LIVE STATS VS. BALL STATE | LIVE STATS VS. MIAMI (OHIO)

OPENING STICK VS. BALL STATE
Friday's meeting between Saint Francis and Ball State marks the fourth meeting in the all-time series dating back to the 2017 season. This will be the first meeting on Ball State's field after playing two matches on neutral ground and at DeGol Field last year. Ball State leads the all-time series 2-1, including a 2-1 win last season in Loretto. The Red Flash's last win was a 4-0 decision in 2018.
 
THE WORD ON BALL STATE
Ball State finished 2021 4-13 and 2-5 in conference play. The squad returns 20 letterwinners including four of its Top-5 scorers from last season. Kerrianne McClay returns after leading the team with three goals for six points. Lexi Kansky and Michaela Graney each found the twice and Paloma Rengifo posted a goal and an assist for three points. Hannah Johnston has 88 saves, a .759 save percentage and a 3.76 goals against average in 670:19 minutes.
 
THE LAST TIME WE MET BALL STATE
Ball State scored 37 seconds into overtime on a penalty corner to edge Saint Francis 2-1 on September 5, 2021. Paloma Rengifo, who scored the first goal of the game in the 21st minute, assisted Kerrianne McClay's decisive tally in the extra session. Eva Valentini tied the game with 10 seconds left in regulation. Chloe South made five saves for the Red Flash, while Hannah Johnston had one stop for Ball State.
 
OPENING STICK VS. MIAMI (OHIO)
Sunday's meeting between Saint Francis and Miami (Ohio) marks the fifth meeting in the all-time series dating back to the 2012 season. It will be the fifth meeting in Ohio with Miami taking all five matchups.
 
THE WORD ON MIAMI (OHIO)
Miami (Ohio) finished 2021 with a 12-11 overall record and a 6-1 conference mark. The squad returns three of its Top-5 scorers, including leading scorer Claudia Negrete Garcia after she led the team with 18 goals and nine assists for 45 points. Paula Pena ranked third on the team with six tallies and one assist for 13 points, while Luli Rosso added two tallies and eight helpers for 12 points. Isabelle Perese is back to protect the cage after making 102 saves, a 1.79 goals against average and .708 save percentage.
 
LAST TIME WE MET MIAMI (OHIO)
Miami (Ohio) defeated Saint Francis 4-0 on September 26, 2021. Claudia Negrete Garcia scored a pair of goals and added an assist.
 
NEXT TIME OUT
The Red Flash will stay on the road for Labor Day Weekend at Brown on September 2 and at Holy Cross on September 4. The squad will make its 2022 DeGol Field debut against Georgetown on September 11.
 
FOR STARTERS
Saint Francis begins its 22nd season in program history on the road at Ball State on Friday. The squad will start the year on the road for the third time under head coach Maria Bettiana Ceretta and the first time since the 2019 season. The squad begins the year on the road for the 15th time in team history.
 
RETURNING ALL-NEC
Saint Francis begins its second year back in the Northeast Conference and also returning are All-NEC second-team performers Claudia Ortiz and Eva Valentini. Valentini led the team with eight goals and six assists for 22 points while Ortiz ranked second with six tallies and four assists for 16 points.
 
NEW TO THE 'LO
Freshmen Chloe Butz and Madison Waldspurger both joined the team for the 2022 season. Assistant coach Danielle Baumgardner also joined the staff and started in the spring of 2021.
 
ABOUT THE COACH
Head coach Maria Bettiana Ceretta begins her sixth season as the field hockey head coach at Saint Francis. Earlier this year, she became an American citizen.