Youth Playing Major Role as First-Place Soccer Hits Road

Thursday, October 20

Athens, Ohio

3:00 PM

Ball State University

Ohio

Photo by: Scott McNitt

Youth Playing Major Role as First-Place Soccer Hits Road

October 19, 2016 | Soccer

Weekly Notes

Cardinals visit Ohio Thursday, Kent State Sunday in final league road trip

Game 17
Ball State at Ohio
Thursday, Oct. 20 (3 p.m.)
Athens, Ohio (Chessa Field)
Live Stats

Game 18
Ball State at Kent State
Sunday, Oct. 23 (1 p.m.)
Kent, Ohio (Dix Stadium)
Live Video | Live Stats

When sophomores Emily Scott and Lauren Roll scored in the season opener, it was a sign of the firepower the underclassmen on this year's Ball State soccer team might be able to provide.

When freshmen Mónica Padilla, Sam Kambol and Julia Elvbo accounted for every goal in the second game of the year, it was confirmation.

It's no secret Ball State relies heavily on the experience provided by its seniors, who are now three wins shy of the program record for most victories by a class (51). But make no mistake, the Cardinals would not be where they are without the vast contributions from their youth.

Where they are is 40th in the NCAA RPI, unbeaten in their last 10 games, and at the top of the Mid-American Conference standings once again. They hit the road this week for the final time in the regular season for games at Ohio and Kent State, the latter of which could have major championship ramifications.

Ball State (12-2-2, 7-0-1 MAC) enters the week two points clear of Kent State in the league standings with three games to play as it seeks a second straight regular season title. The Golden Flashes will host third-place Miami on Thursday before the Cardinals come to town.

But back to those underclassmen. Freshmen and sophomores have accounted for nearly 65 percent of Ball State's goals this season (18 of 28). The team's top three scorers -- Scott (5 goals), Roll (4) and Kambol (4) all belong to that group.

And it's not just in the attacking third where Ball State's youth is making a difference.

Freshman Yela Ziswiler and sophomore Taylor Pooley have played every meaningful minute on the back line for a Cardinals team that ranks 19th nationally in goals against average (0.60). First-year players like Elvbo, Padilla, Peighton Cook and Paula Guerrero have helped Ball State control games from the midfield all year long.

The bottom line? This is a Ball State soccer program that is built just as well for the future as it is for the present.

But at hand right now is a key road trip. Ohio comes into Thursday's matchup with a record of 3-11-1 (1-7-0 MAC), but the Bobcats are coming off a solid performance against a strong Central Michigan team. The Chippewas pulled out a 2-1 overtime victory on their home field in that contest.

Kent State (10-1-2, 6-0-2 MAC) is coming off a pair of draws on the road last weekend at Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. The Golden Flashes enter the week on a 12-game unbeaten streak of their own and are 58th in the RPI.

Kent State leads the league in scoring during conference play with 16 goals and features the league's second-leading scorer for the season in Jenna Hellstrom with 10 goals and eight assists.

Following this week's action, Ball State will return to Muncie to close the regular season Oct. 27 against Miami. The Cardinals are also guaranteed to host an opening-round game in the conference tournament Oct. 30.