Indiana field hockey looks to extend its winning streak to four games Sunday when it travels to Muncie, Indiana, to face Ball State University.
The Hoosiers are coming off a 2-1 win over Cornell University on Friday in Columbus, Ohio. The victory followed 4-0 and 5-0 wins over the University of New Hampshire and Central Michigan University, respectively.
Indiana has scored first in each of its last three games and has outshot its opponents in each game during the winning streak. The Hoosiers are averaging 19.6 shots per game this season, while opponents average 9.2.
Sophomore forward Celia Arroyo Cabezudo leads Indiana with four goals this season, while sophomore forward/midfielder Molly Stutte has three goals and five assists. Stutte scored twice in Indiana’s win over Central Michigan and assisted on senior forward/midfielder Theresa Ricci’s goal against Cornell.
The Hoosiers will also look to continue their strong defensive play. Freshman goalkeeper Isa Smulders completed her first full game of the season against Cornell on Friday, recording two saves on three shots on goal.
Ball State enters Sunday’s matchup with a 2-2 record. The Cardinals opened the season with a 1-0 loss to Bucknell University before winning consecutive games against Sacred Heart University, 3-2, and Lehigh University, 5-4. They most recently lost 8-0 to the University of Iowa.
The Cardinals are led offensively by junior midfielder/defender Lauren Lewis and senior forward Julia Verratti. Lewis has scored two goals and recorded one assist this season, while Verratti has one goal and three assists. Lewis was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week after scoring twice against Lehigh and recording three defensive saves against Iowa.
Ball State head coach Caitlin Johnson is in her fifth season leading the Cardinals. Johnson has guided Ball State to multiple Mid-American Conference Tournament appearances, including the program’s first appearance since 2019 during her debut season in 2022. The Cardinals also posted back-to-back seven-win seasons under Johnson; an accomplishment the program had not achieved since the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
Indiana and Ball State previously met in a scrimmage Aug. 20 at Briner Sports Complex in Muncie, Indiana.
The Hoosiers lead the all-time series against the Cardinals with 21 wins, six losses and one tie. Indiana beat the Cardinals 2-0 in 2024. Sunday will be Ball State’s first regular season home game of the season and annual Alumni Game.
The Hoosiers and Cardinals will meet at 11 a.m. Sunday at Briner Sports Complex in Muncie, Indiana. The game will stream on ESPN+.
Follow reporter Jack Davis (@JackDavis0006 and jjd5@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana field hockey season.
