Soccer Rolls To 5-1 Season-Opening Victory Over IPFW

Friday, August 31

Muncie, Ind.

4 p.m.

Ball State University

IPFW

Soccer Knocks Off Southern Methodist, 2-0

Soccer Rolls To 5-1 Season-Opening Victory Over IPFW

August 31, 2007 | Soccer

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State soccer team opened the 2007 season in impressive fashion as the Cardinals took home a 5-1 victory over IPFW on Friday afternoon at the BSU Soccer Field. The Cardinals out-shot the Mastodons by a 27-4 margin and they duplicated the score from the 2006 season opener in Fort Wayne.

“Today was a total team effort and a great way to start the season,” second-year head coach Michelle Salmon said. “We did some great things offensively and we were able to get everyone valuable game experience, which will only help us as the season progresses.”

Junior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills), who entered the game fourth all-time in BSU history with 17 career goals, became the first Cardinal ever to dish out three assists in a single game. The Cardinals as a team tallied six assists in the dominating performance, including two helpers from senior defender Lindsay Martin (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West).

“Emily just played a great game today,” Salmon said. “She didn't try to do too much and just took what the defense was giving her. She was able recognize the plays developing and she found her teammates in great positions. That recognition and unselfish play is what separates good forwards from great forwards.”

The Cardinals opened the scoring in the 12^th minute of play as junior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) rifled a shot from the top of the 18-yard box into the top corner of the net past a diving Malinda Holmer for the 1-0 lead. Martin and classmate Sarah Leibel (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) each picked up assists on the goal.

Ball State took a two-goal lead off of a free kick from 35-yards out. Martin lined up over the ball and lofted the cross into the box where Rein was able to flick it onto the back post. Leibel one-touched a shot from the corner of the six-yard box into the net for the goal in the 26^th minute.

The Cardinals took a 3-0 lead into halftime as junior forward Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) was the benefactor of the aggressive BSU attack. The Cardinals got in close on Holmer and Rein ripped a shot from close range that Holmer deflected. Schumacker cleaned up the loose ball as she buried the rebound in the empty net.

Ball State came out of the halftime and continued to attack the Mastodons. Schumacker picked up her second career multiple goal game in the 64^th minute as she hooked up again with Rein on the scoring chart. After an IPFW foul, Rein took a quick restart from midfield and found Schumacker in alone behind the defense. Schumacker one touched the ball past the on charging Holmer for the 4-0 BSU lead.

The Cardinals closed out their scoring in the 75^th minute as they took advantage of their eighth corner kick of the afternoon. Freshman Kristina Anderson (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) sent the kick to the top of the 18-yard box where she found classmate Meg Mellott (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula). Mellott settled the ball and blasted a shot from 18-yards out into the back of the net for her first career goal.

IPFW nullified the Cardinals' shutout attempt in the 82^nd minute as Danielle Luther was able to beat reserve goalkeeper Amy Cleeter (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn).

Junior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) played the first 74:20 of the game and recorded one save against IPFW. Holmer played all 90 minutes in net for the Mastodons and recorded 10 saves.

The Cardinals are now 7-2-1 all-time in home openers and have won five straight openers. Ball State will continue its season-opening home weekend on Sunday afternoon as it hosts instate rival Butler at 1 p.m. at the BSU Soccer Field.

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