With only five games left in the regular season, the Ball State field hockey team is in control of its own destiny.
With roughly three weeks left, Ball State is 0-2 in Mid-American Conference play and 5-8 on the year. Two of the remaining five matches are against Kent State University and Ohio University, who are both undefeated against MAC opponents.
Kent State is the center of attention for Ball State this week. A win this Saturday would give Ball State its first MAC conference win and snap a four-match losing streak. It also means Ball State would come closer to the fourth and final seed of the MAC Championship tournament.
Led by Julia Hofmann and Jahna Jordan, Kent State comes into Saturday at 6-8 on the year atop of the MAC conference at 2-0. This could change Saturday if Ball State wins the time of possession battle and attacks Kent State’s defense.
The only way Ball State can successfully secure the fourth seed is if they win Saturday against Kent State, Oct. 26 against Ohio and Nov. 3 at Missouri State.
Ball State would need help from Ohio, Missouri State and Miami of OH to land the fourth seed. All of those teams are the final three MAC opponents for Central Michigan. If Central Michigan loses these three games and Ball State wins its next three, then Central Michigan would be eliminated from contention.
This won’t come easy for Ball State though. During this current four-game skid, Ball State has been shut out three times. Goalkeeper Shelby Henley has had a rough October, as she was pulled this past Sunday for giving up 22 goals since the beginning of the month. Ball State’s defense has given up 26 goals since a 3-0 victory against Vermont on Sept. 28.
If the Cardinals want to play deep into November, they need to find their confidence. Saturday afternoon kicks off the start of the final three-match homestand where they face two MAC-leading opponents. The pressure is on as one conference loss could end the postseason hopes of the Cardinals.
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