Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
No. 2 Seed UMass
November 09, 2026 | Soccer
Links to the ESPN+ broadcast, live stats and tickets can be found above and on the schedule page.
The Cardinals (8-6-5) topped No. 3 seed Kent State 1-0 on Saturday in the opening round of the conference tourney. Mary Jane Keller scored the lone goal in the eighth minute off assists from LG Moncrief and Anna Kate Robillard for the winning decision.
UMass (11-2-5, 5-1-5 MAC) enters the postseason after only the second time in program history as the No. 2 seed and the first time under the helm of head coach Jason Dowiak.
Dowiak is in his ninth season at UMass. The Minutewomen re-joined the MAC as a full member in 2025.
UMass earned three postseason honors in 2026 with Amelia Deren being named to All-MAC First Team, while Nia Hislop and Monica Curry were named to the All-MAC Second Team.
The winner of this match advances to the championship match against either No. 1 seed Western Michigan or No. 4 seed Miami on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
KELLER LEADS CARDINALS TO POSTSEASON WIN: The Ball State soccer team grabbed a 1-0 victory over Kent State on Saturday. Mary Jane Keller booted the ball in the back of the net in the eighth minute off assists from LG Moncrief and Anna Kate Robillard for the winning decision. This marked the third goal of the 2026 campaign for Keller
STOOTS EARNS SECOND POSTSEASON WIN: Head coach Andy Stoots earned his second postseason victory in his second season leading the Cardinals.
In his first season in 2025, Ball State won a penalty kick shootout 5-4 over Kent State to advance in the MAC tournament.
PALLANTE LEADING CARDINALS DEFENSE: Junior goalkeeper Kate Pallante has notched 68 saves in 19 games, sitting in sixth place in the MAC for goalkeepers with a .810 save percentage. Pallante is second in the conference with nine shutouts, averaging 3.58 saves per game. Pallante earned All-MAC Second Team honors this season.
Pallante also sits in second place in the conference and eighth nationally for goalie minutes played (1710).
