The field hockey team heads to Virginia this weekend to open the regular season. Ball State University starts the season at noon Saturday against William and Mary, and will continue the season at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Virginia University.
Head coach Annette Payne said the team practiced well this week in preparation for the start of the season.
“I think that we’re excited to get out there and compete and put things together,” she said.
The trip to Virginia will be a homecoming for four Cardinal players: Tracy Bannister, Theran Teach, Lauren Cruz and Jodi Mann all played high school field hockey in Virginia.
“It will be good for them to get back there and play.”
The Cardinals fell 3-0 to Indiana in a scrimmage game on Sunday. Ball State was outshot 22-2 by the Hoosiers.
A bright spot for the Cards was the play of goalkeeper Jessie Malone. The junior made 11 saves in 50 minutes of action. Malone started three games last season behind Bannister.
Payne had yet to decide a starting goalkeeper as of Thursday morning.
Ball State lost to William and Mary 2-1 in the second game of the season last year. It was the first meeting in the schools’ histories.
The Tribe finished 13-7 last season and ranked 15th in the nation. The team has won seven straight home openers.
Virginia finished 10-10 last season and ranked 18th in the nation.
The two teams should provide a good challenge to start the season, according to Payne.
“As always, you like to have diversity and good competition in your schedule,” she said. “You like to play good teams because you know the competition is there.”
The Cards will look to start off the season on a better foot than a year ago, when Ball State lost its first six games — and five of the losses came by a single goal.
“We’re ready to go down there, and we’re ready to compete,” Payne said. “We’ve practiced hard, and I think the girls are ready to get out there on the field.”
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