Ball State University Athletics
November 03, 2026 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. — The Mid-American Conference announced today that Ball State field hockey standout junior Lauren Lewis has been named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, while senior Carleigh Hofelich has earned MAC Goalkeeper of the Week honors. The weekly sweep comes on the heels of a perfect regular-season-ending road trip to Louisville, Kentucky, where the duo anchored the Cardinals through back-to-back overtime marathons.
Lewis, a junior midfielder/defender from Hull, England, served as the absolute anchor of the Ball State backline during the high-stakes weekend. On Thursday against MAC rival Bellarmine, Lewis controlled the tempo from the defensive third, consistently disrupting the Knights' transition game and limiting them to just 11 total shots and three penalty corners to secure a crucial 2-1 conference win in overtime. She followed that up on Friday with a spectacular iron-woman performance against Saint Louis, playing all 90 minutes of regulation and double overtime. Facing a continuous barrage from the Billikens, Lewis commanded the circle and organized a defensive corner unit that turned away every threat, guaranteeing a 1-0 clean-sheet shutout victory in a penalty shootout.
Hofelich, a senior goalkeeper from Louisville, Kentucky, put together a spectacular masterclass in the cage, returning to her hometown to provide the defining defensive presence for the Cardinals. Her exceptional poise and leadership under late-game pressure directly propelled Ball State to consecutive extra-time triumphs. In Thursday's showdown against Bellarmine, Hofelich withstood a heavy barrage of second-half pressure, standing tall by registering eight critical saves on the day to keep the Cardinals within striking distance and set up the overtime victory. Her elite presence in goal continued into Friday's grueling double-overtime battle against Saint Louis, where she kept the sheet clean through 90 minutes of play and anchored the decisive penalty shootout to secure the sweep.
Behind the award-winning defensive efforts of Lewis and Hofelich, the Cardinals concluded the regular season on a high note, winning four-straight games.
