The Marshall University women’s soccer team travels to Muncie, Indiana Friday, September 16 to take on Ball State University. The last time these two foes met was in 2004, when The Herd still competed in the Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals claimed a 1-0 victory, giving Ball State a 3-2-1 all-time advantage.
Thus far Marshall has recorded a 2-4-1 record throughout the early going of the 2011 season. The Herd has attempted 96 shots, 34 shots-on-goal, and ten goals. MU has escaped defeat in their previous two games and has tallied six goals in the last two competitions. Senior Angela DeSumma (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East HS) leads Marshall with 26 shots, three goals, and three assists throughout the seven contests. Senior co-captain Freya Holdaway (Llandrindod Wells, Wales/Llandrindod HS) is second in points with four, tallying two goals.
Ball State also hasn’t lost in their last two competitions, which has propelled the Cardinals to a 3-3-1 record throughout its 2011 campaign. BSU has picked up wins over Murray State, Indiana State, and Lamar, while losing to WKU, #19 Illinois, and Xavier. The Cardinals have outshot its seven opponents 107-82, including shots on goal 59-37. Brigit Reder leads Ball State with 11 points, generated by five goals and one assist.
Coach Kevin Long knows he’s seen what it takes for his team to be successful against any team. However, he also knows where they can’t be exposed. “Our team is showcasing that the more we possess the ball, the more opportunities we have to score. We need to go to Ball State and control the ball and the number of possessions.”
Long continued, “Ball State, like Morehead [State], plays physical, direct play. We need to play alongside those teams because that type of play is exactly what we will see in our conference schedule. Altogether, we need to own and execute the style that works within our system both offensively and defensively.”
Live stats for Friday’s 4 p.m. showdown can be seen here.