MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State soccer team erupted for three second half goals on Friday afternoon as the Cardinals downed Mid-American Conference foe Buffalo 4-1 at the BSU Soccer Field. The Cardinals scored two goals in the first two and half minutes of the second half as they out-shot Buffalo by a 17-5 margin and avenged their only MAC loss from last season.
“Today we came out as a team with something to prove in the MAC,” head coach Michael Lovett said. “We played with a chip on our shoulder and were aggressive from the start. Our intensity and passion were the difference in the game. Today we played Ball State soccer and turned in a full 90-minute performance.”
The Cardinals (6-5-0, 2-1-0 MAC) came out of the gate as the aggressor and never stopped attacking Buffalo. Junior midfielder Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) came close to scoring in the 12th minute as her shot from 18-yards out sailed just high of the goal. Senior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) came within inches of beating Bulls' goalkeeper Amy Coron in the 16th minute as her shot bent just over the cross bar.
Ball State's pressure paid dividends in the 24th minute as senior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) made a run down the right side and sent a cross into the box. Senior midfielder Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) made a back post run and beat the UB defender to the ball for the one-touch into the back of the net giving the Cardinals the early 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals thought they added a goal in the 29th minute off of a set piece as Ridley sent a header into the back of the net, but BSU was called in an offside position.
Buffalo (4-4-2, 0-3-0 MAC), despite being out-shot 7-3 in the first half, took advantage of their only dangerous opportunity in the opening frame. Aubrey Stuhl was able to get behind the Cardinals' defense in the 45th minute and beat senior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) with a perfectly placed shot with just 15 seconds remaining in the half.
Ball State regrouped at halftime and came out of the break as a team on a mission. The Cardinals attacked from the start and were awarded a corner kick in the first minute of the second half. Alexander sent the corner into the box where it was initially struck by a UB defender. Sophomore defender Tina Vannatta (Powhatan, Va./Springboro) flicked the clearing attempt towards the far post. Ridley was able to get a foot on the ball and rip it into the back of the net for the 2-1 BSU lead.
The Cardinals kept the pressure on as they picked up another corner kick in the 48th minute. Alexander sent the ball through the box where freshman midfielder Abby Milillo (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) was able to track down the ball. Milillo sent the ball back into the box where sophomore forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) flicked it towards the top of the 18-yard box.
Vannatta charged onto the ball and ripped a shot into the back of the net past a diving Coron to give BSU a 3-1 lead. The goal was the first of Vannatta's career and capped her first career multiple-point game.
Ball State picked up an insurance goal in the 84th minute as it once again was strong on a corner kick. Senior defender Jen Vilkoski (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) sent the ball into the box where it found sophomore midfielder Meg Mellott (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula). Mellott struck a shot that found its way through a cluster of players and into the back of the net to cap off the Cardinals' scoring outburst.
The Cardinals dominated play in the second half as they out-shot the Bulls by a 10-2 margin and held a pivotal 9-3 advantage in corner kicks, including eight in the second half. The four goals are the most this season for the Cardinals in a game and the three second half goals ties the Cardinals mark for a half this year. Murphy finished the game with two saves to pick up her 31st career victory, while Coron added four saves in the loss for Buffalo.
Ball State will wrap up its MAC weekend Sunday afternoon when the Cardinals host Kent State at 1 p.m. at the BSU Soccer Field. The Cardinals will also commemorate their 2007 MAC regular season championship with a ring ceremony following the game.
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