Women's Soccer Looks to Move to 3-0 at Ball State on Friday

Friday, August 26

Muncie, Ind.

5 p.m.

Xavier University

Ball State University

Women's Soccer Looks to Move to 3-0 at Ball State on Friday

08.25.16 | Women's Soccer

Live Stats

Musketeers and Cardinals face off at 5:00 p.m.

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's soccer (2-0-0) looks to extend its best start since 2013 on Friday as the Musketeers travel to Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. in search of a third win in three matches. First touch with the Cardinals is set for 5:00 p.m. ET.

ABOUT BALL STATE

MATCH INFO
Friday, Aug. 26 - 5:00 p.m.
Briner Sports Complex
Muncie, Ind.

LIVE STATS

• BSU closed out its opening weekend with a pair of wins after totaling seven goals by six different players. The Cardinals' offensive output ranks T-12th among NCAA DI teams (through 8/24) for total goals and total points (19). BSU stands at T-14 for average scoring offense (3.5 gpg) and points per game (9.5).

• The Cardinals opened the season with a 3-1 win over EKU, getting goals from Emily Scott, Lorina White and Lauren Roll.

• On Sunday BSU topped IUPUI, 4-1, with goals coming from three freshman, including a pair from newcomer Sam Kambol.

• The Cardinals have split time between a pair of goalies, with All-MAC goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel collecting two saves and allowing one goal in 90 minutes of action against EKU. Against IUPUI, junior Tristin Stuteville, a transfer from St. Louis, played all 90 minutes in her regular season debut for the Cardinals, finishing with the two saves and one goal against.

• BSU returned 14 letter winners from last season's Mid-American Conference regular season champions. The Cardinals were picked to win the MAC's West Division, receiving 11 of 12 first place votes in the 2016 Preseason Coaches Poll. Ball State, Central Michigan and Kent State each received a league-leading three votes in the vote on the projected MAC Tournament winner.

• In addition to returning All-MAC defenders Leah Mattingly and White and All-MAC goalkeeper Heintschel, BSU added 10 newcomers to the core of last year's squat the finished 14-3-3 overall and 10-1 in MAC play.

SERIES HISTORY

• Friday's match is the sixth in series history between Xavier and Ball State, with the Musketeers trailing the all-time series, 1-3-1. The series dates back to 2003 and was last played in August 2012 when Xavier fell, 2-1, in double-overtime during the BSU Tournament in Muncie, Ind.

PICCUS PICKS UP HONOR

• Rachel Piccus earned BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week earlier this week after posting a pair of complete game shutouts during the opening weekend. Piccus collected three saves during both the Evansville and EKU matches to pick up the 11th and 12th wins of her career, with nine of those now being complete-game shutouts. This marks the second time in Piccus' career she's been honored as the Goalkeeper of the Week by the BIG EAST.

• Junior midfielder Maddie Tierney also picked up recognition from the conference, earning a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after leading the Musketeers with three total points over the weekend. Against Evansville, Tierney scored on a penalty kick in the 35th minute to put the Musketeers up 2-0, then picked up a third point after assisting on Tori Doss' game winner at EKU.

NCAA LEADERS

• After picking up two shutout wins during the opening weekend of play, Xavier is tied for the top spot in NCAA DI for win percentage. Xavier's defense also stands in the top spot for save percentage (1.000), shutout percentage (1.000) and goals against average (0.000).

• Individually, Rachel Piccus is one of 59 goalies nationwide who didn't allow a goal during the opening weekend and one of only two starting goalkeepers in the BIG EAST to not allow a goal yet this season. BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, Diana Poulin of St. John's, is the other.

• Emily Calvani, who picked up an assist in each of Xavier's two matches, holds the top spot in the BIG EAST for total assists (2.0) and assists per match (1.0). Nationally, Calvani's totals puts her in the top 15 among DI players, with her total assists ranking 11th overall and assists per game ranking 12th.

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier picked up its first road win of the season last Sunday, topping Eastern Kentucky, 2-0, in Richmond, Ky. Tori Doss scored the game winner in the 18th minute, burying the ball in the right corner of the net off assists from Samantha Dewey and Maddie Tierney.

• Courtney Lankford scored the insurance goal in the 69th minute off a pass from Emily Calvani, giving Xavier the 2-0 lead with her first collegiate goal.

• Rachel Piccus and the Musketeer defense limited the Colonels' offense to just three shots on-goal, all which Piccus collected for her second clean sheet in two games this season.

UP NEXT

• Xavier continues its road swing, traveling to Pittsburgh on August 28 for a Sunday match, with first touch set for 1 p.m. Xavier will then travel to Dayon on Sept. 2 for the last of four-straight road games before returning home to host NKU on Sept. 6.