Soccer Visits Vanderbilt Thursday; Hosts Austin Peay Sunday

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State soccer team begins its final push towards conference play this week with two of its final three non-conference matchups on the docket. First up, a Thursday night showdown at Vanderbilt with an 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT kickoff.

From there, the Cardinals return home for a Sunday showdown with Austin Peay which is set for a 1 p.m. start at the Briner Sports Complex.

The match will serve as the program's senior day, with Ball State honoring Maria Broering, Abby Elgert, Avery Fenchel, Jordyn Jeffers, Ryann Locante, Bethany Moser and Paige Munar prior to the start of the contest.

Thursday's match at Vanderbilt will be broadcast live on the SEC Network+, while Sunday's home contest will be streamed live on BallStateSports.com.

Ball State will be playing both Vanderbilt and Austin Peay for the first time in soccer.

SEASON TO DATE:
The Cardinals (1-3-0) came out of the gates strong, opening the year with a 5-1 victory over Mercyhurst (Aug. 17) at the Briner Sports Complex. Three different Ball State student-athletes tallied goals in the win, led by senior forward Avery Fenchel's first career hat trick.

Ball State followed with another solid effort at third-ranked Notre Dame (Aug. 20), allowing just one goal in the run of play during a 3-0 setback. The Irish, who ranked 12th nationally in scoring offense last season, tallied its other two markers off set pieces on corner kicks.

Ball State has also suffered a 4-1 setback at Texas Tech (Aug. 24) and a 2-1 setback at Loyola (Sept. 3). The game versus the Red Raiders was tied at the half thanks to a 36' goal from sophomore forward Delaney Caldwell. Junior forward Lexi Fraley netted the Cardinals' goal at Loyola in the 54'.

BALL STATE SOCCER QUICK HITS:
- Thanks to her hat trick in the season-opener, Avery Fenchel enters the Thursday's contest at Vanderbilt tied for second in the Mid-American Conference with three goals scored … The effort helped her climb to sixth in program history with 16 career goals … In addition to leading the MAC, Fenchel's three goals are tied for 90th nationally.

- Sophomore forward Emily Roper and senior defender Ryann Locante also scored goals in the win over Mercyhurst (Aug. 17) … It was Locante's first career goal, while Roper raised her career total to four.

- Delaney Caldwell chipped in her first goal of 2023 at Texas Tech (Aug. 24), raising her career total to eight … Caldwell, who scored seven goals as a freshman last season, enters Thursday's contest at Vanderbilt two goals shy of breaking into the top 10 in program history.

- With her first goal of the season this past Sunday at Loyola (Sept. 3), Lexi Fraley climbed into a tie for 19th in program history with 10 career goals … Fraley scored four goals as a freshman in 2022, while adding five last season.

- With assists on each of Fenchel's final two goals versus Mercyhurst (Aug. 17), sophomore midfielder Tori Monaco is currently tied for the MAC lead and for 138th nationally with two helpers … Junior defender Maya Millis and Delaney Caldwell also logged an assist each in the win over the Lakers and are currently tied for seventh in the league in the category.

- In addition, Avery Fenchel was credited with her first assist of the season versus Loyola (Sept. 3), giving her seven total points on the year … The point total ties for second in the MAC, while her 1.75 points-per-game average is second.

- With its five assists so far this season, the Cardinals are tied for first in the MAC and 142nd nationally with a 1.25 assists-per-game average … Add in the team's seven goals and Ball State has 19 total points on the year and are also tied for the MAC lead with a 4.75 points-per-game average.

- Junior goalkeeper Bethany Moser enters the week tied for third in the MAC with 18 total saves … She pitched a shutout over her 60:44 of action in the win over Mercyhurst (Aug. 17), making one save … She followed by making eight saves at No. 3 Notre Dame (Aug. 20), falling one shy of her career mark … She also collected six at Texas Tech (Aug. 24) and three at Loyola (Sept. 3).

SCOUTING VANDERBILT:
The Commodores (3-0-3) are coming off a 3-3 draw versus then-No. 20 Northwestern on Sunday … The effort helped them earn one vote in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll … Vanderbilt owns wins over Chattanooga (3-1), Belmont (2-0) and Kansas State (1-0), as well as draws versus UMass (0-0) and Kansas (1-1).

Ella Eggleston leads the squad with three goals and eight total points, while Courtney Jones and Addie Porter each have two goals … Rachel Deresky has a team-high three assists, while the team has 11 assists on 10 goals.

Kate Devine has started all six games in goal for Vanderbilt, allowing just three goals over 405:00 of action … She has logged two individual shutouts and combined with Sara Wojdelko for another … Wojdelko has played the other 135:00 minutes and allowed just two goals during her time in net.

SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY:
The Governors (2-3-1) earned a 2-1 victory over Morehead State in its last time out Sunday (Sept. 3) … Austin Peay's other win was a 2-0 victory over Lindenwood on Aug. 20.

Six different Govs have scored a goal this season, led by freshman Aniyah Mach who became the second Governors' freshman in program history to score a goal in three straight games.

Katie Bahn has started all six games in goal for Austin Peay, logging 531:23 of the team's 540:00 minutes … She has allowed 12 goals over the course of the six appearances, while making 28 saves.

UP NEXT:
After Sunday's senior day game versus Austin Peay, the Cardinals close non-conference play Thursday (Sept. 14) with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Butler.

Soccer Visits Vanderbilt Thursday; Hosts Austin Peay Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Maria Broering

Delaney Caldwell

Abby Elgert

Avery Fenchel

Lexi Fraley

Jordyn Jeffers

Ryann Locante

Maya Millis

Tori Monaco

Bethany Moser

Paige Munar

Emily Roper