Soccer Hosts EMU, CMU for Final Regular Season Home Games

Game 15
Ball State vs. Eastern Michigan
Friday, Oct. 13 (4 p.m.)
Muncie, Ind. (Briner Sports Complex)
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Game 16
Ball State vs. Central Michigan
Sunday, Oct. 15 (2 p.m.)
Muncie, Ind. (Briner Sports Complex)
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Ball State is in an unusual position this weekend with its final home soccer games of the regular season. The team is looking to bounce back from a rare home loss.

The Cardinals had a 25-game home unbeaten streak snapped with Sunday's overtime defeat against Northern Illinois. It was the longest active streak in the country, dating all the way back to the final regular season game of 2014.

But even the nation's longest streaks an end at some point, and one loss is just that. It's not something the Cardinals have seen much of at home or in conference play over the past three years.

Going back to 2015 -- the first of back-to-back championship seasons -- Ball State is 20-1-4 at home. Almost as impressively, the Cardinals are 23-3-2 in conference games during that stretch.

The team will look to add to both of those marks this weekend, playing host to MAC West Division opponents Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan.

Despite Sunday's loss, last week was not a demoralizing one for Ball State (6-6-2, 4-1-1 MAC). The Cardinals remained atop the division standings and also posted an impressive 1-0 win at Western Michigan.

Senior Allison Abbe turned in two more good performances, assisting on Sam Kambol's game-winner against the Broncos and scoring a goal against NIU, while Lauren Roll added her third goal in MAC play. Abbe is tied for the league lead with three assists in conference action.

Eastern Michigan is 5-9-1 (2-4-0 MAC) on the year. The Eagles split two games last week, defeating Bowling Green 2-1 at home and falling 4-1 at Toledo. EMU's 14 goals this season have come from 11 different players, led by a trio with two each.

Central Michigan begins the weekend with a record of 6-5-3 (1-3-2 MAC) and will visit Miami on Friday before heading to Muncie. The Chippewas also split two games last week, exploding for five goals in a shutout victory over Toledo at home and falling 3-1 to Bowling Green on the road. CMU features the league's top scorer in Lexi Pelafas with 12 goals.

Ball State played both of this weekend's opponents on the road last season. The Cardinals defeated EMU 3-1 behind goals from Julia Elvbo, Lauren Roll and Leah Mattingly. They played Central Michigan to a scoreless draw, with Alyssa Heintschel posting a shutout.

Soccer Hosts EMU, CMU for Final Regular Season Home Games

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Players Mentioned

Allison Abbe

Julia Elvbo

Alyssa Heintschel

Sam Kambol

Leah Mattingly

Lauren Roll