Leibel?s Overtime Goals Sends Soccer To Victory Over Toledo

Sunday, October 21

Muncie, Ind.

1 p.m.

Ball State University

Toledo

Leibel?s Overtime Goals Sends Soccer To Victory Over Toledo

October 21, 2007 | Soccer

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. ? Ball State soccer senior forward Sarah Leibel (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) scored the game-winning goal in the 96^th minute to lead the Cardinals to a 1-0 overtime victory over Mid-American Conference rival Toledo on senior day at the BSU Soccer Field. The victory improves the Cardinals to 10-4-1 overall on the season and 7-0-1 in MAC play as they extend their lead in the conference standings to four points over Toledo.

“Today was a tremendous team victory against a very good Toledo team,” second-year head coach Michelle Salmon said. “Our defense turned in a great performance and our seniors stepped up their game to another level as they led us to the victory. Leibel's goal on senior day was a very fitting end for this game.”

The Cardinals game-winning goal in overtime was set up by hard work and aggressive play by Ball State. Freshman midfielder Cortney Coombs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) won a loose ball in the midfield and sent a long through ball into the box where it found an on-charging Leibel. The Toledo defender's only play was to poke the ball over the end line for a Cardinal corner kick.

Junior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) stepped up and took the Cardinals' fourth corner kick of the afternoon as she lofted a cross into the box. Leibel ran onto the ball from at the back post and one touched a rocket of a shot into the back of the net for her seventh game-winning goal of her career.

The victory is the Cardinals' 10^th of the season, marking the seventh time in the program's nine seasons that BSU has reached double figures in victories in a season. The Cardinals are also off to their best start in MAC play with a 7-0-1 record so far this season. Also, the Cardinals secured another home game as they will host at least a first round contest in the MAC Tournament.

Ball State controlled the tempo of the game throughout the afternoon as the Cardinals out-shot the Rockets, 21-11. The Cardinal defense and junior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) recorded their eighth shutout of the season, including seven out of eight MAC games this year. Murphy posted four saves in the victory as the Cardinals shutout the highest scoring team in the MAC in Toledo.

The two teams battled back and forth during the first half of play with the Cardinals attacking from the opening kick. Leibel and junior forward Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) each had strong opportunities thwarted in the first half by Toledo goalkeeper Andrea Plewes.

Ball State came out of halftime and went with the strong winds in the second half. The Cardinals dominated play with a 13-8 advantage in second half shots. Junior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) almost scored in the 48^th minute as she harassed Toledo's Plewes in the box and came close to getting behind her with the ball.

Rein's hard work in the 59^th minute saved a ball that almost went out on the end line and sent a cross into the box. Schumacker brought the cross down in the box and rocketed a shot that went just over the cross bar to keep the game scoreless.

Murphy came up with a couple of key saves in the second half as she thwarted the MAC's leading scorer, Molly Cornwell, in the 70^th minute. Murphy also was in position in the 86^th minute as Cornwell had a free kick from 20-yards out sail wide of the goal to send the game into overtime.

Toledo falls to 11-4-1 overall on the season and 6-2-0 in MAC play. Plewes recorded six saves in the loss the Rockets who have dropped five straight games in the all-time series to the Cardinals.

The game was the final regular season home game for the Cardinals in 2007 as six seniors were honored in a pre-game ceremony. Seniors Betsy Wilcek (Elmhurst, Ill./York), Beth Meyer (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs), Laura Bandy (Oakville, Ontario/T.A. Blakelock), Angie Heyer (Zanesville, Ind./Homestead), Lindsay Martin (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) and Sarah Leibel (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) have combined to play in 326 games during their careers.

The Cardinals and their six seniors will be back in action next weekend as they begin a three-game road swing. Ball State will take on Buffalo on Friday afternoon on the road before playing at Kent State on Sunday afternoon.

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