After living lives full of sport, these Ball State athletic to-be graduates are preparing to face a life without it. In the process, they’re battling the unknown and the loss of an identity.
Although Ball State was eliminated from postseason contention a week ago, The Cardinals hoped to finish the season strong and add another loss to the Spartans losing streak on their senior day, however, it became a defensive struggle for the Cardinals to manage from the start.
Miami continued their now 21-game win streak against Ball State, as they have won every match between the two universities since Thursday, November 3rd, 2011.
Ball State field hockey (7-9, 2-4 MAC) bounced back from its previous loss with a 7-0 win over Queens University of Charlotte (0-15). The Cardinals' next match is a key MAC contest against Miami (11-7, 5-1 MAC) in Oxford, Ohio, at 3 p.m.
“It has been such a great experience,” senior goaltender Hannah Johnston said. “It is so much bigger than the sport. I think a lot of people look at it as four years of your time then you are done but I think it is so monumental, the people you meet from all across the world and the friendships you make.”
One shot from senior midfielder Emma Hilton to pull off an upset over Indiana University in a 3-2 shootout. Ball State (6-8, 2-3 MAC) remains at home for a prime conference matchup against Appalachian State (10-4, 4-1 MAC) for Senior Day Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.
The worst-case scenario for the Cardinals came to be as Bellarmine capitalized on self-inflicted errors by Ball State, sealing a 3-2 comeback win in overtime. Ball State (5-8, 2-3 MAC) remains at home for a non-conference matchup against Indiana (5-8, 0-4 Big Ten Conference) Oct. 15 at noon.
With the win, Longwood snaps a seven-game losing streak as well as improve to 1-3 in conference play. Ball State, on the other hand, moves to 2-2 in conference play as well as continue their second losing streak this season, this time moving it to three games.
Ball State's 1-0 loss to Davidson means the Cardinals slip below .500 with a 5-6 overall record. For their next contest, the Cardinals (5-6) stay on the road, traveling to Farmville, Virginia, for a conference matchup against Longwood (2-11, 0-3 Mid-American Conference) Oct. 8 at Noon.
In the first, penalties were the word of the game for the quarter, as Ball State was able to capitalize on four penalty corners and a penalty stroke late in the quarter. The Cardinals capitalized on the penalty stroke with senior defender Micheala Graney, as she put in her third goal in four games and her career-high fourth goal of the season to put the Cardinals on top early. Ball State is currently 4-1 when getting on the scoreboard first.
The Cardinals are soaring as Ball State takes down Central Michigan in a 4-0 shutout to stretch their winning streak to four, their longest since 2006. Ball State improves to 2-0 in MAC (Mid-American Conference) play marking the second time in a row that the Cardinals have started 2-0 in the MAC standings.
Ball State took down Saint Louis 2-1 to earn the Cardinals’ third win in a row and first at home. Ball State plays Central Michigan at the Briner Sports Complex Sept. 22 at 2 p.m.
“It was a tough game,” head coach Caitlin Walsh said. “I am sure it was fun to watch… but it was gritty… and the match was a little frustrating to watch knowing that we were in the driver’s seat. I think we gave up too much defensively so we definitely have things we need to work on but for them to come out and bounce back after going to overtime…It shows the kind of team that we are and we never stop fighting.”
After losing the first four games of the 2023 campaign, the Cardinals defeated Lock Haven (2-3) in an overtime shootout. Ball State (1-4) will travel to Athens, Ohio, Sept. 15 to take on Ohio for the first game of Mid-American Conference play.
After falling to Bucknell (1-3) Friday, Sept. 1, Ball State Field Hockey's season-opening losing streak stretched to four with a 4-1 loss to New Hampshire (4-1). The Cardinals (0-4) return to action Friday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. against the University of Saint Francis (3-2) in Pennsylvania.
Ball State field hockey drops their first of two games in the Buckeye Invitational to Bucknell in overtime (2-1). The loss marks their third straight loss on the season as they drop to 0-3 on the year.
After opening up the season with a 4-3 loss to Villanova Aug. 25, Ball State field hockey suffered a 4-3 loss to Lehigh two days later, dropping to 0-2 to start the 2023 campaign.
As the game was coming to a close with little time on the clock and still down 4-1, it seemed hopeless for the Cardinals to find any sort of life. However, it only took 28 seconds for the Cardinals to make it a one-score game with about three minutes in the game.
“I think just understanding the team better (on what she learned in her first year), I think now knowing our vision, our goals and kind of where we want this program to go,” Walsh said. “I think the team is on board with it. Having that experience and being able to take it to that next level.”
