Friday, September 22
Bowling Green, Ohio
7:00 PM
Ball State University
3-5-1 (1-0-0MAC)
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Bowling Green
5-3-0 (0-1-0MAC)
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Ball State
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Bowling Green
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Photo by: Scott Mattlin
Soccer Tops Bowling Green 2-1 to Start MAC Play
September 22, 2017 | Soccer
Cardinals win league opener for sixth consecutive season
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Alessandra Fistrovich and Julia Elvbo netted their first goals of the season Friday evening as the Ball State soccer team began Mid-American Conference play the same way it has each of the past five seasons … with a win.
The Cardinals prevailed 2-1 as they opened defense of their back-to-back regular season championships by defeating the team with the league's best record in non-conference play.
"Bowling Green is a newly revamped team with a lot of energy and a lot of confidence this season," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. "They're a team you'll see down the road contending for things. Going on the road and picking up three points is always difficult. I think our girls arrived ready to play, and we were committed to what we needed to do."
Ball State (3-5-1, 1-0-0 MAC) hurt Bowling Green with its depth, bringing waves of fresh players who helped the Cardinals generate more and more of an attack as the game progressed. The Falcons (5-3-0, 0-1-0 MAC) entered the evening as the league's highest scoring team and one of its stingiest on defense.
All three goals Friday came during a 20-minute stretch of the second half, and Ball State's both came from key subs. Actually, Ball State doesn't really like that term. The Cardinals prefer to call them game-changers, and that's exactly what they did Friday.
Fistrovich broke through first after 60 minutes of scoreless action. The junior midfielder, who already had two assists on the year, registered her first collegiate goal. Lucy Walton played the ball up to Elvbo who found Fistrovich wide open with a cross. The Indianapolis native finished it off in front of the goal to give the Cardinals their first lead.
That one didn't stand for long. Bowling Green answered just six minutes later when Chelsee Washington got on the end of a corner kick and headed it home to tie things up.
But the equalizer did not seem to deflate Ball State. The Cardinals continued to attack, generating a few scoring chances before Elvbo cracked the code in the 80th minute as BSU regained the lead. Peighton Cook directed the ball across the net to a racing Elvbo for the game-winner.
"With our team, it's never just about the starting 11," Roberts said. "Sa and Julia came in and did a fantastic job changing the game and scoring the goals. We have a great variety of individuals who can threaten the goal. As we continue to get stronger, we'll be a hard team to scout because of our versatility."
Ball State held up for the final 10 minutes as Bowling Green pressed in an attempt to tie the game again. The Falcons' Erica Hubert looked like she might do just that when she ripped a shot toward the corner of the net, but goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel dove to deflect it away and preserve the lead.
Heintschel finished with four saves on the night. It was the first time in four games neither Hubert nor Skylar Fleak, the MAC's top point collector, scored a goal for the Falcons.
Ball State snapped Bowling Green's three-game winning streak, and the Cardinals improved to 20-2-1 in conference play dating back to the 2015 season.
They will look to continue that run Sunday when they visit Toledo for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
The Cardinals prevailed 2-1 as they opened defense of their back-to-back regular season championships by defeating the team with the league's best record in non-conference play.
"Bowling Green is a newly revamped team with a lot of energy and a lot of confidence this season," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. "They're a team you'll see down the road contending for things. Going on the road and picking up three points is always difficult. I think our girls arrived ready to play, and we were committed to what we needed to do."
Ball State (3-5-1, 1-0-0 MAC) hurt Bowling Green with its depth, bringing waves of fresh players who helped the Cardinals generate more and more of an attack as the game progressed. The Falcons (5-3-0, 0-1-0 MAC) entered the evening as the league's highest scoring team and one of its stingiest on defense.
All three goals Friday came during a 20-minute stretch of the second half, and Ball State's both came from key subs. Actually, Ball State doesn't really like that term. The Cardinals prefer to call them game-changers, and that's exactly what they did Friday.
Fistrovich broke through first after 60 minutes of scoreless action. The junior midfielder, who already had two assists on the year, registered her first collegiate goal. Lucy Walton played the ball up to Elvbo who found Fistrovich wide open with a cross. The Indianapolis native finished it off in front of the goal to give the Cardinals their first lead.
That one didn't stand for long. Bowling Green answered just six minutes later when Chelsee Washington got on the end of a corner kick and headed it home to tie things up.
But the equalizer did not seem to deflate Ball State. The Cardinals continued to attack, generating a few scoring chances before Elvbo cracked the code in the 80th minute as BSU regained the lead. Peighton Cook directed the ball across the net to a racing Elvbo for the game-winner.
"With our team, it's never just about the starting 11," Roberts said. "Sa and Julia came in and did a fantastic job changing the game and scoring the goals. We have a great variety of individuals who can threaten the goal. As we continue to get stronger, we'll be a hard team to scout because of our versatility."
Ball State held up for the final 10 minutes as Bowling Green pressed in an attempt to tie the game again. The Falcons' Erica Hubert looked like she might do just that when she ripped a shot toward the corner of the net, but goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel dove to deflect it away and preserve the lead.
Heintschel finished with four saves on the night. It was the first time in four games neither Hubert nor Skylar Fleak, the MAC's top point collector, scored a goal for the Falcons.
Ball State snapped Bowling Green's three-game winning streak, and the Cardinals improved to 20-2-1 in conference play dating back to the 2015 season.
They will look to continue that run Sunday when they visit Toledo for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Team Stats
BSU
BGSU
Goals
2
1
Shots
12
14
Shots on Goal
6
5
Saves
4
4
Corners
6
7
Fouls
7
6
Scoring Plays
FISTROVICH, A. (1)
Assisted By: ELVBO, Julia , WALTON, Lucy
GOAL by BSU FISTROVICH, A. (FIRST GOAL), Assist by ELVBO, Julia and WALTON, Lucy, goal number 1 for season.
60:54
WASHINGTON, Chelsee (1)
Assisted By: KENNEDY, Maureen
GOAL by BGSU WASHINGTON, Chelsee, Assist by KENNEDY, Maureen, goal number 1 for season.
66:35
ELVBO, Julia (1)
Assisted By: COOK, Peighton , GUERRERO, Paula
GOAL by BSU ELVBO, Julia, Assist by COOK, Peighton and GUERRERO, Paula, goal number 1 for season.
79:31
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
M
/ SoccerM/F
/ SoccerM
/ Soccer
GK
/ SoccerM/D
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