Ball State University
Northwestern
Hunsicker Notches Third Goal But Cards Fall To Northwestern
September 03, 2007 | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Ball State field hockey team wrapped up a pair of Labor Day weekend games Monday with a 5-2 loss at Big Ten foe Northwestern.
Junior forward Casey Hunsicker scored her team-leading third goal of the season, and freshman forward Hannah Jones recorded her first collegiate goal in the loss. The Cardinals, however, were unable to overcome a hat trick from Northwestern's Alison Bullock.
For the second straight day, Ball State (1-4) played an opponent receiving votes in the STX/NFHCA Poll and kept the game close through the first half. But for the second straight day, the opponent pulled away in the second half.
"We came out strong again," Ball State coach Annette Payne said. "We just didn't take care of the small details, and that's something you have to do to get big results."
Hunsicker's goal came off an assist from senior midfielder Amanda Pavone at the 15:26 mark, giving Ball State an early 1-0 edge.
The Cardinals held that lead until the final seven minutes of the first half, when Northwestern (3-1) managed two goals -- one from Amanda Care and one from Annie Bosslet -- to take a 2-1 advantage into halftime. Northwestern extended its lead one minute into the second half on Bullock's first goal of the day. She would add her second at the 54:45 mark to push the Wildcats' lead to 4-1.
Jones' followed shortly with her goal on a penalty corner in the 57th minute to cut the Northwestern lead to 4-2, but that was the last goal Ball State could manage. Bullock tacked on her final goal of the day for Northwestern in the 59th minute.
Ball State goalkeeper Tiffany Shifflett had a busy day, facing 21 shots. She made 16 saves, one shy of her season-high 17 saves in the season-opener at Villanova. Shifflett currently leads the Mid-American Conference with 58 saves on the season.
The Cardinals are off until Saturday when they travel to Bloomington, Ind., to face Indiana, another Big Ten opponent. The contest will serve as Ball State's final tune-up before its conference opener Sept. 15 at home against Miami.
