Ball State University Athletics
Ohio State 7, Ball State 0
September 27, 2006 | Field Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio - In its final non-conference game of the season Wednesday, the Ball State field hockey team dropped a 7-0 decision on the road at Ohio State, the nation's fifth-ranked team.
Ohio State jumped out to a quick start with four goals in the first 21 minutes and rode a 4-0 lead into halftime. The Buckeyes added to their advantage with three more goals in the second half.
"We really played pretty well," Ball State coach Annette Payne said. "You have to give credit where credit is due, and Ohio State is a good, fast team."
Curlyne Wynn led Ohio State with two goals and three assists. Michaela O'Malley added two goals for the Buckeyes, and Saskia Mueller chipped in two assists.
Ball State managed seven shots but could not find the cage with any of them. Senior forward Lindsay Quay led the Cardinals with three shots.
"It was a positive day, overall, even though the score doesn't show it," Payne said. "From a coaching perspective, we had a gameplan, and we stuck to it. We did a great job communicating and playing as a unit."
Freshman goalkeeper Tiffany Shifflett saw action for the second game this season and recorded her first collegiate save. Shifflett collected three saves and held the Buckeyes to one goal over the final 18 minutes on the game.
Shifflett took over in the second half for Caroline Lehman, who entered the game with the second-most saves in the Mid-American Conference and added four to her total to give her 59 on the season.
Freshman midfielder Maura Sawicki also played in her second game of the season and recorded he first collegiate shot.
In addition, Brooke MacGillivary, Tara Reed and Lauren Cruz registered one shot apiece for the Cardinals.
Ohio State took 17 shots (14 on goal) to Ball State's seven and earned six penalty corners to the Cardinals' three.
After five consecutive games away from home, Ball State will now play four straight in Muncie.
The Cardinals (1-9, 0-2 MAC) return to league play Friday at BSU Turf Field with their MAC home opener against Central Michigan. That game is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
