After coming off two hard-luck losses last weekend, the BallState field hockey team (0-2) will look to build some confidencethis weekend in Bloomington, Ind. The Cardinals face Indiana todayand will play Southwest Missouri on Saturday.
"This weekend is a big weekend," coach Annette Payne said. "Weneed to play two strong games."
The young Cardinals team, which features just five juniors andseniors compared to 12 underclassmen, is looking at this weekend asa chance to build some confidence.
"This weekend is very important because we are a young team,"sophomore forward Lindsay Quay said. "(Two wins) would give usconfidence to continue throughout the season."
Both Indiana and SW Missouri are teams that BSU is familiarwith. The Cards played IU in a scrimmage game just two weeks ago inMuncie, with the game ending in a 3-3 tie. Ball State also playedthe Hoosiers at home in 2003, losing 2-0.
"I think it's going to be a good match," Payne said of thepreseason rematch with Indiana. "They definitely should have somechanges in their field of play."
Quay is confident that the Cardinals will be competitive againstIU.
"I think our chances are good because we played well lastweekend," she said. "I think we will come out and play themtough."
Although the Cards came out of last weekend with a pair of 2-1losses, they played well against two very competitive teams.
"We got to see some things that we need to work on -- things tobe competitive," junior goalkeeper Tracy Bannister said.
SW Missouri is a team that Ball State is somewhat familiar with,as they generally face each other in the off-season.
"They are a big ball team," Quay said. "They move the ball downthe field well."
Sophomore midfielder Tara Reed said that the team has beenworking hard in practice on passing, shooting and defense, andthinks the team needs to capitalize in order to be successful thisweekend.
"We can beat both of the teams as long as we play well and workas a team," Reed said.
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