Field Hockey Cardinals Control Circle, Secure Gritty 3-1 Victory Over Longwood

Sunday, September 27

Muncie, Ind.

12 pm

Ball State University

(3-7, 2-2)

Longwood University

(0-9, 0-4)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Longwood	0	0	0	1	1
Ball St.	1	0	1	1	3

Field Hockey Cardinals Control Circle, Secure Gritty 3-1 Victory Over Longwood

September 27, 2026 | Field Hockey

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. — The Ball State field hockey team snapped its recent four-game skid in definitive fashion Sunday afternoon, pulling out a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Longwood University at the Briner Sports Complex.

The Cardinals set the tone early, showcasing an aggressive and highly structured offensive game plan that allowed them to completely dominate the scoring circle. Ball State's unrelenting pressure consistently kept the Lancers on their heels, creating a multitude of high-quality opportunities inside the critical zone.

The breakthrough came via clinical execution on a first-quarter penalty corner. Jade Vandevoorde inserted the ball to Emily Kate Covert, who perfectly setup Lauren Lewis for the game's opening goal. Both defenses then dug in, keeping the scoreboard quiet and allowing Ball State to carry a 1-0 advantage into intermission.

Ball State extended its cushion in the third quarter when Emma-Lynn Harter found the back of the cage off an assist from Lewis. The Cardinals continued to leverage their set-piece draws to stretch the Longwood backline and generate high-danger scoring looks, executing flawlessly on both ends of the pitch to carry a 2-0 lead into the final 15 minutes of action.

Longwood answered early in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit, but Vandevoorde quickly restored breathing room for the Cardinals, striking a few minutes later off a sharp assist from Vivienne Quinn. From there, the Ball State defense remained steadfast, neutralizing the Lancers' transitional counterattacks to secure the victory.

The performance marked the Cardinals' most explosive offensive showing of the season, yielding 21 shots (16 on goal) and a game-high 12 penalty corners.

With the crucial Mid-American Conference victory securely in hand, Ball State moves back into the win column as they prepare to head out on a three-game road trip.