
Photo by: Amber Pietz, Ball State Creative Services
Soccer Continues MAC Play at CMU Thursday and vs Ohio Sunday
October 09, 2024 | Soccer
Cardinals Enter the Stretch Run of the Season with Six Games Remaining
The Ball State soccer team continues Mid-American Conference play with a match at Central Michigan on Thursday night before hosting Ohio on Sunday afternoon.
The match in Mount Pleasant is scheduled for 7 p.m., while Sunday's contest is set for 1 p.m. Links to the video streams and live stats can be found above and on the schedule page.
The Cardinals (6-4-2, 1-2-2 MAC) got their second straight scoreless draw last Sunday when they battled Buffalo, who entered the weekend at the top of the conference leaderboard. Junior Grace Konopatzki made five saves in goal including one in the closing seconds to preserve the shutout.
Central Michigan (4-4-4, 2-0-3 MAC) is tied for fourth in the conference standings after drawing with Western Michigan (0-0) at home on Sept. 29 and most recently tying Toledo on the road 1-1 last Sunday. The Chippewas were projected to finish 12th in the MAC in the preseason coaches poll.
Ohio (7-1-4, 2-0-3 MAC) is tied with CMU in the league standings and won 3-1 at Akron last Sunday to improve the team's unbeaten streak to nine matches. The Bobcats' only loss of the year was by a 3-0 margin at No. 8 Michigan State back on Aug. 25. Ohio was picked third in the 12-team MAC in the coaches poll.
Ball State is second in the MAC in assists per game (2.25, No. 26 nationally), points per game (6.08), goals per game (1.92), total assists (27), total goals (23), total points (73) and fewest fouls per game (7.83).
1-2 PUNCH: The duo of juniors Delaney Caldwell and Addie Chester stand near the top of the MAC and Division I leaderboards in multiple statistics.
Caldwell's three game-winning goals lead the league and are the 24th-most nationally, while her six goals and 17 points are both third in the MAC. Chester joins Caldwell with six goals while her six assists are second on the MAC leaderboard and No. 20 nationally, and her 18 points are second in the conference.
MILESTONE WATCH: Graduate forward Avery Fenchel is three goals away from tying Dee Nocero's career goals program record of 30.
Fenchel's 27 goals are tied with Emily Rein (2005-08) for the second-most in Ball State soccer history.
SCOUTING CMU: The Chippewas went 2-8-6 (1-7-3) in 2023 in the fifth season under the direction of head coach Jeremy Groves.
Central's 5.92 saves per game paces the MAC and ranks No. 33 in NCAA Division I, while its +1 goal differential for the season ranks eighth in the league.
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Allison LaPoint leads the MAC and ranks No. 17 nationally with 5.83 saves per contest, while her .833 save percentage is third-best in the league. Senior midfielder Jocelin Zimmerer's two game-winning goals are tied for the third-most in the MAC so far this year.
SCOUTING OHIO: The Bobcats produced a 9-8-5 record (4-4-3 MAC) last year in head coach Aaron Rodgers' 11th leading the program. Ohio won the MAC Tournament before bowing out to Michigan State in the NCAA Tourney.
Ohio is at the top of the MAC leaderboard in goal differential (+21, No. 19 nationally), scoring offense (2.33 goals per game, No. 26), total goals (28) and shots on goal per game (7.08).
Junior goalie Celeste Sloma ranks second in the MAC in shutouts (seven, No. 11 in NCAA Division I), save percentage (.867, No. 18) and goals against average (.522, No. 26). Sophomore Jaimason Brooker is second in the league in total assists (six) and assists per game (0.5), which rank No. 20 and No. 22 nationally, respectively.
Up Next
The Cardinals play at Miami (OH) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18.
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The match in Mount Pleasant is scheduled for 7 p.m., while Sunday's contest is set for 1 p.m. Links to the video streams and live stats can be found above and on the schedule page.
The Cardinals (6-4-2, 1-2-2 MAC) got their second straight scoreless draw last Sunday when they battled Buffalo, who entered the weekend at the top of the conference leaderboard. Junior Grace Konopatzki made five saves in goal including one in the closing seconds to preserve the shutout.
Central Michigan (4-4-4, 2-0-3 MAC) is tied for fourth in the conference standings after drawing with Western Michigan (0-0) at home on Sept. 29 and most recently tying Toledo on the road 1-1 last Sunday. The Chippewas were projected to finish 12th in the MAC in the preseason coaches poll.
Ohio (7-1-4, 2-0-3 MAC) is tied with CMU in the league standings and won 3-1 at Akron last Sunday to improve the team's unbeaten streak to nine matches. The Bobcats' only loss of the year was by a 3-0 margin at No. 8 Michigan State back on Aug. 25. Ohio was picked third in the 12-team MAC in the coaches poll.
Ball State is second in the MAC in assists per game (2.25, No. 26 nationally), points per game (6.08), goals per game (1.92), total assists (27), total goals (23), total points (73) and fewest fouls per game (7.83).
1-2 PUNCH: The duo of juniors Delaney Caldwell and Addie Chester stand near the top of the MAC and Division I leaderboards in multiple statistics.
Caldwell's three game-winning goals lead the league and are the 24th-most nationally, while her six goals and 17 points are both third in the MAC. Chester joins Caldwell with six goals while her six assists are second on the MAC leaderboard and No. 20 nationally, and her 18 points are second in the conference.
MILESTONE WATCH: Graduate forward Avery Fenchel is three goals away from tying Dee Nocero's career goals program record of 30.
Fenchel's 27 goals are tied with Emily Rein (2005-08) for the second-most in Ball State soccer history.
SCOUTING CMU: The Chippewas went 2-8-6 (1-7-3) in 2023 in the fifth season under the direction of head coach Jeremy Groves.
Central's 5.92 saves per game paces the MAC and ranks No. 33 in NCAA Division I, while its +1 goal differential for the season ranks eighth in the league.
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Allison LaPoint leads the MAC and ranks No. 17 nationally with 5.83 saves per contest, while her .833 save percentage is third-best in the league. Senior midfielder Jocelin Zimmerer's two game-winning goals are tied for the third-most in the MAC so far this year.
SCOUTING OHIO: The Bobcats produced a 9-8-5 record (4-4-3 MAC) last year in head coach Aaron Rodgers' 11th leading the program. Ohio won the MAC Tournament before bowing out to Michigan State in the NCAA Tourney.
Ohio is at the top of the MAC leaderboard in goal differential (+21, No. 19 nationally), scoring offense (2.33 goals per game, No. 26), total goals (28) and shots on goal per game (7.08).
Junior goalie Celeste Sloma ranks second in the MAC in shutouts (seven, No. 11 in NCAA Division I), save percentage (.867, No. 18) and goals against average (.522, No. 26). Sophomore Jaimason Brooker is second in the league in total assists (six) and assists per game (0.5), which rank No. 20 and No. 22 nationally, respectively.
Up Next
The Cardinals play at Miami (OH) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18.
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Players Mentioned
This Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Guests: Mike Uremovich, Addie Chester, and Jeff Mitchell
Thursday, September 04
Women's Soccer // Win vs IU Indy
Tuesday, September 02
Soccer // Season Preview
Thursday, August 07
Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01