Despite the 26 shots total, neither team could pull off the win. Ball State (7-8-3, 2-6-3 MAC) ended No. 11 while Toledo (6-7-5, 3-4-4 MAC) finished No. 10 in MAC standing.
“At some point everyone’s season comes to an end, then you reassess, regroup and start over again. Unfortunately for us, we just started that process a little sooner than others,” head coach Josh Rife said.
Both teams attempted to use the environment to their advantage by playing over the other teams head for through balls, but this ultimately led to more offside calls. The Cardinals had three, while the Rockets finished with two.
With today’s results, graduate students forward Avery Fenchel and defender Jordyn Jeffers end their collegiate soccer career in a 0-0 tie against Toledo.
Fenchel has found success as a Cardinal, tying the program's career goals record with 30, making the Academic All Mid-American Conference (MAC) Team twice in 2021 and 2022 while also making All-MAC First team in 2022 and tying four other Ball state records.
“It’s pretty bittersweet… I think to just take a minute to reflect and look back, there is a lot to be proud of,” Fenchel said.
Her plan is to take a breather and get her feet under her before stepping back into the gym and on the field as she hopes to play professionally.
Jeffers unties her cleats for the last time with the success of an Academic All-MAC in 2022.
“I’m really proud of everything this team has done in the past five years… getting to the (MAC) tournament three out of my five years, making it to the MAC championship game, two of my five years, and just this team pushing through adversity and being there for each other,” Jeffers said.
She plans to finish school this fall with a business certificate and continue working her job at Ball Memorial Hospital before attending physicians assistant school next fall.
Although their time on the field has come to end, they have created lifelong bonds with teammates, potential future roommates, bridesmaids and best friends.
Part of the reason Fenchel came to Ball State was the culture of the team and the support they had for each other. She hopes to continue this legacy by watching all their games and talking with her closest friends on the team every day.
Every year a senior class leaves the soccer program and new athletes step into their shoes. Rife explained that their time, commitment, dedication, passion and support they had for their team did not go unnoticed.
“Thank you to our seniors… I appreciate even when they didn’t get what they wanted, they still showed up for their teammates. I think that’s so important and so critical and it’s much appreciated,” Rife said.
Contact Meghan Sawitzke via email at meghan.sawitzke@bsu.edu or via X @MSawitzke.
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