by MUNCIE, Ind — Ball State soccer walked to the soccer field at Briner Sports Complex today with black warm-up shirts that had the word “compete” on the back. It’s something Ball State athletics implemented this year as a program motto. According to first-year Cardinals’ head coach Andy Stoots, it fits his program perfectly.
“We have to be the loudest, most competitive team … For what we’re trying to do, and the culture that we’re trying to build, maybe not just from a relational standpoint, but from a performance standpoint, it’s about winning and competing,” Stoots said. “The moments that we waver are the moments the game is going to go against us.”
Though Stoots said he saw that fight in flashes in today’s game, Ball State tied Central Michigan 1-1 in the Red and White’s first home Mid-American Conference (MAC) contest of 2025.
“I’m disappointed in the result, because that’s a game that we would have wanted to get three points out of,” Stoots said. “We’ll have to make sure that we watch the film and just see what we can do better next time.”
The match began as both teams struggled to get near the other’s goal. But the Cardinals (4-4-2 1-0-1 MAC) were able to cut into the Chippewas’ defense as senior Delaney Caldwell stuck the first score of the game into the left corner of the net at the 7:45 mark.
“I’d say I was pretty relieved. I haven’t scored in a minute,” Caldwell said. “It’s always nice to get the first one under your belt, and usually it helps open it up a little bit.”
Following the goal, the score never changed for the rest of the half as the two teams went into the mid-game break 1-0.
Though Central Michigan (0-7-1, 0-1-1 MAC) came into the contest without a goal this season, that changed in the second half as the Chippewas ended the scoreless streak at the 59:42 mark, tying the game 1-1.
While the goal gave the Chippewas some momentum, the Red and White never surrendered. Ball State finished the game with 17 shots, but could only get Caldwell’s kick to convert. One uphill battle both the Cardinals and Central Michigan had to face was the number of fouls called during the match, as each team was called for 11.
“Officiating is something you can’t control, so it’s important to just control what we can,” Ball State senior Emily Roper said. ”I think keeping our composure for calls we may not agree with is really important, just so we don’t get in our heads about it. It’s important to just get behind the ball, make sure we can get the next play and try not to do it again.”
Going forward, Stoots said he wants the team to try and put together complete games. He said that winning at this level is not easy and that it takes everything and every moment.
Despite the unwanted result, the Red and White ended their post-game huddle as they ran to the stands to thank their supporters. To them, the success and hard work jump to another level when the program’s fans root them on.
“They are our biggest supporters. Their energy carries through our entire team,” Roper said. “Because if they don’t show up, we don’t have as much energy. You can see their Ball State Cardinal shirts that they’ve all made. It’s a big thing to go over there and thank them because they really contribute to our energy.”
Ball State will return to Briner Sports Complex Sunday, Sept. 21, as the Cardinals host Kent State (2-3-3, 0-1-0 MAC) at 1 p.m.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.
