The Ball State soccer team looks to start building its résumé for the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Friday against Miami.
Ball State is last of the 12 MAC teams with an 0-4 record in conference play. Only the top eight teams advance to the tournament.
Friday's match is only the second at home since Sept. 1. The match starts at 4 p.m.
"We are still optimistic about our chances [of making the tournament], so being at home helps us a lot," coach Craig Roberts said. "There is more consistency being at home and makes us more settled. We fell short on the road the past couple weeks."
The RedHawks (9-3-1) lead the MAC East with a 2-1-1 record in conference play. Miami will be Ball State's hardest test to date in terms of MAC opponents.
"We haven't played a team that is out of our depth," Roberts said. "There is equal talent on our side to compete with them out there. We have paid for our mistakes, and we feel we'll be right in the game with Miami."
Early deficits have hurt Ball State the past two weeks. The offense isn't built to come from behind, so a fast start pushes the contest in favor of the Cardinals' opponent.
"We always come out with a sense of urgency to win," senior defender Tina Vannatta said. "Since we haven't done well the past couple weeks, there is a little more pressure on us. But there is always pressure to win because that's the ultimate goal."
Winning is the only thing on the mind of seniors like Vannatta as the season winds down. The team ends its season with five of seven matches at home, so this is the time to step it up.
"Every senior wants to prove we are a good team and that we deserve to be out there," Vannatta said. "We have known all along of the pressures. It is just becoming more prevalent now that we are 0-4. We just need to go out there and finish our opportunities and win the game."
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