Sunday, November 6
Buffalo, NY
1 p.m.
Ball State University
at
Buffalo
Photo by: Joe Gilbert
Ball State Battles Buffalo for the MAC Championship
November 05, 2022 | Soccer
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Ball State soccer team returns to UB Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 6, for the Mid-American Conference Championship match against host Buffalo at 1 p.m. ET. The Cardinals are competing for their first MAC Tournament title and first NCAA Tournament berth.
Earlier this week, Delaney Caldwell was named the MAC Freshman of the Year as well as being named to the All-MAC Second Team and the MAC All-Freshman Team. Avery Fenchel and Lexi Fraley were rewarded with All-MAC First Team honors, while Caldwell was joined by Abby Elgert and Lexy Smith on the All-MAC Second Team.
All-MAC Selections
Caldwell is tied for 10th all-time in BSU history with seven goals in a single season and is tied for 16th in program history with 15 points. She leads the Cardinals with three match-winning goals. She has appeared in 19 matches, including 14 starts.
Fenchel leads the team with 11 goals and is currently tied for second in the MAC and 27th in the NCAA. Her 11 goals are the second most in program history in a single season and are two away from the program record. Her 22 points have her tied for fourth for points in a single season.
Fraley has played a vital role in the Cardinal attack and is third on the team with five goals to go along with her two assists. Two of her goals ended up being match winners, which is second on the team.
Elgert is tied for a program record for single season assists with seven, which is tied for fourth in the MAC and tied for 47th in the nation. She leads the team in assists and looks to add to her total during the Cardinals' postseason play.
Smith is second on the team with five assists. She has recorded a career high in points with seven, assists, and goals with one. She has started all 19 matches as a defender. She has blocked countless shots and has helped the Cardinals secure six shutouts.
Last Time Out
Ball State battled Bowling Green to a draw in the MAC Semifinal and advanced to the MAC Championship on penalty kicks, 4-2. Sammi Corcoran put the Cardinals on the scoreboard first with an absolute missile from about 34 yards out that was buried into the top, right corner of the net. The Falcons tied the game in the 56th minute. The match remained tied after regulation and after two periods of overtime to force penalty kicks. BSU went 4-for-4 on PK's while BGSU converted on two chances. Corcoran, Fenchel, Tiffani Torres, and Jenna Dombrowski all found the back of the net. Bethany Moser made an outstanding save on BGSU's Maya Dean PK to give Dombrowski the chance to clinch the PK's. Dombrowski's made PK sent Ball State into the MAC Championship match. Moser made eight saves to move her season total to 78.
Rest of the Flock
Emily Roper is fourth on the team with three goals and one assist. Corcoran is fifth on the team with two goals. Dombrowski, Grace Alsop, Maria Broering, Tori Monaco, and Tiffani Torres have each added one goal on the season. Alex McPhee and Maya Millis are tied for third on the team with two assists. Six other Cardinals have notched one assist.
Series Outlook with Buffalo
Ball State is 1-1-1 against Buffalo under the direction of Head Coach Josh Rife. The Cardinals have won six of the last eight meetings. Earlier this season, BSU and UB fought to a 2-2 draw. The teams are tied 1-1-0 in MAC Tournament games. Buffalo won the MAC Tournament meeting in Buffalo in 2014, while Ball State won the meeting in the 2018 tournament in Muncie.
Scouting the Bulls
Buffalo is led by the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Ellie Simmons, and MAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Emily Kelly. Shawn Burke was named MAC Coach of the Year. Simmons and Kelly were All-MAC First Team selections, while Payton Robertson, Leah Wengender, and Hannah Callaghan earned spots on the second team. Simmons and Katie Krohn found themselves on the MAC All-Freshman Team. Jasmine Guerber leads the Bulls with eight goals and has added four assists. Arianna Zumpano is second on the squad with seven goals. Robertson leads UB with eight assists, while Simmons is second with seven assists. Kelly has started all 19 matches in goal and has made 58 saves on the season. Kelly has produced 12 shutouts on the season.
How to Follow
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: ubbulls.com
MAC Final Standings
Team – Overall; Conference Record
1. Buffalo – 13-1-4; 7-0-4
2. Ball State – 7-4-7; 6-1-4
3. Bowling Green – 9-5-4, 6-2-3
4. Ohio – 10-7-2; 6-4-1
5. Miami – 10-4-6; 4-2-5
6. Western Michigan – 5-9-5; 5-4-2
7. Kent State – 4-7-7; 4-2-5
8. Northern Illinois – 6-7-4; 3-6-2
9. Akron – 3-9-4; 2-7-2
10. Eastern Michigan – 3-11-4; 2-7-2
11. Toledo – 2-10-6; 1-6-4
12. Central Michigan – 2-11-4; 1-6-4
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Earlier this week, Delaney Caldwell was named the MAC Freshman of the Year as well as being named to the All-MAC Second Team and the MAC All-Freshman Team. Avery Fenchel and Lexi Fraley were rewarded with All-MAC First Team honors, while Caldwell was joined by Abby Elgert and Lexy Smith on the All-MAC Second Team.
