Hoosiers face off against in-state rival

The IU women's field hockey team heads up to Muncie today to face off against in-state rival Ball State.\nThe Hoosiers enter today's game with a 2-0 record after beating two Mid-American Conference teams, Central Michigan and Miami Ohio, last weekend to open up the season. Against Miami, the Hoosiers set several team scoring records including most goals scored in one game (7), two players set the record for most assists by one player in a game with two (senior Jamie O'Pray and sophomore Nikki Orciuch), and junior Kayla Bashore tied the team record for most goals in a game by an individual with two. \nLast year the Hoosiers faced off against Ball State twice, losing both games. Coach Amy Robertson is hoping for better results this year against the Cardinals.\n"We love playing Ball State. I think it's a real healthy rivalry," Robertson said. "I think they will bring out the best in us so far. They are an excellent team they are 2-0 in the first two games. It is kind of like the in-state bragging rights, so a lot is on the line in this game, and they had two victories against us last year and we would like to pay them back a little bit and leave Muncie with a victory."\nLast year in the two games, Ball State won 3-0 and 1-0 respectively, senior goalie Molly Pulkrabek, is looking for some revenge.\n"Yes (there is a revenge factor) I think Ball State is always our rival, I want to beat them, and we will see how it goes," she said.\nFreshman Morgan Miller who was Big Ten defensive player of the week is also excited about playing Ball State, but for a different reason.\n"I'm really excited to play Ball State this weekend, because they were one of the places I visited to play (field) hockey, so I am really excited to get to play against them," Miller said.\nThe Hoosiers will also clash with the Southwest Missouri State Bears in Muncie Saturday, a team that beat the Hoosiers two years ago. Robertson is looking forward to seeing the difference between her team from two years ago and the one that will face the Bears this weekend.\n"We haven't played Southwest Missouri State since 2001 and I look forward to seeing how much progress we have made as a team since we last played them," Robertson said.\nToday's game against Ball State will start at 3 p.m. at BSU Artificial Stadium, while tomorrow's game against Southwest Missouri State will be played at noon at BSU's stadium.\n-- Contact staff writer Andrew Rosen at ajrosen@indiana.edu.