Ball State University Athletics
Reed Leads Field Hockey To MAC Win Over Ohio
October 13, 2006 | Field Hockey
Senior midfielder Tara Reed scored two goals Friday, including what proved to be the game-winner, as the Ball State field hockey team earned a 3-2 victory over Mid-American Conference-leading Ohio.
Junior forward Katie Kloeckener scored the other goal for the Cardinals, who improved to 3-2 in the MAC (4-9 overall) and snapped a 14-game losing streak against the Bobcats.
"We understood how important this game was to us no matter who we were playing," Ball State coach Annette Payne said. "Maybe we had a little more initiative because it was Ohio, but right now our players are really driven."
For the second straight game, Ball State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Kloeckener rebounded a shot and found the cage four minutes into the game to put the Cardinals on top 1-0.
Defense ruled the rest of the first half with neither team able to get many looks at the cage, but a goal just before halftime by Ohio's Torrie Albini knotted the game at 1-1.
"Our defense was great," Payne said. "It's been a big emphasis for us to play an attacking defense, and we did that today."
Coming out of halftime, Ball State struck quickly again. Reed picked up a loose ball in front of the cage and flipped it in at the 36:21 mark to give the Cardinals a two goal advantage.
Reed scored her second goal of the day in the 56th minute when she rebounded a shot on the right side of the goal knocked it in the cage to give Ball State a 3-1 edge.
Reed led the Cardinals with five shots. The two goals were her fourth and fifth of the season, and they helped Ball State earn its first win over Ohio since 2000.
Albini scored another Bobcat goal on a penalty corner in the closing minute, but Reed's second goal proved to be the game-winner.
Ball State has now won three games in a row for the first time since September 2002. The Cardinals return to action Saturday and will celebrate Senior Day when they host Kent State at 1 p.m.
