Saturday the soccer team (10-6-2) faces Purdue (11-3-3) at homein its last regular-season match of the year. The Boilermakers havebeen in and out of the national rankings this year, and they willpresent a stiff test for Ball State.
Head coach Ron Rainey said his team must prepare because Purduecomes with strong athletes and a high level of play.
"We have to prepare ourselves mentally and not have anydefensive letdowns," he said.�"We won't get as many scoringchances, so we have to be prepared to finish because the margin oferror is slim."
The Ball State offense has averaged one goal a game despiteleadership from forwards Dee Nocero and Kate Nadalin, who werenamed to the first and second Mid-American Conference teams lastseason.
Rainey said that despite the low average, he likes the way theoffense has played this year, and he said he feels comfortable withit against Purdue.
"I like what we've done attackwise," he said. "Sometimes itdoesn't show in goals because the goalies come up with a bigsave."
Last season Ball State traveled to No. 13 Purdue and lost 2-0.The Boilermakers put 12 shots on goal to the Cardinals' four.
This year Purdue is not ranked entering the game. TheBoilermakers played two MAC teams earlier in the year and won 3-0against Marshall and tied Eastern Michigan 2-2.
The Cardinals also tied the Eagles earlier in the season.
Six seniors on the Cardinals roster will play their lastregular-season game in Cardinal uniforms, but they still have atleast one more match against Central Michigan at home in the firstround of the MAC Tournament.
Rainey said the match provides an excellent tune up for theconference tournament.
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