Soccer Welcomes Toledo Thursday, Visits Western Michigan Sunday

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State soccer team returns to the Briner Sports Complex Thursday for a 4 p.m. Mid-American Conference showdown with Toledo. The Cardinals then close the week Sunday at Western Michigan for a 1 p.m. kick off.

Ball State holds a 13-10-2 lead in the all-time series versus Toledo, including a 6-2 road victory last season on Oct. 6 … The Cardinals also maintain an 8-3-1 edge at home versus the Rockets with three straight wins at the Briner Sports Complex.

Western Michigan owns a 14-12-4 edge in the all-time series versus Ball State and have won each of the last three meetings by scores of 2-0. The Cardinals' last victory in the series came in a 2-1, double overtime thriller in Kalamazoo on Oct. 13, 2019. BSU is 4-9-1 all-time in contests on WMU's home pitch.

SEASON TO DATE:
Ball State enters the week with a 3-5-1 (1-0-1 MAC) record after opening league play with a 3-1 home victory over Miami last Thursday, while battling Eastern Michigan to a 1-1 draw on the road last Sunday.

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). After a 3-0 home win over Austin Peay (Sept. 10), the Cardinals faced another tough opponent in Butler (Sept. 14) on the road.

BALL STATE SOCCER QUICK HITS:
- Ball State has made the most of its three home matches this season, owning a perfect 3-0-0 record at the Briner Sports Complex … In fact, the Cardinals are out-scoring opponents 11-2 on its home pitch … Ball State's 11 goals at home are more than seven league teams have scored all season and ties two others … Only this week's opponents Toledo (15) and Western Michigan (14) have more total goals than Ball State has scored at home.

- Tack on three road goals and the Cardinals enter the week tied for second in the MAC with 14 total goals, trailing only WMU … Ball State has netted at least one goal in six of its nine matches, with its five goals in the win over Mercyhurst (Aug. 17) being the most scored by a MAC team in a match this season.

- Senior forward Avery Fenchel enters Thursday's match versus Toledo leading the team and tied for third in the MAC in both goals scored (5) and points (11) 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), collected the final goal in the win over Austin Peay (Sept. 10) and opened the scoring with her goal versus Miami (Sept. 21).

- With her five goals this season, Avery Fenchel has moved to sixth in program history with 18 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 … Fenchel is currently tied for seventh in program history with 37 career points (18 goals / 1 assist).

- Sophomore forward Emily Roper is currently tied for sixth 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), is also tied for ninth in the MAC with nine shots on goal.

- Overall, seven different players have scored at least one goal for the Cardinals this season, including junior forward Lexi Fraley who picked up her second tally of the season to help Ball State earn a 1-1 draw at Eastern Michigan last Sunday … Fraley ranks second among active Ball State players with 11 career goals … BSU's other goal scorers include sophomore forward Delaney Caldwell, who ranks third among BSU's active players with eight career goals, along with first-time goal scorers Ryann Locante (vs. Mercyhurst on Aug. 17), Kaitlyn Fraser (vs. Miami on Sept. 21) and Annika Klauss (vs. Miami on Sept. 21).

- Sophomore midfielder Tori Monaco, junior defender Maya Millis and Delaney Caldwell currently lead the team and are tied for seventh in the MAC with two assists apiece … Monaco notched both of hers in the season-opening win over Mercyhurst (Aug. 17) … Millis' assists came versus Mercyhurst and Austin Peay (Sept. 10), while Caldwell's assists came versus Mercyhurst and Miami (Sept. 21).

- 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 fifth in the MAC with 4.22 saves per match, having collected 38 total saves on the year, the second-most among MAC goalkeepers … The effort also ranks 106th nationally, while her 38 total saves are 107th.

SCOUTING TOLEDO:
The Rockets are currently 3-4-2 (0-1-1 MAC) on the season, opening league play with a 2-0 loss at Bowling Green (Sept. 21), before battling Northern Illinois (Sept. 24) to a 1-1 draw.

Toledo leads the MAC with 15 goals this season, paced by Madison Medalle who is tied for the league lead in both goals (6) and points (14). Overall, nine different players have scored at least one goal for the Rockets, while 11 have at least one point.

Goalkeeper Brielle Young has recorded 36 saves over her eight appearances in goal and owns a 1.33 goals against average, along with a 3-4-1 record over 675 minutes. Karson Hill has also appeared in net twice for the Rockets, with two starts, six saves and a 2.00 goals against average.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN:
The Broncos enter a Thursday showdown at Central Michigan with an 5-3-1 (1-0-1) record, opening league play with a 3-0 win over Northern Illinois (Sept. 21), before battling Bowling Green (Sept. 24) to a 1-1 draw.

WMU is tied with Ball State for second in the league with 14 goals scored, led by five from Jen Blitchok. Four other Broncos have a pair of goals, while seven Western Michigan players have at least one assist. In all, nine different WMU student-athletes have at least two points this season.

Lauren Boafo has played all 810 minutes in goal for Western Michigan, making 19 saves and holds a 0.89 goals against average … She has allowed just eight goals, helping the Broncos rank second in the MAC with just eight goals against this season.

Soccer Welcomes Toledo Thursday, Visits Western Michigan Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Delaney Caldwell

Avery Fenchel

Lexi Fraley

Kaitlyn Fraser

Annika Klauss

Ryann Locante

Maya Millis

Tori Monaco

Bethany Moser

Emily Roper