A Fresh Start for the Cardinals
Ball State’s soccer program will begin its 2026 regular season on Wednesday at 4 p.m., welcoming IU Indianapolis to the Briner Sports Complex. The match marks the first official game of the year and sets the tone for a campaign that promises both continuity and change.
Head coach Andy Stoots, in his inaugural year leading the Cardinals, inherits a roster that finished the previous season with a 10‑7‑3 overall record and a 7‑4‑1 mark in the Mid‑American Conference. The team carries a series advantage over IU Indy, having won the most recent encounter 1‑0 on August 31 in Indianapolis.
IU Indianapolis, guided by head coach Angela Berry White, concluded its last campaign with a 4‑11‑3 overall record and a 3‑5‑2 tally in the Horizon League. The upcoming clash will test whether the Cardinals can translate their recent conference success into a fresh start under Stoots’ direction.
The Cardinals’ defense returns several key pieces, including defenders Delaney Ahearn, Audrey Goodyear, Grier Isaacson and Jordyn Klaasen, as well as junior goalkeeper Kate Pallante. Pallante was instrumental in the team’s Mid‑American Conference Tournament run, posting a shutout against No. 5 seed Kent State and advancing via a penalty‑kick shootout.
This season’s roster blends experience with new blood. In addition to the 16 returning players, the squad welcomes seven freshmen and two transfers. Junior forwards Francesca Terrasi and Caleigh Collard join from Florida International, while true freshmen such as defenders Kari Radford and Caiya Clemons, midfielders Natalia Garcia‑Souffront, Mary Jane Keller, Anna Kate Robillard and Kate Klinginsmith, and forward Lilamae Frank add depth and fresh energy.
After a series of road tests at Butler (August 20), Western Kentucky (August 23) and Purdue (August 27), the Cardinals will enjoy the comfort of home when they host Cincinnati on August 30. The matchup promises to showcase the team’s evolving chemistry and the impact of its newest contributors.