Ball State University Athletics
Soccer Heads to L.A. for Season's First Road Trip
September 01, 2016 | Soccer
Game 5
Ball State at Cal State Northridge
Friday, Sept. 2 (7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET)
Northridge, Calif. (Matador Soccer Field)
Game 6
Ball State at Loyola Marymount
Sunday, Sept. 4 (11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles, Calif. (Sullivan Field)
The Ball State soccer team, riding its best start to a season since 2004, will hit the road for the first time this weekend. The Cardinals travel west to take on a pair of first-time opponents.
The Cardinals (3-0-1) are undefeated through four games for only the fourth time in program history, largely because of a total team effort.
It is the depth of this Ball State team that has separated it from its opponents so far. A total of 21 field players have seen action this season, with no visible drop-off at any position. Eleven different players have already recorded at least one goal or one assist, led by Lauren Roll, Emily Scott and Sam Kambol with two goals each.
Head coach Craig Roberts put his team's depth on display last Sunday against Fort Wayne, unveiling a lineup with five new starters in it. That group set the tone for an offensive surge that saw the Cardinals pepper the Fort Wayne defense to the tune of 33 shot attempts.
The goalkeeper position has been no different, as Ball State has shown it has two keepers capable of patrolling the box. All-MAC First Teamer Alyssa Heintschel has played in two games, and Saint Louis transfer Tristin Stuteville has played in two. The pair has combined for a 0.71 goals against average.
After four straight at home to begin the season (five, counting an exhibition game), Ball State will face its first road test Friday at Cal State Northridge.
The Matadors (2-1-1) split two games last weekend with a 1-0 loss to North Dakota State and a 4-0 win over South Dakota. Lindsay Kutscher leads CSUN offensively with a pair of goals, but defense has been the team's real key. The Matadors have allowed just two goals through four games.
Sunday's opponent, Loyola Marymount, reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament last season. The Lions (1-1-1), who will open their weekend Friday at Long Beach State, are riding an 11-game home winning streak. Phoebe Riley leads LMU with two goals this season.
For complete notes on this weekend's games, check out This Week in Ball State Soccer.
