Field Hockey Opens MACtion Friday; Hosts Longwood

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State field hockey team returns against Longwood Friday at 1 pm ET at the Briner Sports Complex for their Mid-American Conference opener.

The Cardinals are coming off a 2-1 overtime victory last Sunday on the road against Saint Louis. Ball State was able to take offensive control early on in extra period making it to the scoring circle with only two minutes shaved off the clock. At the 2:11 mark, freshman Fleur Knopert found junior Emma Hilton for the goal that would propel Ball State past the Billikens. Ball State enters Friday's contest with a 3-2 overall record.

Longwood comes to Ball State with a 2-3 ledger after the Lancers have dropped their last three contests. The Longwood Lancers lead the all-time series record over the Cardinals 8-4 with the teams' first meeting being played on Oct. 18, 2009, resulting in a 2-1 victory for Longwood. The Cardinals split the two-game league series in the spring of 2021 over the Lancers at the Briner Sports Complex losing 3-0 on March 26 and then winning 1-0 on March 27. The last time Ball State played at Longwood was on Oct. 22, 2021, when the Cardinals fell to the Lancers, 5-1.

Prior to the game today, the Cardinals will pay tribute to the 1994 Ball State Field Hockey Team which will be inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame later Friday evening. This team made history in 1994 winning the MAC Tournament after registering a perfect 9-0 league ledger. The team also advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season. For its success on the field, Ball State had a top-10 national ranking while ending the season as the No. 7 team in the country.

After this weekend, Ball State will travel to Kent State for a 2 pm ET MAC showdown against the Golden Flashes Friday, Sept. 23. The Cardinals then return home for a matinee against Big Ten foe Iowa Sunday, Sept. 25, beginning at noon.

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Players Mentioned

Emma Hilton

Fleur Knopert