TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State heads to Muncie, Ind. and Ball State University for its lone exhibition of the 2026 season as the Sycamores open up play on Thursday night at the Briner Sports Complex. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET for the exhibition match and will not be streamed.
 
The Sycamores head into the third season under the leadership of head coach Paul Lawrence as Indiana State looks to build off an 8-6-6 record, including a 4-2-3 mark in Missouri Valley play. The season included Indiana State's first home MVC playoff match since the 2021 season after finishing third overall in the MVC standings.
 
Indiana State returns four of its top five leading goal scorers from the 2025 campaign, including junior forward Alex Lehnert who paced the Sycamores with nine goals and six assists over the year. The New Lenox, Ill. native led the Valley in points (24), points per game (1.20), goals scored (9), assists (6), and was second in the league in shots per game (2.85).
 
Also returning for the Sycamores include forward Tori Angelo (six goals, two assists), Isabella Berta (three goals, four assists), and Kaitlynn Long (three goals, four assists). Addyson Warner (three goals), and Quinn Urquhart (two goals) also found success in finding the back of the net multiple times last season.
 
Indiana State also looks to the development of forward Hailey Morgan, CharlieBleu Saunders, Elise McDonald, Peyton Wetzel, Ashlyn Cohen, and Addison Hamm, while freshmen Meagyn Riffle and Emely Lopez are expected to see playing time in the early portion of the season.
 
Defensively, the Sycamores return strength with the development of defenders Riley Mathews and Mackenzie Mills following standout freshmen seasons. Indiana State also returns the experience of Avery Oergel, Madison Ziebarth, Kaylin Klutcharch, and Freya Robbie to help anchor the backline.
 
The Sycamores also welcomed depth and athleticism to the defensive group with the additions of Ava Evans, Dominae Butler, Ava Stevens set to bolster the group.
 
Inside the net, Indiana State will see several new faces make their debut with the Sycamores in the 2026 season. Sophomore Sofie Hansen, freshman Allie Turnbull, and sophomore Annah Wasiak are expected to battle for playing time as the season continues.
 
The Sycamores take on an experienced Ball State team that posted a 10-7-3 (7-4-1) mark in the Mid-American Conference in 2025 in their exhibition. The Cardinals made marked strides under head coach Andy Stoots heading into his second season on the pitch.

Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Soccer, visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.