FIELD HOCKEY: Ball State hopes to build on season’s start

Ball State's field hockey team returned from Farmville, Va., on Sunday after opening its season with a 1-1 record.

The Cardinals defeated Longwood 3-2 on Friday, before losing a tough overtime game 4-3 against Appalachian State on Sunday.

Junior midfielder, Caitlin Maguire, said her team's performance set a good foundation as it enters a pair of home games this weekend against Robert Morris and St. Louis.

"I think we've started on a good base," she said. "We are in the beginning stages and still building. There were breakdowns, but there were definitely successes as well."

Though the team had a couple of "breakdowns", they also had their strengths.

"Communication and teamwork was a big success," senior forward, Ellen Vonderbrink, said. "We worked through our lapses and on getting the ball in the cage and down the field."

The team faces Robert Morris at home, Friday at 3 p.m. Vonderbrink said the Cardinals hope to take what they learned from their loss and turn it into positive motivation.

"We need to make sure we never stop fighting," she said. "That is our motto for this year. We have to continue to give it our all throughout the game."

In practice, the team is focusing on details, speed and stick-to-stick passing.

"I definitely want to see us getting the ball in the cage more and want to show everyone that Ball State field hockey is coming this year to win," Maguire said.

Robert Morris is the first home game of the season. Maguire said the team is excited to see people come out and support them.

"I am excited for the home crowd, and that we started off good," she said. "I am excited to show people what we've got and to be at home protecting our field."