Soccer Hosts Miami Thursday To Open MAC Play

MUNCIE, Ind. - - It is the opening week of Mid-American Conference play for the Ball State soccer team which hosts Miami Thursday before traveling to Eastern Michigan Sunday.

The Cardinals and RedHawks square off at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Briner Sports Complex, with BSU currently maintaining a 14-8-4 advantage in the all-time series, including a 7-6 edge at home. Ball State has won six of the last seven meetings versus Miami, while picking up a draw in the latest by a score of 2-2 in Oxford, Ohio, on Sept. 22, 2022.

The Cardinals and Eagles will kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday at EMU's Scicluna Field. Ball State holds a 15-8-3 lead in the all-time series after earning a 5-0 victory in the latest meeting Sept. 25, 2022, in Muncie. BSU is 7-4-1 all-time in Ypsilanti, including three straight wins.

SEASON TO DATE:
Ball State enters conference play 2-5-0, most recently falling 4-0 to a strong Butler (Sept. 14) squad on its home pitch. In its last home match, Ball State celebrated senior day with a 3-0 shutout against Austin Peay (Sept. 10).

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 versus Miami leading the team and tied for second in the MAC in goals scored (4), while ranking third in points (9) 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 the team'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 came 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) for the previous 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, Bethany Moser ranks fourth in the MAC with 4.43 saves per match, having collected a MAC-leading 31 total saves on the year … The effort also ranks 100th nationally, while her 31 total saves are 115th.

SCOUTING MIAMI:
The RedHawks are currently 3-4-1 on the season, most recently coming off a 4-0 loss at Montana (Sept. 14).

Miami's forward Haley Anspach, forward Julia Kure, and midfielder Makenna Morrison currently lead the team in goals, each with one.

Goalkeeper Dominique Popa has recorded 19 saves over her six starts in goal and owns a 1.09 goals against average. Mallory Thomas has also appeared in net three time, with two starts, making five saves and allowing just 1.60 goals against.

SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN:
The Eagles enter a Thursday showdown at Central Michigan with an 0-4-4 record, coming of a 1-1 draw versus Valparaiso on its Senior Day, Sept. 10.

EMU has tallied nine goals on the year, led by three from Meagan Lukowski. Kate Robinson leads the squad with eight points, on the strength of two goals and four assists.

Ella Holland has made six starts and played in seven games in goal, allowing 2.23 goals per game and making 25 saves. Rebecca Przybylo has a 2.88 goals against average in her three appearances, including two starts, making 13 saves.

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Players Mentioned

Delaney Caldwell

Avery Fenchel

Lexi Fraley

Ryann Locante

Maya Millis

Tori Monaco

Bethany Moser

Emily Roper