Ball State University
Xavier
Late Game Heroics Lead Soccer to 3-2 Overtime Victory Against Xavier
September 17, 2006 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final seven minutes of regulation on its way to a 3-2 overtime victory against regional rival Xavier at the BSU Soccer Field on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals comeback was possible as they scored all three of their goals in the final
"We showed a lot of heart and resiliency this afternoon in battling back as we did," head coach Michelle Salmon said. "We knew the game was not out of our reach even when we were down two goals and once we got the momentum we were able to finish off the victory."
The game was scoreless until the 78th minute as Xavier (
Scarlato extended the Musketeers' lead to 2-0 in the 82nd minute as she again found herself in one-on-one against Murphy and found the back of the net.
The Cardinals went to work as they attacked relentlessly to erase the two-goal deficit. Ball State's hard work paid off in the 84th minute as Sarah Schumacker blasted a shot that Xavier goalkeeper Kelly Farrell deflected out into the box. Midfielder Amy Holst pounced on the loose ball just inside the 18-yard box and rocketed a shot into the corner to pull BSU within one goal at, 2-1.
Ball State knotted the game back up sonly four minutes later as it found the back net in the 88th minute off of a corner kick. Midfielder Katelyn Alexander took the corner kick and lofted a perfect ball into the box where forward Emily Rein was able to head the ball past the goalkeeper just minutes before the end of regulation.
The overtime period started and both teams had chances to claim the victory. The Musketeers came close to negating the Cardinals comeback as they hit the cross bar in back-to-back shots in the 95th minute.
The Cardinals countered the near-goals by Xavier with the game-winning goal in the 97th minute of the game. Schumacker battled down the right side and drew a Xavier foul just outside of the 18-yard box. Once again, Alexander was on the ball in the set piece as she drove a ball into the box that Rein flicked to the back post. Leibel was all alone on the back post and one-touched the ball into the net to culminate the phenomenal comeback.
"Leibel has improved her game so much in finishing in the final third and today she showed that she is a big-time goal scorer," Salmon said. "We had great plays all around as Schumacker created chances, Rein was involved on the last two goals and Alexander was fantastic on set pieces."
Alexander finished the game with two assists marking the first multiple-assist game of the sophomore's career. Rein also finished with a goal and an assist and now has goals in the past two home games.
The victory was the first this season for Ball State in overtime in three tries this season as BSU posted ties against Illinois State and Portland State. The victory also improved the Cardinals to 5-0-1 against non-conference teams from their region this season.
The Cardinals will be back in action on Friday afternoon as they open up Mid-American Conference action. BSU welcomes in Kent State to the Ball State Soccer Field with game time set for
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