Ball State University Athletics
Field Hockey Scores Late, Falls In OT In Championship Game
November 04, 2006 | Field Hockey
ATHENS, Ohio - The Ball State field hockey team closed out regulation in heroic fashion Saturday in the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game, but host and No. 1 seed Ohio escaped with a 2-1 overtime win.
Ohio's game-winner came 10 minutes into the first overtime period.
After an acrobatic save by Ball State goalkeeper Caroline Lehman and a defensive save by Cardinal defender Jodi Mann, Ohio's Torrie Albini gathered the ball near the top of the circle and ripped a shot into the back of the cage to give the Bobcats the tournament championship.
For much of the second half, it looked as though Ohio would win the game in regulation. The Bobcats took a 1-0 lead on a Megan Rentschler rebound goal in the 48th minute and held onto a one-goal lead until the 70th minute.
With Ohio trying to run the clock out, Ball State senior forward Tara Reed stole a Bobcat pass just outside the circle, dribbled in and placed a shot into the top right corner of the cage with 37 seconds remaining.
The goal was the sixth of the season for Reed, and her third of the year against Ohio. In the Oct. 13 meeting between the two teams, Reed scored two goals as the Cardinals earned a 3-2 victory.
Ball State stayed in Saturday's game despite facing a 16-8 deficit in shots. Lehman made 10 saves, including five in the first half as she held Ohio without a goal. Ohio's second half goal was the first allowed by Lehman in six halves of play.
Albini led all players with six shots. Lindsay Quay led Ball State with five shots and four on goal.
Quay, Reed and Lehman were each named to the all-tournament team.
The Cardinals wrapped up their season with an 8-12 overall record. The team finished the MAC schedule 6-4 to earn its first winning conference record since 1999. Ball State's win Friday in the semifinals against Miami was the Cardinals' first tournament win since 2001.
