BOWLING GREEN, Ohio ? The Ball State soccer team saw its three-game winning streak come to a end on Friday afternoon as the Cardinals fell to Mid-American Conference rival Bowling Green, 1-0, in double overtime at Cochrane Field. Bowling Green scored the game-winning goal in the 102nd minute of the game to claim the victory.
The loss drops the Cardinals to 7-6-0 overall on the year and 3-2-0 in MAC play, while the Falcons improve to 8-3-3 overall and 3-1-1 in conference play.
“Today was truly a heartbreaker,” head coach Michael Lovett said. “We were the aggressor today and out-played Bowling Green for a large portion of the game. We just weren't able to get that goal and BGSU was able to capitalize on a chance in overtime. Our team played with a lot of heart, especially in the second half and overtime.”
The two teams battled back-and-forth in the first half with neither team having a dangerous opportunity for a goal in the opening frame. The teams went into the halftime break with four shots apiece and Bowling Green leading the way with three corner kicks in the first half.
Ball State came out of the break looking like a different team as the Cardinals registered the first six shots of the half. The Cardinals came close in the 56th minute as senior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) flicked on a cross that sophomore forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) was able to coral. Eft ripped a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that BGSU goalkeeper Alexa Arsenault was able to save to keep the game scoreless.
The Cardinals had another opportunity in the 58th minute off of a set piece. Senior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) sent the free kick into the box from 40-yards out and Arsenault bobbled the ball. Senior midfielder Bailey Decker (Granger, Ind./Penn) got onto the loose ball but was unable to poke it under the goalkeeper.
Freshman midfielder Abby Milillo (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) saw her chance saved in the 62nd minute as she took a through ball and ripped a shot from 15-yards out that sailed just inches wide of the goal.
Bowling Green regrouped late in the second half and put pressure on the Cardinals. BGSU forward Megan Amann had the Falcons' best chance in regulation in the 76th minute as she had a shot from 10-yards out stoned by senior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) to send the game into overtime scoreless.
The Cardinals controlled the tempo in the first overtime period as they pressed to find the game-winning goal. Milillo had the best chance in the first overtime in the 97th minute as her shot from just 10-yards out was saved by Arsenault.
Bowling Green came out to start the second overtime and held possession for the first minute in the Cardinals' end. The Falcons were awarded a corner kick in the 102nd minute despite the appearance of the ball hitting off of BGSU before going over the end line.
The Falcons were able to convert the corner kick into the game's only goal as Meagan Moran sent kick into the box. After a scramble by both teams, BGSU forward Corbie Yee was able to get on the end of the loose ball and poke it into the back of the net amidst the cluster of players.
The Cardinals finished the game with a 13-12 advantage in shots against the Falcons but were on the short end of the corner kicks, trailing 7-3. Murphy finished the game with five saves while Arsenault added six saves for BGSU.
The overtime loss is the Cardinals first overtime loss this season and their first since the 2006 season against Eastern Michigan. It is also the first time Ball State has lost in double overtime period since the 2003 season against Central Michigan.
Ball State will continue its MAC road weekend Sunday afternoon when the Cardinals take on MAC preseason favorite Toledo at 1 p.m. at Scott Park.
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