Soccer Heads To Butler For Thursday Night Showdown

MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State soccer finishes non-conference play Thursday, when it travels down I-69 to battle in-state rival Butler for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff. The match will be streamed on FloSports.

This will be the ninth time these two schools will meet for soccer, and the second straight match played on Butler's home pitch. The Cardinals currently trail the Bulldogs 3-5-1 in the all-time series after teams battled to a 2-2 draw at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on Sept. 15, 2022.

Prior to the draw, the Bulldogs had won the previous three meetings. Ball State's last win was a 2-1 victory on Sept. 14, 2006, exactly 17 years to the date of Thursday's showdown.

SEASON TO DATE:
Ball State enters the week with a 2-4-0 record after celebrating Senior Day last Sunday with a 3-0 shutout of Austin Peay (Sept. 9). The Cardinals got off to a quick start, thanks to a second-minute goal from sophomore Emily Roper, and never took off the presser.

The Cardinals opened the year with a 5-1 win over Mercyhurst (Aug. 17), before facing a gauntlet which included losses at No. 3 Notre Dame (Aug. 20), at Texas Tech (Aug. 24), at Loyola (Sept. 3) and at Vanderbilt (Sept. 7).

BALL STATE SOCCER QUICK HITS:
- Senior forward Avery Fenchel enters Thursday's match at Butler leading the team and tied for second in the MAC in both points (9) and goals scored (4) this season … She started with her first career hat trick in the season-opener versus Mercyhurst (Aug. 17), added her first career assist at Loyola (Sept. 3) and collected the final goal in the win over Austin Peay (Sept. 10).

- With her four goals this season, Avery Fenchel has moved to sixth in program history with 17 career goals … She registered the second-most goals in a single season in the BSU record book last season, with 11, and scored two her sophomore campaign … She also currently sits eighth in program history with 35 career points (17 goals / 1 assist).

- Sophomore forward Emily Roper jumped into a tie for fourth in the MAC with three goals after tallying her first career brace in last Sunday's win over Austin Peay (Sept. 10) … Roper, who scored her first goal of the season against Mercyhurst (Aug. 17), leads the team and ranks third in the MAC with nine shots on goal.

- Sophomore forward Delaney Caldwell, junior forward Lexi Fraley, and senior defender Ryann Locante have also scored for the Cardinals this season … Fraley ranks second among active Ball State players with 10 career goals, while Caldwell is third at eight … Locante's tally in the season-opening win over Mercyhurst (Aug. 17) was the first of her career.

- Sophomore midfielder Tori Monaco and junior defender Maya Millis currently lead the team and are tied for fourth in the MAC with two assists apiece … Monaco notched both of hers in the season-opening win over Mercyhurst (Aug. 17), while Millis' assists game versus Mercyhurst and Austin Peay.

- Goalkeeper Bethany Moser was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 12 after leading the league in goals against average (0.56) and save percentage (.875) last week … She allowed just one goal over 160:49, with it being an 88th-minute tally by Vanderbilt (Sept. 7) … Moser also combined for the shutout win over Austin Peay (Sept. 10), playing the first 70:19 of the match and stopping all three shots she faced.

- For the season, Moser ranks fourth in the MAC with 4.17 saves per match, having collected 25 total saves on the year … The effort also ranks 106th nationally, while her 25 total saves are 140th.

SCOUTING BUTLER:
The Bulldogs (3-4-1) are coming off a 2-1 win against the 25th-ranked TCU (Sept. 10).

Butler's Norah Jacomen currently leads the team in goals with five. Four other Bulldogs have also scored for Butler.

Leading goalkeeper Anna Pierce has 19 saves on the season, helping the Bulldogs upset TCU with two saves. She has only allowed six goals.

UP NEXT:
After Thursday's match, the Cardinals open conference play at home against Miami with a 4 p.m. kickoff on September 21.

Players Mentioned

Delaney Caldwell

Avery Fenchel

Lexi Fraley

Ryann Locante

Maya Millis

Tori Monaco

Bethany Moser

Emily Roper

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