Ball State University
(0-1)
Saint Francis University
(1-0)
Field Hockey Drops Season Opener To Saint Francis, 4-0
August 24, 2018 | Field Hockey
OXFORD, Ohio - The Ball State field hockey team suffered a 4-0 loss to Saint Francis (Pa.) in its season opener Friday afternoon on neutral turf at the campus of Miami University.
"Obviously not the result we had hoped for today," Ball State field hockey head coach Stephanie Bernthal said. "Saint Francis was prepared out of the gates and really capitalized on some first game nerves. There's no time in field hockey to get acclimated, and we learned that lesson today. We look forward to addressing some simple things that broke down in this game and getting after it against IU on Sunday."
With just 13:38 shaved off the game clock, Atina Pagani put the Red Flash on the board after a shot from the middle of the circle. The Cardinals managed five saves in the first period but it wasn't enough, as Taylor Nesmith and Livvy Webb would each add goals for Saint Francis prior to intermission to give the Red Flash a 3-0 lead.
Ball State turned up its defense in the second stanza, allowing Saint Francis to score just one goal in the remaining 35 minutes of play. Sophomore goalkeeper Grace Chavez competed the entire 70 minutes, registering six saves.
For the game, redshirt sophomore Rachel Pereira, sophomore Abby Ferenczy, junior Arantxa Rosainz Caloca and sophomore Audrey Tabor each had a shot attempt but couldn't connect for a goal.
The Ball State field hockey team returns to action Sunday when it hosts Big Ten foe Indiana for its home opener at 2 p.m. at the Briner Sports Complex. The last time the Cardinals defeated Indiana was in 2012 when the Hoosiers played in Muncie. Ball State won that contest by a score of 3-2. The Hoosiers have won the last two contests over Ball State.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State field hockey team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateFH.
Team Stats
PAGANI, Atina (1)
shot from the middle of the circle, back
13:38
NESMITH, Taylor
GOAL by SFUFH NESMITH, Taylor.
14:31
WEBB, Livvy (1)
GOAL by SFUFH WEBB, Livvy, goal number 1 for season.
15:28
SEABROOK, Brea (2)
Assisted By: GOVIA, Brianna
give and go on a corner
61:32
