Soccer Heads to Cincinnati for Thursday Showdown Under The Lights

Game 3 |Thursday, Sept. 2 (7 p.m.)
Ball State (1-1-0) at Cincinnati (2-1-1)
Cincinnati, Ohio (Gettler Stadium)
ESPN+ | Live Stats

MUNCIE, Ind. - - After playing its first two matches versus in-state opponents, the Ball State soccer team will venture out of state for the first time this season when it travels to Cincinnati Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest under the lights at Gettler Stadium.

The Cardinals (1-1-0) are looking to rebound from last Sunday's 5-1 setback at Purdue, where they gave the host Boilermakers all they could ask for in the opening half, before surrendering three second-half goals.

Fifth-year senior midfielder/forward Melissa Diceman provided the big play for the Cardinals last weekend, with perhaps the most spectacular goal of her career. In the 25th minute she took a pass from senior midfielder Sammi Corcoran, got a shot off just before being tackled by a defender, and knocked the ball past the diving goalie and off the left post into the net for her fourth career goal.

Diceman is the fourth different Ball State player to score a goal this season, as redshirt senior midfielder Nicky Potts (penalty kick), fifth-year senior defender Emily Simmons (10-yards out) and senior midfielder Chelcy Ralph (penalty kick) all found the back of the net in the season-opening win at Valparaiso (Aug. 22).

Ball State will face a Bearcats team that enters Thursday's match with a 2-1-1 record. UC opened the season with a 2-1 win in the Riverboat Rivalry versus Northern Kentucky (Aug. 19), before playing to a 1-1 draw versus Toledo (Aug. 22). Last week, Cincinnati suffered a 1-0 setback to cross-town rival Xavier (Aug. 26), before rebounding to top Virginia Tech (Aug. 29) by a 2-1 score.

Both Xavier, who the Cardinals will travel to play Sept. 9, and Virginia Tech received votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll prior to facing the Bearcats.

While the teams have battled several times in exhibition, Thursday's contest will mark the first regular season meeting in the all-time series.

Fans unable to head to Cincinnati for the game can watch live on ESPN+ or follow along with live stats.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
1. Thursday's contest at Cincinnati will be just the fifth night match in the Josh Rife (2019-Present) era … The Cardinals only played one night match in the COVID-19 delayed 2020-21 season, falling at Bowling Green by a score of 2-1 in the MAC Championship match (April 17, 2021).
Night Matches Under Rife:
Sept, 13, 2019 at Florida Atlantic - L, 0-1
Oct. 4, 2019 at Akron - W, 1-0
Oct. 18, 2019 at Toledo - L, 0-1
April 17, 2021 at Bowling Green (MAC Championship) - L, 1-2

2. With her 11th career goal in the win at Valparaiso (Aug. 22), fifth-year senior Nicky Potts moved into a tie for 16th in program history with 29 career points … In fact, Potts is one of only 17 players to score at least 11 career goals as a Cardinal, with five of those goals being game-winners … Senior Tatiana Mason leads Ball State's active players with 36 career points (7th all-time) and 12 career goals (T-10th all-time), including seven game-winners.
Ball State's Top Active Goal Scorers:
Tatiana Mason - 12 Goals (7 game-winners)
Nicky Potts - 11 Goals (5 game-winners)
Jenna Dombrowski - 5 Goals (2 game-winners)
BALL STATE CAREER STATS ENTERING CINCINNATI MATCH

3. Ball State's two penalty kick goals at Valparaiso (Aug. 22) are indeed a rare feat … In fact, the Cardinals only had one penalty kick goal in the last two years combined … The last time Ball State was awarded two penalty kicks in a match was Oct. 11, 2015 versus Ohio … Last Sunday's effort is the first time Ball State has scored on two penalty kicks in the same match going as far back as the 2003 season … The program record for penalty kick goals in a season is five by the 2007 squad.

Soccer Heads to Cincinnati for Thursday Showdown Under The Lights

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Players Mentioned

Sammi Corcoran

Melissa Diceman

Jenna Dombrowski

Tatiana Mason

Nicky Potts

Chelcy Ralph

Emily Simmons