MUNCIE, Ind. – Bellarmine is set for a pair of Mid-American Conference field hockey games this weekend as they make a push to be included in the six-team field for the MAC Championship. The Knights will visit Ball State Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET before hosting James Madison on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET at Trager Stadium.
 
Bellarmine (2-11, 2-3 MAC) is currently tied for seventh in the standings with Central Michigan at 2-3 with five points apiece, one point behind 2-3 Kent State for the sixth spot.
 
About Ball State
Ball State (3-12, 1-4 MAC) sits at No. 73 in the RPI and is coming off a 5-1 loss Tuesday at Michigan State. The Cardinals own wins over Saint Louis (3-2), Lock Haven (2-1 in OT) and Longwood (4-3). Three of their four conference losses have been by one goal (Central Michigan, Kent State in overtime and Ohio).
 
Julia Verratti leads the Cardinals offensively, scoring four goals and adding two assists for a team-best 10 points. The junior forward has taken just 13 shots to get those four goals, good for a .308 shot percentage. Freshman forward Jade Vandevoorde is second on BSU with nine points on three goals and three assists. Senior middie Emma van Hal leads the team with a whopping 39 shots, 10 more than Verratti and Vandevoorde combined, though she has just one goal, finally putting one in the cage Tuesday at Michigan State.
 
Keeper Carliegh Hofelich, a Louisville native and Assumption product, has played in the last 10 games and started the last nine. The junior is 42nd nationally with her .713 save percentage.
 
In addition to Hofelich, Ball State also has another Louisville native on the roster in sophomore forward Caroline Massey (Ballard).
 
Bellarmine is 3-6 all-time against Ball State. The Cardinals spoiled the Knights' Senior Day last year, earning a 2-1 win at Trager Stadium in an effort that included a goal by van Hal. Annie Malloy scored for Bellarmine.
 
About James Madison
James Madison (8-6, 3-2 MAC) is No. 25 in the RPI and alone in fourth place in the MAC. The Dukes can make a statement on Friday before heading to Louisville when they host Massachusetts, who is currently tied for first with Miami (OH) at 4-1 with 12 points apiece.
 
The Dukes offense, 24th nationally averaging 2.64 goals, is led by a pair of playmakers in Madelief Molier and Alice Roeper, who are tied for the team lead with 25 points apiece. A sophomore from The Netherlands, Molier is tied for 14th nationally averaging 0.92 goals per game while Roeper, a senior from The Netherlands, is tied for 28th at 0.77.
 
Sophomore keeper Molly Schreiner has started all 14 games and is 36th nationally with her .726 save percentage.
 
Bellarmine is 0-2 all-time against James Madison. The Dukes won 6-0 last October in Harrisonburg, Va., getting goals from six different players.
 
Pink Game
Sunday's match against JMU marks the Knights' annual Pink Game. The team will wear pink warmup shirts and socks while advocating for the National Foundation for Cancer Research and Susan G. Komen. The Knights invite fans to wear pink and kindly ask you to consider giving to either organization by clicking on their respective link.
 
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow the Knights on X, Instagram and Facebook.