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MUNCIE, Ind. ? The two-time defending Mid-American Conference regular season champion Ball State soccer team begins its quest in the 2007 MAC Tournament on Sunday afternoon as the top seeded Cardinals host eighth seeded Miami in a quarterfinal contest. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the BSU Soccer Field and admission is FREE!
“We are very excited about hosting the first round of the MAC Tournament tomorrow against a very good team and our biggest rival in Miami,” second-year head coach Michelle Salmon said. “We look forward to being home in front of our great fans and hope for a great atmosphere for Ball State Soccer.”
The Cardinals enter the MAC Tournament with a 12-5-1 overall record and finished the regular season with a 9-1-1 MAC record to finish with a four-point lead in the MAC standings. Ball State closed out the regular season in fitting fashion Thursday as it picked up a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory at arch rival Miami.
Junior midfielder Annie Aiello (Granger, Ind./Penn) started the scoring in the 31st minute against Miami after RedHawk goalkeeper Krista Pace was sent off after a red card. Aiello converted her fifth penalty kick of the season to give the Cardinals the 1-0 lead.
Ball State dominated play with the player advantage the remainder of the game as it held a 27-7 advantage in shots. Miami tied the game off of a counter attack as Rachel Byron scored in the 76th minute. The Cardinals attacked relentlessly in the overtime and scored the game-winner in the 96th minute.
Freshman defender Kristina Anderson (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) broke down the right side and beat two defenders to get to the end line. Anderson sent a cross into the box where it found junior forward Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) three-yards out. Schumacker brought the ball down and poked it past the Miami goalkeeper to send the BSU fans into a frenzy.
The Cardinals have scored 25 goals through 18 games this season as seven different players have found the back of the net. Junior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) leads the attack with a game-high 17 points. She has scored six goals and handed out five assists as she is one of three Cardinals to post three game-winning goals this season.
Schumacker is second on the team in scoring with 12 points as she has scored five goals, including three game-clinchers. Aiello is tied for third in scoring with senior Sarah Leibel (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) and junior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) as they each have posted 10 points on the year.
The Cardinal defense has held opponents to just 13 goals against through 18 games, including a MAC-best five goals against in conference play. Junior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) has been strong in goal and has thwarted most opposing teams throughout the season as she owns a 0.60 goals against average. She posted a conference-best 0.43 goals against average in conference play this season.
Sunday's game is the 11th meeting all-time between the Cardinals and the RedHawks. Ball State has taken a 5-4-1 advantage all-time in the series, including wins in five of the past six meetings. This is the second straight season in which the arch rivals have met in the regular season finale and in the first round of the MAC Tournament. Last season, the Cardinals won the regular season finale 4-2 in Muncie before being upset by the eighth seeded RedHawks 2-1 in the MAC Quarterfinals.
Miami enters the MAC Tournament with a 6-9-3 overall record and finished with a 4-6-1 mark in Mid-American Conference play. The RedHawks have dropped four of their last five games.
Miami has scored 24 goals so far this season and has allowed 26 goals against. Leading the charge offensively is Sara Lund who has scored seven goals and handed out five assists. Also, Julie Thomas is second on the team with five goals on the year.
In goal, sophomore goalkeeper Krista Pace leads Miami as she owns a 1.36 goals against average. She is already the all-time leader in Miami history in saves with 116., but will not be eligible to play Sunday after picking up a red card in the regular season finale. Reserve goalkeeper Lauren Jarman figures to be in goal for today's game. Jarman has played just 81:55 in goal this season and owns a 2.20 goals against average.
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