All-MAC Selections
Caldwell is tied for 10th all-time in BSU history with seven goals in a single season and is tied for 16th in program history with 15 points. She leads the Cardinals with three match-winning goals. She has appeared in 19 matches, including 14 starts.
Fenchel leads the team with 11 goals and is currently tied for second in the MAC and 27th in the NCAA. Her 11 goals are the second most in program history in a single season and are two away from the program record. Her 22 points have her tied for fourth for points in a single season.
Fraley has played a vital role in the Cardinal attack and is third on the team with five goals to go along with her two assists. Two of her goals ended up being match winners, which is second on the team.
Elgert is tied for a program record for single season assists with seven, which is tied for fourth in the MAC and tied for 47th in the nation. She leads the team in assists and looks to add to her total during the Cardinals' postseason play.
Smith is second on the team with five assists. She has recorded a career high in points with seven, assists, and goals with one. She has started all 19 matches as a defender. She has blocked countless shots and has helped the Cardinals secure six shutouts.
Last Time Out
Ball State battled Bowling Green to a draw in the MAC Semifinal and advanced to the MAC Championship on penalty kicks, 4-2. Sammi Corcoran put the Cardinals on the scoreboard first with an absolute missile from about 34 yards out that was buried into the top, right corner of the net. The Falcons tied the game in the 56th minute. The match remained tied after regulation and after two periods of overtime to force penalty kicks. BSU went 4-for-4 on PK's while BGSU converted on two chances. Corcoran, Fenchel, Tiffani Torres, and Jenna Dombrowski all found the back of the net. Bethany Moser made an outstanding save on BGSU's Maya Dean PK to give Dombrowski the chance to clinch the PK's. Dombrowski's made PK sent Ball State into the MAC Championship match. Moser made eight saves to move her season total to 78.
Rest of the Flock
Emily Roper is fourth on the team with three goals and one assist. Corcoran is fifth on the team with two goals. Dombrowski, Grace Alsop, Maria Broering, Tori Monaco, and Tiffani Torres have each added one goal on the season. Alex McPhee and Maya Millis are tied for third on the team with two assists. Six other Cardinals have notched one assist.
Series Outlook with Buffalo
Ball State is 1-1-1 against Buffalo under the direction of Head Coach Josh Rife. The Cardinals have won six of the last eight meetings. Earlier this season, BSU and UB fought to a 2-2 draw. The teams are tied 1-1-0 in MAC Tournament games. Buffalo won the MAC Tournament meeting in Buffalo in 2014, while Ball State won the meeting in the 2018 tournament in Muncie.
Scouting the Bulls
Buffalo is led by the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Ellie Simmons, and MAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Emily Kelly. Shawn Burke was named MAC Coach of the Year. Simmons and Kelly were All-MAC First Team selections, while Payton Robertson, Leah Wengender, and Hannah Callaghan earned spots on the second team. Simmons and Katie Krohn found themselves on the MAC All-Freshman Team. Jasmine Guerber leads the Bulls with eight goals and has added four assists. Arianna Zumpano is second on the squad with seven goals. Robertson leads UB with eight assists, while Simmons is second with seven assists. Kelly has started all 19 matches in goal and has made 58 saves on the season. Kelly has produced 12 shutouts on the season.
How to Follow
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: ubbulls.com
MAC Final Standings
Team – Overall; Conference Record
1. Buffalo – 13-1-4; 7-0-4
2. Ball State – 7-4-7; 6-1-4
3. Bowling Green – 9-5-4, 6-2-3
4. Ohio – 10-7-2; 6-4-1
5. Miami – 10-4-6; 4-2-5
6. Western Michigan – 5-9-5; 5-4-2
7. Kent State – 4-7-7; 4-2-5
8. Northern Illinois – 6-7-4; 3-6-2
9. Akron – 3-9-4; 2-7-2
10. Eastern Michigan – 3-11-4; 2-7-2
11. Toledo – 2-10-6; 1-6-4
12. Central Michigan – 2-11-4; 1-6-4
Follow the Cardinals
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