After ending its three-game losing streak last weekend, the field hockey team has its last opportunity to prepare for the Mid-American Conference Championships this weekend, starting today at No. 13 Kent State.
Last weekend the Cardinals swept their last two home games, outscoring Miami and Louisville 13-0. The two wins brought Ball State to within a game of Central Michigan for first place in the MAC.
The Cardinals still have a shot at the No. 1 seed in the MAC Championships Nov. 8-10 in Oxford, Ohio. To do this, however, they need help from their opponents this weekend.
First, Ball State must win today at Kent State (11-6 overall, 4-4 MAC) and Saturday at Ohio (9-8, 4-4 MAC). Central Michigan is one game up on Ball State, but the Chippewas won both games against the Cardinals this year, so a tie would do no good.
So, the Cardinals need Central to lose both games this weekend. The Chippewas play Ohio and Kent State at home on opposite days that the Cardinals play them.
Louisville is half a game up on the Cardinals and plays Miami, who is winless in the MAC, Saturday. Assuming the Cardinals win both games and Central loses both games, Ball State and Louisville will be tied for first place in the conference.
Ball State swept the season series with Louisville, winning 3-2 on penalty shots Oct. 5 and 3-0 Oct. 26. Therefore, the tie-breaker and the No. 1 seed in the tournament would go to the Cardinals.
Head coach Jen Halliday and her team is not looking ahead, however. She said they are focused on the task at hand - beating Kent State and Ohio.
On Oct. 11, the team suffered its first shutout of the season 1-0 at the hands of then No. 20 Ohio.
Kent State can be a dangerous team, too, but the Cardinals have already beaten them once this season.
On Oct. 12, Ball State was down 3-0 at home to the Golden Flashes in the second half. The Cardinals then scored three goals in ten minutes, led by senior forward Allison Haynes' two goals and an assist, to send the game to overtime.
Seven minutes into overtime, junior midfielder Afton Hess scored on a one-on-one break to beat Kent State, who was then ranked No. 7.
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