
This depth and balance of goal scorers is nothing new. The Cardinals had 14 different players score a year ago, so it is becoming something of a hallmark.
They'll need those scorers to enact a measure of revenge Friday against a Toledo squad that was one of only two league teams to shut Ball State out a year ago.
Against Central Michigan, on the other hand, the Cardinals will look to continue a recent trend of success. Ball State has won two straight over the Chippewas, including a 2013 MAC Tournament quarterfinal victory on a late game-winner from Gabby Veldman in their most recent trip to Mount Pleasant.
Toledo is 4-7 (0-2 MAC) after opening conference play last weekend with a pair of road losses -- 2-0 at Northern Illinois and 1-0 at Western Michigan.
Central Michigan is 2-6-1 (1-1 MAC) after splitting its first two league games with a 1-0 loss at Western Michigan and a 2-0 win at Northern Illinois. The Chippewas will host Miami on Friday before Ball State visits.
For a complete preview of this weekend's games, check out This Week in Ball State Soccer.
