Ball State University
University of Michigan
FH Battles No. 1 Michigan Friday; Faces Michigan State Sunday
September 09, 2021 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State field hockey team has another busy weekend on the docket with a pair of road games against Big Ten foes, starting Friday against the nation's top team; No. 1 Michigan.
The Cardinals will face the Wolverines under the lights at 7 p.m. ET at Phyllis Ocker Field. BSU closes the weekend Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest at Michigan State.
Friday's match-up against the Maize & Blue will mark the second time under fourth-year head coach Stephanie Bernthal the Cardinals will have faced the No. 1 team in the country. The first was a Sept. 30, 2018 showdown at North Carolina. Â
After back-to-back victories, Bernthal and the Cardinals are ready to take on the Wolverines for the first time since the 2019 season. Michigan will be the second nationally ranked opponent the Cardinals have faced this season, with the first being No. 22 Ohio State in the season opener at the Briner Sports Complex. Ball State turned in a solid all-around performance against the Buckeyes, but fell 1-0 on a 34th-minute goal from OSU.
Michigan enters Friday's contest with a 3-0 overall record, most recently toping fellow Mid-American Conference member Central Michigan by a score of 8-0 on Sept. 5. The Wolverines lead the all-time series against the Cardinals, 18-5. The Wolverines earned a 6-0 shutout in Columbus, Ohio, the last time both schools met on Oct. 13, 2019. Ball State's last victory in the series, a 4-0 win at home on Sept. 17, 1997.
Ball State will face its third Big Ten opponent of the regular season Sunday, Sept. 12, Â when it takes on Michigan State at Ralph Young Field. The Cardinals have won two of their last three meetings against the Spartans, defeating MSU in 2016 by score of 3-2 and in 2014 by a score of 2-1. The last time these two teams met was on Sept. 22, 2019, resulting in a 3-1 loss for BSU in East Lansing, Mich.Â
Both games this weekend will be available online for viewing on the Big Ten network.Â
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