MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State soccer team got back on the winning track Friday afternoon as the Cardinals dominated play against Ohio and claimed 2-0 victory at the BSU Soccer Field on Think Pink Weekend. The Cardinals out-shot the Bobcats by a 36-4 margin in the victory to improve to 8-7-0 overall and 4-3-0 in Mid-American Conference play.
“Today was one of our best games of the season offensively,” head coach Michael Lovett said. “We wanted to come out and worry only about our own team and play Ball State soccer. We were relentless this afternoon and we have to keep that intensity the rest of the season.”
The Cardinals' 36 shots are a single-game program record, eclipsing the previous high of 35 shots during the 2001 season against Taylor. The 36 shots are also the highest total for any team in the MAC this season.
Ball State came out of the gate quickly against the Bobcats as it registered the game's first eight shots, including a goal on the game's first shot in the fourth minute. Senior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) took the ball in the midfield and hit senior Bailey Decker (Granger, Ind./Penn) down the side with a pass.
Decker sent a cross into the box where senior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) was able to bring it down at the top of the six-yard box. Rein beat Ohio goalkeeper Jess MacLean to the bottom corner for the game's first goal. The goal is her team-leading fourth of the season and moves her into sole possession in BSU history in goals scored with 26. She is now just four shy of Dee Nocero's record of 30 goals and just nine points shy of Nocero's overall scoring record of 76 points.
The Cardinals kept the pressure on just seconds later as Rein found herself in behind the Ohio defense in the fifth minute, but MacLean was able to come up with a save on the breakaway. Alexander came within inches in the sixth minute as her shot from 18-yards out had to be punched over the cross bar by MacLean.
Ball State stayed in Ohio's end for most of the first half as sophomore forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) had a great chance off of a corner kick in the 21st minute. Eft had her shot from 10-yards out stopped by MacLean to keep the game at 1-0 Cardinals.
The Cardinals finished the first half with a 16-2 advantage in shots and an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks. Ball State came out of halftime and continued to control the tempo against the Bobcats. Decker had a chanced stopped by MacLean in the 47th minute as she was in behind the defense off of a pass from Rein.
Ball State kept getting closer on its corner kicks and came within inches in the 55th minute as Eft had a shot saved by a sprawling MacLean. The Cardinals converted on a corner kick in the 59th minute to pick up their second goal of the game. Senior defender Jen Vilkoski (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) sent the ball into the box where junior midfielder Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) skied above the Ohio defenders and ripped a header into the back of the net. The goal was the fourth of the season for Ridley and her first goal of the year that wasn't a game-winning goal.
Ohio (2-9-3, 1-4-2 MAC) registered its only shot on goal in the 73rd minute of action off of a set piece. Defender Elyse Merchant sent a ball towards the goal from 30 yards out that senior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) had to punch out for her only save of the game.
Ball State continued to attack and senior defender Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) sent a bending shot from 18-yards out just over the cross bar in the 82nd minute. The Cardinals looked as if they found the back of the net in the 88th minute as Ridley ripped a shot from 15-yards out and beat Ohio reserve goalkeeper Christa Puccio but struck the post to deny the goal. The rebound came out in front of the goal, but Rein's attempt sailed just over the cross bar.
Ridley led all players with a career-high eight shots, while Rein and Eft each recorded six shots in the victory. Murphy recorded one save as she picked up her sixth shutout of the season and BSU record 23rd of her career. MacLean recorded 12 saves in the loss for Ohio while Puccio added one save in the final 10-plus minutes of the game.
The Cardinals will continue their home MAC weekend Sunday afternoon as they host Akron at 1 p.m. at the BSU Soccer Field. Sunday will be senior day as the Cardinals will honor their seven seniors prior to the game.
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