Thursday, October 19
Buffalo, N.Y.
7:00 PM
Ball State University
9-6-2 (7-1-1MAC)
2
at
1
Buffalo
6-8-2 (4-4-1MAC)
1
2
F
Ball State
1
1
2
Buffalo
0
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1
Photo by: Scott Mattlin
Soccer Locks up MAC West with 2-1 Win at Buffalo
October 19, 2017 | Soccer
Yela Ziswiler scores twice, answers Buffalo’s tying goal with late tally
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Ball State soccer team demonstrated its resiliency Thursday night, answering a late penalty kick from Buffalo to pull out a 2-1 victory over the Bulls on their home turf.
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Sophomore defender Yela Ziswiler scored both Ball State goals as the Cardinals secured a third straight Mid-American Conference West Division championship. BSU is the first program to achieve three straight division crowns since the MAC went to divisions in 2010.
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Ball State locked up a quarterfinal home game for the conference tournament and will be no worse than the No. 2 seed. The Cardinals (9-6-2, 7-1-1 MAC) remain two points behind Kent State in the overall league standings with two games left to play.
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"Yela stepping up on the set pieces tonight was great to see," Ball State head coach Craig Roberts said. "And I thought Paula Guerrero played a very good game. We did very well defensively and were unlucky to give up a goal."
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Senior goalkeeper Tristin Stuteville made nine saves and teamed with the back line to keep Buffalo (6-8-2, 4-4-1 MAC) off the scoreboard until the 77th minute.
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Up until that point, Ziswiler's 42nd-minute goal was the only one of the night. It came as the result of a corner kick that was deflected in the box before Sam Mattlin ripped a shot off the post. Ziswiler was there for the rebound and sent it past UB keeper Laura Dougall.
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Buffalo picked up its attack in the second half, but Ball State was able to fend off the Bulls' attempts until Ziswiler was whistled for a foul in the box in the 77th minute. Buffalo's Julia Benati converted the penalty kick to tie the game.
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But the Cardinals were not deflated.
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"They pressured us hard in the second half, and we didn't have that many opportunities," Ziswiler said. "Once they scored, we knew we had to put pressure on them. I gave up the PK, and I was mad so I was like, 'I have to score now.'"
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And that's just what she did. Not even two minutes later, Lauren Roll made a play to earn another BSU corner kick. Allison Abbe sent a great ball into the 6-yard box, and Ziswiler was able to deflect it into the net for the game-winner.
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"We had some things go against us tonight, and I felt we dropped off a little bit in the second half," Roberts said. "But I thought our team demonstrated great character to not let anything get us down."
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Thursday's game was the first of three straight on the road for Ball State to close out the regular season. The Cardinals will continue this week's trip Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest at Akron.
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Sophomore defender Yela Ziswiler scored both Ball State goals as the Cardinals secured a third straight Mid-American Conference West Division championship. BSU is the first program to achieve three straight division crowns since the MAC went to divisions in 2010.
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Ball State locked up a quarterfinal home game for the conference tournament and will be no worse than the No. 2 seed. The Cardinals (9-6-2, 7-1-1 MAC) remain two points behind Kent State in the overall league standings with two games left to play.
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"Yela stepping up on the set pieces tonight was great to see," Ball State head coach Craig Roberts said. "And I thought Paula Guerrero played a very good game. We did very well defensively and were unlucky to give up a goal."
Â
Senior goalkeeper Tristin Stuteville made nine saves and teamed with the back line to keep Buffalo (6-8-2, 4-4-1 MAC) off the scoreboard until the 77th minute.
Â
Up until that point, Ziswiler's 42nd-minute goal was the only one of the night. It came as the result of a corner kick that was deflected in the box before Sam Mattlin ripped a shot off the post. Ziswiler was there for the rebound and sent it past UB keeper Laura Dougall.
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Buffalo picked up its attack in the second half, but Ball State was able to fend off the Bulls' attempts until Ziswiler was whistled for a foul in the box in the 77th minute. Buffalo's Julia Benati converted the penalty kick to tie the game.
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But the Cardinals were not deflated.
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"They pressured us hard in the second half, and we didn't have that many opportunities," Ziswiler said. "Once they scored, we knew we had to put pressure on them. I gave up the PK, and I was mad so I was like, 'I have to score now.'"
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And that's just what she did. Not even two minutes later, Lauren Roll made a play to earn another BSU corner kick. Allison Abbe sent a great ball into the 6-yard box, and Ziswiler was able to deflect it into the net for the game-winner.
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"We had some things go against us tonight, and I felt we dropped off a little bit in the second half," Roberts said. "But I thought our team demonstrated great character to not let anything get us down."
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Thursday's game was the first of three straight on the road for Ball State to close out the regular season. The Cardinals will continue this week's trip Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest at Akron.
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Team Stats
BSU
BUF
Goals
2
1
Shots
12
14
Shots on Goal
7
10
Saves
9
5
Corners
3
2
Fouls
8
7
Scoring Plays
ZISWILER, Yela (1)
Assisted By: MATTLIN, Sam
gather rebound, fired shot into right co
42:00
BENATI, Julia (6)
BUF BENATI, Julia PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 6 for season.
76:59
ZISWILER, Yela (2)
Assisted By: ABBE, Allison
rebound off corner
78:37
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M/F
/ Soccer
M
/ SoccerD
/ SoccerM
/ Soccer
GK
/ SoccerD
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