Ball State's field hockey team is one game away from being eliminated from playoff contention.
With three games remaining, the Cardinals need to win all three along with both Missouri State (5-10) and Longwood (5-9-1) losing their remaining games.
Despite the low odds, head coach Sally Northcroft believes that the four Mid-American Conference tournament seeds are still up for grabs.
“The competition is wide open,” Northcroft said. “Every time we have an opportunity to get better, we’re going to take it.”
In order to qualify for the MAC tournament, teams have to be ranked in the top four after the regular season.
The Cardinals are currently on a three-year drought of not making the playoffs after being knocked out in the first round of the 2010-11 season.
Ball State (2-12, 0-3 MAC) is currently last in the conference but is mathematically still in contention for the last seed of the tournament. Next up on the schedule for the Cardinals are the Missouri State Bears.
While Missouri State is currently sitting on a 5-10 (2-2) record, it's 2-6 on the road.
Northcroft said her team is a group of fighters that is constantly looking for ways to get better.
“The team has a fabulous work ethic,” Northcroft said. “They’re really motivated to learn and work hard.”
Northcroft has been consistent all year with her beliefs that winning and losing isn’t always indicated by the teams record. But, their record needs to be up to par if the Cardinals want to play into November.
Ball State faces off against Missouri State on Oct. 24 at Briner Sports Complex and will need to win in order to keep its playoff hopes alive.
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