BUFFALO, N.Y. ? The Ball State soccer team saw its program-record nine-game unbeaten streak come to an end on a rain-soaked Friday afternoon as the Cardinals dropped a 1-0 loss at Mid-American Conference foe Buffalo at UB Stadium. The loss drops the Cardinals to 10-5-1 overall on the season and 7-1-1 in MAC play as they suffer their first conference loss of the season.
“We came out flat in the early going today and Buffalo capitalized on its early chance,” second-year head coach Michelle Salmon said. “We battled back and had opportunities to even the game, but we could not find the back of the net. This is something that we will learn from and move on as we face a very good Kent State team on Sunday.”
Buffalo (6-9-2, 3-5-1 MAC) came out quickly against the Cardinals as the Bulls put on pressure from the start. The Bulls converted in the sixth minute as forward Brooke McCalla sent a ball back towards UB midfielder Caitlin Higgins. Higgins rocketed a shot from 35-plus yards over the outstretched arms of BSU goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) and into the top corner for the early lead.
The Cardinals started to settle into the game after the goal as senior defender Lindsay Martin (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) ripped a shot from 18-yards out that UB goalkeeper Amy Coron was able to handle. Buffalo looked to add a second goal in the 27th minute off of a free kick but Murphy was in position to deny the effort.
Ball State almost ended the first half on a high note as junior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) made a run into the box in the waning seconds of the half. Rein was hauled down in the box by the UB defender as time expired but the foul was ruled after the half had ended, so no penalty kick was awarded.
The Cardinals came out in the second half and dominated play on the offensive end as they out-shot Buffalo, 8-4 in the second frame. BSU put pressure on from the start as Martin got a shot off at the back post off of a corner kick that Coron was able to handle.
Ball State's afternoon was typified in the 67th minute as junior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) found classmate Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) in behind the defense. Schumacker one-touched a shot past Coron, but was stymied by the post to keep the Cardinals trailing by one.
Alexander had an opportunity minutes later as she came in against a defender and ripped a shot towards the corner, but Coron was able to coral the shot in the 69th minute. Murphy came up big in the 77th minute to keep the Cardinals within one goal as Buffalo sent a corner kick into the box. McCalla got a foot on the shot but Murphy was there to thwart the attack.
Ball State increased its pressure down the stretch as it held a 7-2 second half advantage in corner kicks. The Cardinals were battling until the final horn as senior defender Angie Heyer (Zanesville, Ind./Zanesville) got her head on the end of a corner kick and sent it just outside the post in the final 30 seconds of the game.
Murphy was strong in goal for the Cardinals as she tied her career-high with nine saves in the loss. Coron also came up big on the wet afternoon as she turned in eight saves in the shutout for Buffalo.
The loss snaps the Cardinals nine-game unbeaten streak this season, which was a program record. It also snaps the Cardinals' program-best 13-game unbeaten streak in MAC play dating back to last season as BSU last dropped a conference game Oct. 8, 2006 against Eastern Michigan.
Despite the loss, Ball State remains in sole possession of first place in the MAC with 22 total points and control its own destiny in the Cardinals quest to repeat at MAC regular season champions. The Cardinals hold a one-point lead over second place Toledo with two games remaining.
The Cardinals will continue their regular season ending three-game road swing on Sunday afternoon as they battle Kent State in MAC action. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
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