On Senior Day, it was a freshman who stole the show.
Ball State freshman Allie White scored a goal just two minutes into the match as she put her shot past Bellarmine’s goalkeeper. White scored her second goal 11 minutes later as part of a 3-0 victory in the Cardinals final field hockey match of the season.
“I was excited,” White said. “I was proud of myself for finally doing it, because I’ve been trying to get several goals in a game.”
She scored her sixth and seventh goals of the season on Sunday.
Tarel Teach scored a goal at the 14:37 mark of the first half. It was Teach’s seventh goal of the season, tying her with White for the team’s lead on the season.
The Cardinals went into halftime with a 3-0 lead that held until the end of the match.
Freshman goalkeeper Shelby Henley started the match, giving up no goals. She was relieved by freshman goalkeeper Maddi Elliott at halftime, who completed the shutout.
“They both did a nice job,” coach Beth Maddox said. “They were organizing and working with the girls. A shutout is always nice.”
Seniors Marisa Weachter and Devon Bell were honored before the match.
Both Weachter and Bell were four-year letter winners at Ball State. Weachter scored three goals in her career, with two of them coming this year.
Bell has scored two goals in her career — both coming in 2012.
“It was definitely interesting,” Bell said of Senior Day. “Marisa and I have been through a lot together, so it was nice to end it together. It was emotional, but it was awesome.”
Bell said in order to take their minds off the emotions of the day, she and Weachter danced through the warmups before the match.
“We’ll probably dance all night now,” Bell said. “It’s different. I’m a retired athlete now.”
Weachter said she didn’t have a specific favorite memory from her four years with the team, except for simply being with the team.
“I love this team. They’re great,” Weachter said. “Just being with them was a lot of fun.”
Despite the victory, Ball State’s season ended on Sunday. Maddox was happy to be able to end the season with a win.
“There’s no better way to go out,” she said. “Most teams don’t get the opportunity, so we’ll take it.”
Aside from the departing seniors, every player on the roster is either a freshman or a sophomore. Maddox said she believes the team will progress well throughout the years.
“We’ll get there,” Maddox said. “We’re bringing in a good group next year. They’ll be a good support staff for the group we already have. ... They’ve made progress. They’re learning, and that’s the most important thing. It’ll be a positive future for us.”
With the victory, Ball State’s season record will end at 4-14.
“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Maddox said of the 2012 season. “We knew it was going to be inconsistent, in a lot of ways so it kind of was what we expected. ... They’re moving in the right direction. It’s a process though.”
