Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Bucknell University
FH Opens Regular Season Play on the Road This Weekend Against Bucknell and Sacred Heart
August 27, 2026 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. — The Ball State field hockey team officially opens its 2026 regular season this weekend with a two-game road trip to Lewisburg, Pa. The Cardinals will debut on the newly resurfaced turf at Bucknell University's Graham Field at Holmes Stadium for a pair of non-conference matchups.
The Cardinals are coached by Caitlin Johnson who is entering her fifth year at the helm of the Ball State field hockey team. Johnson added first-year coaches Emily Risser and former Cardinal Jessica Rochat to her support staff this summer.
The weekend action begins Friday, August 28 at 4 pm ET against host Bucknell. Ball State will return to the pitch the following afternoon on Saturday at 1 pm ET, for a neutral-site clash versus Sacred Heart. The Bucknell Bisons own a 2-0 record over Ball State dating back to 2008. The last time these two squad met was on Sept. 1, 2023, resulting in a 3-0 loss for the Cardinals on a neutral field in Columbus, Ohio. The game Saturday between Ball State and Sacred Heart will be the first-ever meeting.
The Cardinals enter the 2026 campaign looking to build momentum early on the road. Ball State's lineup features a strong core of returning veterans, including All-Mid-American Conference Freshman Team honoree Jade Vandevoorde who started and played in every game last season. Vandevoorde was second on the team in goals with three while also registering 22 shots and 15 shots on goal for the Cardinals.
Joining Vandevoorde will be 13 other Cardinals from last years' squad along with welcoming nine newcomers.
After this weekend, the Cardinals remain on the road as they look to play two games on the campus of Big Ten foe Iowa where they will face Lehigh (Aug. 5) and then the Hawkeyes (Sept. 6).
