KENT, Ohio ? The Ball State soccer team got back on the winning track on Sunday afternoon as the Cardinals picked up a 2-1 victory over Mid-American Conference foe Kent State at the KSU Soccer Field. The Cardinals scored two goals in a span of two minutes in the first half to jump out to the lead.
The victory improves the Cardinals to 11-5-1 overall on the season and 8-1-1 in MAC play. The Cardinals maintain sole possession of first place in the MAC with one game remaining as they hold a one-point lead over second-place Toledo.
“In an extremely physical game, I felt our team maintained its composure and were able to play in big moments today,” second-year head coach Michelle Salmon said. “Anytime that you can win on the road in the MAC, especially against a very good Kent State team, it says a lot about our program.”
Kent State (7-9-1, 5-5-0 MAC) came out of the gate quickly on its senior day and put pressure on the Cardinals. Cardinal goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) came up big in the 17th minute as she stoned KSU forward Kimberly Dimitroff's shot from eight-yards out.
The Cardinal defense stepped up in the 23rd minute as senior defender Lindsay Martin (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) came up with a team save on the goal line to keep Kent State off of the board.
Ball State responded to the early pressure and turned up the attack on Kent State down the stretch in the first half. Junior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) attacked the KSU defense and was hauled down just inside the midfield for a Cardinal free kick.
Freshman defender Kristina Anderson (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) took the set piece and sent the ball into the 18-yard box. Rein was able to bring the ball down 10-yards out and blasted a shot into the lower corner for the first goal on the game in the 39th minute. The goal was Rein's team-best sixth of the season and it also moved her into sole possession of third all-time in BSU history in goals (22) and points (55).
The Cardinals maintained their pressure as they took a two-goal lead in the 41st minute. Sophomore midfielder Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) took a ball inside the box and flicked it behind her to an on-charging Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield). Schumacker took the ball and one-touched a rifle of a shot past the diving KSU goalkeeper Kris Nelson for a 2-0 Ball State lead.
Kent State came out in the second half and out the pressure on the Cardinals trying to mount a comeback. The Golden Flashes had a chance to score in the 55th minute as Josee Charron got behind the BSU defense. Charron rocketed a shot that Murphy was able to make a stellar diving stop to keep KSU off of the board.
Kent State finally struck for a goal in the 59th minute as Dimitroff saved a ball on the end line and sent a cross back into the box. Charron took the cross and blasted a shot into the back of the net to narrow the Ball State lead to 2-1.
The Cardinals defense clamped down late in the game and held off the Golden Flashes to preserve the victory. Murphy recorded eight saves in the victory as she posted her 10th win of the season and 24th victory of her career. Nelson recorded three saves for Kent State in the loss as BSU improves to 5-3-2 all-time against Kent State.
The Cardinals will close out the 2007 regular season on Thursday afternoon as they travel to MAC rival Miami. Game time is 4 p.m.
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