MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State soccer team continued its strong play in Mid-American Conference action as the Cardinals used a dominating second half performance to take home a 2-0 victory over Western Michigan on Sunday afternoon at the BSU Soccer Field. The victory improves the Cardinals to 8-4-1 overall on the season and 5-0-1 in MAC play as Ball State moves into sole possession of first place in the conference.
“Today, our second half was the best soccer that we have played all year long,” second-year head coach Michelle Salmon said. “We played inspired soccer in the second half and the entire team worked together for the victory. We did all of the little things right today on offense and our defense continues to impress with another solid performance.”
The Cardinals dominated play throughout the game as they held a 23-5 advantage on shots, including a 16-4 margin in the second half. Ball State peppered the Western Michigan goal throughout the game with shots, as it scored two second half goals and were close to adding more as the Cardinals hit the post four times in the game.
The Cardinal defense and junior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) continued their stellar play as they only allowed two shots on goal from the Broncos. Murphy turned in her seventh consecutive shutout of the season, including all six MAC contests so far this year. She has now tallied 14 career shutouts during the past two seasons.
Ball State came close to recording a first half goal in the 22nd minute off of a set piece. Junior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) took the set piece from 30-yards out and lofted a shot over WMU goalkeeper Jessica Laning's head. The shot found the cross bar to keep the game scoreless.
The Cardinals came out of the halftime break as a team on a mission as they attack from the start. BSU almost broke through against Laning in the 46th minute as junior forward Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) got behind the WMU defense. Schumacker rocketed a shot toward goal that Lanning deflected back towards the penalty spot. Junior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) ran onto the rebound and rifled a shot past Lanning that caromed off of the cross bar to thwart the attack.
Western Michigan (2-9-2, 0-5-1 MAC) saw its best chance to sneak in a goal in the 53rd minute of the game off of a corner kick. Forward Thalia Playford sent the kick into the box where defender Hillary Wernlund got a head on the ball. Wernlund sent a shot from close range towards the goal, but Murphy was positioned perfectly for the pivotal save.
The Cardinals used the momentum from that save to generate their first goal of the afternoon. Alexander received the ball in the midfield and sent a through ball into the box to sophomore midfielder Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central). Ridley got in behind the WMU defense before being pulled down in the box for a penalty kick in the 56th minute.
Junior midfielder Annie Aiello (Granger, Ind./Penn) stepped forward to take the penalty kick and drilled the shot into the corner to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. Aiello has now scored all four of her goals from the penalty spot. Her four penalty kick goals are the most in the MAC this season and are the most for a player in a single season in Ball State history.
Ball State continued its relentless attack and was rewarded with another goal in the 63rd minute. Schumacker took the ball down the flank and lofted a cross into the box. Rein was able to flick the cross on behind her and senior forward Sarah Leibel (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) drilled a shot from 15-yards out into the back of the net. The goal was the third of the season for Leibel and the 12th of her career.
The Cardinals kept the pressure on the Broncos down the stretch as their third goal of the game was kept out by the cross bar. Rein almost notched a goal in the 71st minute as she deflected a clearing attempt from Lanning back behind her and off of the cross bar. Freshman midfielder Meg Mellott (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) also found the pipe as she hit the cross bar in the 72nd minute with a shot from 20-yards out.
Laning recorded eight saves in the loss for Western Michigan while Murphy tallied two saves in the shutout victory. The win, coupled with Toledo's loss at Kent State, moves the Cardinals into sole possession of first place in the MAC with 16 total points.
The Cardinals will continue their four-game home swing next weekend as they play host to Bowling Green on Friday afternoon. Game time is set for 3 p.m. at the BSU Soccer Field.
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