Ball State University
Kent State
Second Half Comeback Propels Field Hockey Over Kent State
October 14, 2007 | Field Hockey
KENT, Ohio -- The Ball State field hockey team came from behind on the road Sunday to earn a 5-4 win in overtime against Kent State in Mid-American Conference play.
Sophomore forward Brooke MacGillivary logged her third consecutive multi-goal game. She scored a career-high four goals, including the game-winner eight minutes into overtime when Melanie Pasillas found her with a pass on a breakaway down the left side of the field.
The game-winner capped a second half comeback that saw Ball State overcome a two-goal deficit.
"I thought our players showed a tremendous amount of heart today," Ball State coach Annette Payne said. "Every one of them fought hard and played well. We were able to adjust throughout the game, and that was really a big key."
The Cardinals (4-10, 2-5 MAC) found themselves trailing 4-2 five minutes into the second half after Kent State's Laurie Wilkins scored her third goal of the game at the 39:56 mark.
MacGillivary, though, wasted little time in matching Wilkins as she scored her third goal of the day in the 47th minute to draw Ball State within one at 4-3. Nearly ten minutes later, the Cardinals notched the equalizer with a goal off the stick of senior midfielder Lauren Cruz. Senior forward Katie Kloeckener provided the assist on the play, her third helper in the game.
Each defense tightened over the final 14 minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime, where MacGillivary came through again.
The reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Week, MacGillivary has scored nine goals over the Cardinals' past three games. She now owns 14 goals on the year, matching the highest total for a Ball State player since the 2003 season.
"Brooke is playing very well right now, but she would be the first to tell you her teammates are doing a good job of setting her up and working off the ball," Payne said. "This was a great team victory today."
Kent State (10-6, 5-2 MAC) built a 3-1 halftime lead on two goals from Wilkins and one from Rachel Miller. Ball State's lone first-half goal came from MacGillivary, who also scored three minutes into the second half on a penalty corner before Wilkins' third goal of the day gave Kent State another two-goal cushion.
The teams finished even on the day with 20 shots apiece. Ball State goalkeeper Tiffany Shifflett made 12 saves to keep the Cardinals in the game.
Ball State returns to action Friday at Miami. The Cardinals then return home for their final regular season home game Sunday against Central Michigan.
