The plot lines will be numerous when the field hockey team takes on Kent State and Ohio at home this weekend.
The Cardinals (5-5, 2-0 MAC) are coming off two conference victories over last weekend, including a win over No. 14 Louisville.
They face Kent State today, and if the match is like previous years, it will be close.
"We're going to have to come out hard," head coach Annette Payne said. "We're going to have to play a very hard, strong game and a very smart game."
The Cardinals went 1-1 against the Golden Flashes (3-6, 1-0) last season. Both one-goal games were decided in overtime. In fact, 14 of the 45 matches between the schools have gone to overtime. Of those 14, six have gone to multiple overtimes, with penalty strokes dividing two games.
Today's game will also pit the MAC's top two scorers against each other. Ball State senior Afton Hess leads the conference in points, shots and assists. Kent State senior Jennifer Melnyk ties for first with seven goals. Melnyk also ranks second in points in the MAC, five behind Hess.
Although Hess and Melnyk will go head to head on the field, Payne said the Cardinals are committed to playing a team game, so the matchup won't be a factor.
"Kent has some good players, but it's important that we play this game just as we would any other," Payne said.
Ohio comes to town Saturday boasting a six-game winning streak. The Bobcats have also won eight of the past nine matches with the Cardinals. Ohio also knocked Ball State out of the MAC tournament in the first round last year in double overtime.
Payne said her team sees each game as equal, but she admitted the Cardinals will have the losing streak from the Bobcats on their minds.
"We're probably going to have a little extra energy devoted to that game," Payne said.
The two home games start a six-game, 16-day home stand for the Cardinals. The stint at home comes after the team played its last six games on the road.
The next six games are against MAC opponents, more than half the Cardinals' conference schedule. Payne said playing at home offers a big advantage against conference foes.
"I think we're ready to be home and we're ready to play on our home turf," Payne said.
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