Ball State University
Miami
Field Hockey Drops MAC Opener To Miami In Closing Seconds
September 15, 2007 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State field hockey team lost a heart-breaking 3-2 decision to Miami in the final seconds Saturday at BSU Turf Field.
After Ball State had fought back to tie the game 2-2, Miami earned a penalty corner opportunity as time expired. Ball State goalkeeper Tiffany Shifflett saved the initial shot off of the corner, but Miami's Meghan McMurtry picked up the loose ball in front of the cage and put it in to give the RedHawks the win.
Shifflett saved 10 shots on the day and kept Ball State (1-6, 0-1 MAC) in the game in the second half, making six of those saves after halftime.
Miami (3-4, 1-0 MAC) managed the only score of the first half on a Taylor Florence goal at the 14:33 mark, setting the stage for a back-and-forth second half.
Ball State's Amanda Pavone got things started quickly in the second half with her first goal of the season in the 40th minute. Pavone took a pass from Casey Hunsicker in the middle of the circle and lifted it over Miami goalkeeper Megan Stengel to tie the game 1-1.
The RedHawks answered 10 minutes later when Courtney Fretz scored off an assist from Alyssa Nye to regain a one-goal advantage for Miami.
Ball State, however, responded quickly. At the 51:51 mark, Brooke MacGillivary took a pass from Lauren Cruz and fired a shot into the cage to even the score 2-2. The goal was MacGillivary's third of the season.
Each team went scoreless over the next 18 minutes until McMurtry's goal lifted Miami to the victory.
Saturday's game was the first of four straight at home for Ball State. The Cardinals return to action Tuesday when they host Ohio State at 3 p.m.
