The field hockey team has followed Saturday's come-from-behind overtime win against Central Michigan with a week of intense practice, head coach Annette Payne said.
"We've really been working hard at keeping our level of play up," Payne said. "We've got five tough games ahead of us to get ready for."
The Cardinals (6-8, 3-2 Mid-American Conference) face Miami today and Louisville Saturday, both at home. Payne said the team needs to build off the emotional win against Central Michigan and keep the momentum going.
To do this, she said, the Cardinals must bring the same energy to this weekend's games.
"We have to keep up that level of intensity," Payne said. "We have to come out hard from the start and keep attacking."
Ball State has won five in a row against Miami and three in a row against Louisville. Louisville was ranked in the Top 20 the last three times the Cardinals won and now comes to Muncie ranked No. 21.
With the Cardinals' recent success against the two opponents, Payne said the teams should come out ready to fight.
Then again, all MAC games are tough, she said.
"Everyone in the MAC wants to be a contender," Payne said. "It's going to be a day to compete for both these teams. Neither of these games will be taken lightly."
The RedHawks are 1-10 and in last place in the MAC with no wins. They have only beaten the Cardinals six times since 1976.
Payne has not named a starter yet for this weekend, nor would she comment on who the starter would be.
In Saturday's victory against Central Michigan, starting sophomore goalie Tracy Bannister gave up two goals in the first 14 minutes of play. In the previous game, she yielded a season-high five goals to Ohio State. Payne pulled Bannister and put in freshman Jessie Malone for the first time this season.
Malone gave up one goal and had three saves. Payne said she was pleased with her play but also said she wouldn't name a starter for the Miami game until after the week of practice.
She did say that both goalies worked hard in practice.
Senior Afton Hess has also worked hard. Hess has been at the top of the MAC goals and scoring lists all season. She is currently second in goals with 11 and first in points with 28. She also ranks nationally in those categories. She is 14th in the country in goals scored and 17th in overall points.
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