Soccer Drops 2-1 Decision To Butler

Sunday, September 2

Muncie, Ind.

1 p.m.

Ball State University

Butler

September 02, 2007 | Soccer

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State soccer team picked up its first loss of the 2007 season as the Cardinals fell 2-1 to instate rival Butler on Sunday afternoon at the BSU Soccer Field. The loss evens the Cardinals early season record to 1-1-0 as they embark on a four-game road trip next weekend.

“We were great attacking the final third this afternoon, but we just weren't able to capitalize on our quality chances,” head coach Michelle Salmon said. “We need to learn from this game and use that knowledge later on in the season.”

The Cardinals controlled play for most of the game as they out-shot the Bulldogs by a 19-7 advantage and held a 14-2 advantage on corner kicks. The Cardinals had an early opportunity in the first half to take the lead as junior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) drilled a shot from the top of the 18-yard box past the goalkeeper but was thwarted by the cross bar.

Ball State came out of the second half and took the lead in the 51^st minute as its pressure led to the goal. Butler goalkeeper Annalise Larkin cleared the ball to midfield but sophomore midfielder Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) got there first and headed the ball back towards the Butler goal. Rein ran onto the ball behind the Bulldog defense and slipped a shot past the sprawling goalkeeper for her first goal of the season.

The Cardinals lead was short lived though as the Bulldogs scored off of a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Angie Muir took the free kick and placed a shot over the wall and into the top corner of the net to tie the game at 1-1 in the 54^th minute. The Bulldogs added their second goal just minutes later as Jenny Southard got behind the BSU defense in the 58^th minute and snuck a shot past BSU goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville).

Ball State attacked the Bulldogs numerous times down the stretch in the second half but was unable to secure the game-tying goal. The Cardinals hit the cross bar again in the second half as senior defender Lindsay Martin (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) found the pipe off of a corner kick.

The Cardinals will be back in action on Friday evening as they travel to Boca Raton, Fla. for the FAU Classic. Ball State will face off against tournament host Florida Atlantic at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night and will face NCAA Tournament participant UNC-Greensboro on Sunday morning.

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