A difficult non-conference schedule continues this weekend for the Ball State University field hockey team. The Cardinals head to Evanston, Ill., to face No. 14 Louisville and No. 22 Northwestern.
All four of Ball State's (1-3) previous opponents are currently nationally ranked or are receiving votes.
The two ranked teams this weekend also fall into the same category.
"They're important games," head coach Annette Payne said. "We're going down there to take what we've tried to accomplish this week in practice and carry it over."
Louisville, a member of the Big East Conference this year after leaving the Mid-American Conference, has faced Ball State 22 times. BSU owns a 15-7 advantage in the series, splitting two games last season.
Louisville won the 2004 Mid-American Conference tournament and was the regular season co-champion. The Cardinals have only played one game away from home this season, a 4-3 overtime loss to No. 17 Ohio State on Wednesday.
Payne downplayed the rematch with the former MAC school.
"We've got two games, both of which are of equal importance," she said. "Obviously [these are] two big games that we're gonna take seriously."
Northwestern (4-1) has won four straight games, including a 4-3 double overtime win against Virginia. The Wildcats are 11-7-2 all-time against Ball State, including a 3-2 win last year.
The Cards picked up their first win of the season last Saturday against Providence, 2-1. Chantelle Isaac-Smith scored two-second half goals in a 12-second span.
"I think wins are always good," Payne said. "It's always good to get a W."
Payne said the goals for this weekend are to play smart hockey and to use certain aspects from practice in the games.
"As always, playing smart hockey for 70 minutes," Payne said. "Practice has gone well. We have been stressing some things and are expecting to take care of a couple details and carry them into this weekend"
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