Members of the Ball State University field hockey team will have added support this weekend. The two home games make up of Family Weekend.
The Cards host Miami at 3 p.m. today and will play Missouri State at 1 p.m. Saturday for Senior Day, although two home games still remain.
"It's great to have parents weekend because you have so many fans," sophomore Katie Kloeckener said. "Almost everybody's parents are here, so it's just great support."
Sophomore Amanda Pavone said the added support is noticeable.
"Not a lot of people here know about field hockey," she said. "So it's nice when support in the stands is cheering for you."
The parents had some traveling to do as the team consists of six players from Pennsylvania, four from Virginia, three from California, two from Missouri, one from New Jersey and one from Ohio.
Ball State (1-8, 0-2 Mid-American Conference) fell to Central Michigan last weekend, 3-2, but is looking to build upon that game.
"I think the team is doing well," coach Annette Payne said. "We played great last weekend. Hopefully we can use the momentum this weekend."
Miami (5-6, 2-1 MAC) went into overtime in its last two games, including a 3-2 loss to No. 9 Ohio State on Wednesday. The RedHawks have conference wins over Kent State and Central Michigan.
Ball State owns a 39-6 advantage over Miami in their all-time meetings. The RedHawks last victory came in 2000 when Miami edged the Cards 4-3 in overtime.
RedHawks goalkeeper Keri Orr has two shutouts and owns the second best goals allowed average in the MAC (2.41).
"It's real important for us to get shots and that's gonna come from ball possession," Payne said.
Missouri State (1-10, 1-3 MAC) will meet Ball State in conference play for the first time. Missouri State became a member of the MAC this year after Louisville went to the Big East Conference.
Payne said the team has been focusing on putting a full game together, similar to its last outing.
"I expect the players to be ready and be able to put 70 minutes together," she said.
Kloeckener said it's very important for the team to win both games.
"They're big games," she said. "If we come away with two wins, we're back even with conference. So that would be great."
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