Ball State University Athletics
Thursday, August 15
Muncie, Ind.
4 PM
Ball State University
vs
Purdue Fort Wayne
Photo by: Collin Phillips/Ball State Athletics
Soccer Hosting Purdue Fort Wayne in Thursday's Season Opener
August 14, 2024 | Soccer
Cardinals and Mastodons Set for 4 p.m. Kickoff
The Ball State soccer team opens its 2024 season with a 4 p.m. match on Thursday against Purdue Fort Wayne at the Briner Sports Complex.
The Cardinals return nine student-athletes who started at least nine matches from a 2023 group that went 8-8-3 (6-2-3 Mid-American Conference) to finish third in the MAC regular season standings.
Standout returners for an offense that brings back 70.7 percent of its scoring from a season ago include graduate forward Avery Fenchel, who scored 11 goals last year on her way to a First Team All-Conference recognition for a second straight season, and junior forward Delaney Caldwell, who was voted Second Team All-MAC after scoring 10 points on two goals and six assists.
Purdue Fort Wayne produced a 5-7-6 record (2-4-4 Horizon League) in 2023 to finish ninth in the 11-team conference. The Mastodons head into their 11th season under the direction of head coach Jason Burr, who holds an overall record of 40-104-32 at PFW.
Ball State was recently picked to finish second in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, finishing behind only league favorite Western Michigan.
The 2023 Cardinals were second in the league in scoring (1.7 goals per game), total goals (33) and saves per game (6.2). Fenchel was second in the MAC in both goals per game (0.65, No. 23 in NCAA
Division I) and total goals (11, No. 40), while her four game-winning goals were the third-most in the conference.
The Mastodons ranked third in the Horizon League with 5.6 saves per game in 2023 and fourth in save percentage (0.815).
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The Cardinals return nine student-athletes who started at least nine matches from a 2023 group that went 8-8-3 (6-2-3 Mid-American Conference) to finish third in the MAC regular season standings.
Standout returners for an offense that brings back 70.7 percent of its scoring from a season ago include graduate forward Avery Fenchel, who scored 11 goals last year on her way to a First Team All-Conference recognition for a second straight season, and junior forward Delaney Caldwell, who was voted Second Team All-MAC after scoring 10 points on two goals and six assists.
Purdue Fort Wayne produced a 5-7-6 record (2-4-4 Horizon League) in 2023 to finish ninth in the 11-team conference. The Mastodons head into their 11th season under the direction of head coach Jason Burr, who holds an overall record of 40-104-32 at PFW.
Ball State was recently picked to finish second in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, finishing behind only league favorite Western Michigan.
The 2023 Cardinals were second in the league in scoring (1.7 goals per game), total goals (33) and saves per game (6.2). Fenchel was second in the MAC in both goals per game (0.65, No. 23 in NCAA
Division I) and total goals (11, No. 40), while her four game-winning goals were the third-most in the conference.
The Mastodons ranked third in the Horizon League with 5.6 saves per game in 2023 and fourth in save percentage (0.815).
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Players Mentioned
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/ Soccer
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