MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to regional foe Wright State in the Cardinals' first exhibition game of the 2008 season on Friday afternoon at the BSU Soccer Field. The Cardinals allowed two first half goals before mounting a second half comeback that fell just short against the Raiders.
“We came out flat in the first half and let Wright State push us around the field,” first-year head coach Michael Lovett said. “We made some adjustments at half time and came out in the second half with the type of energy and enthusiasm we expect from Ball State Soccer. We controlled the tempo in the second half and dictated the game on our terms.”
Wright State, playing in its second exhibition game of the season, opened the scoring in the 23rd minute off of a free kick. Midfielder Trisha Stevens lofted a ball from just inside the halfway line that fell in the box and took a Wright State bounce into the back of the net for the long range goal.
Ball State started to get its legs after the early goal and put pressure on Wright State with a corner kick in the 30th minute. Sophomore Kristina Anderson (Fairfield, Ohio/Badin) struck the corner kick into the box where Wright State was able to get a half clear on the ball. Sophomore Meg Mellott (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) charged onto the ball and one touched a shot just that narrowly missed the frame.
The Raiders took a two-goal lead just before halftime as Amber Kasmer found the back of the net in the 41st minute. Wright State found room down the right side and Nicole Amador sent a cross into the box past a diving Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville). Kasmer was able to poke the ball into the net on the back post for a 2-0 Wright State lead.
The Cardinals regrouped at halftime and came out in the second half controlling the flow of the game. Sophomore forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) got an opportunity in the 51st minute from 15-yards out, but WSU goalkeeper Meghan Hackerson was there for the save.
Ball State got on the board in the 54th minute with strong passing sequence. Freshman midfielder Sarah Orisich (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) took the ball down the right side and found senior Annie Aiello (Granger, Ind./Penn) just outside the 18-yard box. Aiello one-touched a pass into the box where it found senior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) behind the defense. Rein buried a shot into the bottom corner past the sprawling Hackerson to pull the Cardinals within one goal at 2-1.
The Cardinals came close to tying the game in the 61st minute as senior forward Bailey Decker (Granger, Ind./Penn) had a header in the box saved by Hackerson. Wright State looked for an insurance goal in the 85th minute but BSU goalkeeper Amy Cleeter (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn) made a strong save to keep the Cardinals within one goal.
Ball State turned in the pressure in the final minutes and almost found the game-tying goal on a couple different occasions. Anderson found herself with a chance in the 87th minute as she was behind the defense near the end line. She ripped a shot that Hackerson made a save as the rebound rolled perilously across the mouth of the goal.
The Cardinals corralled the loose ball on the opposite side of the box and sent it back into the six-yard area where Decker was able to get off a shot that was saved secure the Wright State victory. Ball State was strong in the second half as it out-shot the Raiders by a 6-2 advantage to finish the game with a 10-7 lead in shots.
“Today we were able to see some weakness that we need to work on and a lot of strengths that we can build a strong foundation from,” Lovett said. “We will take this as a learning experience as a team and we will be ready to face Valparaiso next week in our regular season opener.”
The game was the first appearance for Lovett and the Cardinals' eight freshmen in Orisich, goalkeeper Alexa Gilbert (Evansville, Ind./Evansville North), forward Abby Milillo (Fairfield, Ohio/Badin), defender Alison Ramsey (Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville), forward Adriana Hernandez (Anaheim, Calif./Magnolia), midfielder Christine Concannon (South Bend, Ind./St. Joseph's), defender Jackie Arroyo (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) and midfielder Amy Ponder (Carmel, Ind./Carmel).
The Cardinals will open the 2008 regular season one week from today as they head to Valparaiso for the first meeting between the instate schools since the 2001 season. Game time is set for 5:15 p.m. (CT).
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