Ball State University
Saint Francis University
Field Hockey Opens Season On The Road Friday; Hosts Indiana Sunday
August 23, 2018 | Field Hockey
Ball State vs. Saint FrancisÂ
Friday, August 24 (11 a.m.)
Oxford, Ohio (Miami University)
Live Stats: Â https://miamiredhawks.com/sidearmstats/fhockey/summary
Ball State vs. Indiana
Sunday, August 26 (2 p.m.)
Muncie, Ind. (Briner Sports Complex)
Live Stats: Â http://www.sidearmstats.com/ballstate/fhockey/
***Concessions will be on site at the Briner Sports Complex for every home field hockey game for your refreshment needs. No outside food or beverage is permitted inside the Briner Sports Complex. As a friendly reminder, pets are also not permitted inside the confines of the Briner Sports Complex.
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State field hockey team will open its season this weekend with two games, including a home contest against Big Ten foe Indiana Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Briner Sports Complex. First, the Cardinals open the campaign Friday at 11 a.m. against Saint Francis (Pa.) in Oxford, Ohio.
"Opening weekend is always full of anticipation,"Â first-year Ball State field hockey coach Stephanie Bernthal said. Â "We want to go out and set the tone for where we are heading this season. We will get the experience of playing on the road and being at home, which will be great for our newcomers. Friday's matchup against Saint Francis will be a very competitive battle. Sunday's home game against IU, our lone in-state rival, will be a great challenge. The team has been preparing and is itching to get back out there"
The Cardinals won their last game against Saint Francis by a score of 2-0 last September in College Station, Pennsylvania. Â Ball State controlled the contest with 12 shots to Saint Francis' eight. Â The Cardinals were also able to rack up nine shots on goal, while the Red Flash tallied only two. Â Darbi Gullett and Hillary Scott scored goals for Ball State, while goalkeeper Grace Chavez recorded a shutout with a pair of saves.
Indiana comes to Ball State for the first time in regular season action since Sept. 17, 2014. Â The last time the Cardinals defeated Indiana was in 2012 when the Hoosiers played in Muncie. Â Ball State won that contest by a score of 3-2. The Hoosiers have won the last two contests over Ball State.
The Cardinals took to the field for the first time under Bernthal with a scrimmage against Indiana in Bloomington last Saturday. Â Both teams put up a good defensive battle throughout the 70 minutes of action. Â Ball State managed to score two goals against the Hoosiers, with redshirt sophomore Rachel Pereira registering the first and junior transfer Arantxa Rosainz Caloca striking right before the end of regulation.
After this weekend, Ball State will travel to Iowa City, Iowa, to play Dartmouth (Sept. 1) and then Big Ten foe Iowa (Sept. 2).
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State field hockey team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateFH.
