MUNCIE, Ind. ? Ball State soccer junior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) scored her second goal of the game in the 109th minute of action to give the Cardinals a dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Mid-American Conference foe Bowling Green in double overtime on windy Friday afternoon at the BSU Soccer Field.
The victory improves the Cardinals to 9-4-1 overall on the season and keeps them in sole possession of first place in the MAC with a 6-0-1 conference record. The overtime victory was the first of the season for the Cardinals in extra time and the first for Ball State since its overtime win against Xavier last season.
“Today was a great team effort as we battled all game long against a very good Bowling Green team,” second-year head coach Michelle Salmon said. “Emily's goal in overtime was a world class goal and our defense turned in another strong effort for us.”
Rein's game-winning goal was the product of sheer determination as she won a loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box and split two Bowling Green defenders to get behind the Falcon defense. Rein didn't hesitate with her opportunity as she rocketed a shot past the diving Falcon goalkeeper Alexa Arsenault for the game-clincher with just 1:43 left in the second overtime.
Both teams came out of the gate with a lot of pace as the game was back-and-forth during the early going. Bowling Green (5-9-1, 2-5-0 MAC) struck first as the Falcons converted in the 10th minute. Samantha Bland received a pass behind the defense and rifled it past BSU goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) for the 1-0 BGSU lead.
The goal was the first of the season allowed by the Cardinals in MAC play and the first overall since Sept. 16 at Indiana. It snapped the Cardinals' shutout streak at 664:28, which is the longest in program history and the second longest all-time by a MAC team.
Ball State almost scored the equalizer minutes later as junior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) stepped up in the 11th minute to take a free kick from 20-yards out. Alexander lofted a shot over Arsenault's head but was thwarted by a Falcon defender who saved the sure goal on the goal line to keep Bowling Green ahead.
Murphy kept the Cardinals within one goal in the 37th minute as she stoned Rachel Ross from 10-yards out with a diving save. The Cardinals headed into the halftime break trailing for just the third time this season, despite out-shooting the Falcons, 9-4.
Ball State came out of the break on a mission as it quickly secured the equalizer in the 49th minute. Rein found sophomore midfielder Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) with a quick diagonal pass and Ridley sent a through ball into the box for the on-charging Alexander. Alexander took the pass and buried a shot into the lower corner to tie the game at one apiece.
The Cardinals continued their relentless attack and were rewarded with their second goal in the 54th minute. Rein tracked down a long loose ball in the corner as she beat two Bowling Green defenders with her effort to secure a corner kick. Alexander drove the corner kick into the box where it found a leaping Rein who headed the ball into the back of the net for the 2-1 BSU lead.
Bowling Green did not back down from the Cardinals after losing its lead as the Flacons took advantage of a BSU miscue to tie the game at 2-2 in the 62nd minute. Stacy Lucas got behind the BSU defense after a misplayed ball and drove in on Murphy on a breakaway from the midline. Lucas sent a shot to the lower corner past the sprawling Murphy to tie the game.
Ball State held the majority of the scoring opportunities down the stretch as it out-shot Bowling Green 7-2 in the second half. The Cardinals could not gain the game-winner in regulation as they headed to overtime for the second time in as many weekends.
In the first overtime, the Cardinals dominated play despite going against the high winds. Senior forward Sarah Leibel (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) came close to ending the game in the 93rd minute as she took a pass from junior Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) behind the Falcon defense. Leibel got off a strong shot that Arsenault was able to handle to extend the game.
Murphy thwarted the only Falcon scoring chance in the two overtime periods in the 99th minute as she stopped Kaitlyn Kobe from close range. Leibel had another opportunity in the 107th minute to end the game as she rifled a shot that Arsenault was able to knock down to set the stage for Rein's heroics. The Cardinals out-shot the Falcons 7-1 in the two overtime periods.
Rein's two goals and five points moved her into a tie with former Cardinal Amy Holst for third all-time in career goals (21) and points (52). Murphy finished the afternoon with two saves in 108-plus minutes of action while Arsenault was credited with 11 saves in the loss for Bowling Green.
Ball State will be back in action on Sunday afternoon as it hosts MAC foe Toledo at 1 p.m. at the BSU Soccer Field on senior day. The game will pit the top two teams in the MAC standings against each other as the Cardinals hold a one-point lead over the Rockets in the standings.
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