NORMAN, Okla. ? The Ball State soccer team suffered its second straight loss on the road as the Cardinals dropped a 2-1 decision to Big 12 member Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals scored first in the contest but the Sooners rallied for two second half goals to claim the come from behind victory.
“We came out ready to play today and we wanted to prove ourselves on a bigger stage against a Big 12 team like Oklahoma,” first-year head coach Michael Lovett said. “We dominated play in the first half and played with a lot of confidence. In the second half, our defense became unraveled and we lost our shape. Oklahoma took advantage and scored two goals before we could adjust. We never backed down though and played with a lot of heart today.”
Ball State (0-2-0) came out and went back-and-forth with the Sooners for most of the first half. The Cardinals broke the scoreless tie and tallied their first goal of the 2008 season just before halftime. The Cardinals generated the goal with a team effort as their counter attack started from their own goal line.
Senior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) was able to find classmate Sarah Schumacker (Fairfield, Ohio/Hamilton) behind the Oklahoma defense in the 40th minute. Schumacker took the pass and drove it past Oklahoma goalkeeper Lisa Jett for the first goal of the game. The Cardinals' defense kept the Sooners at bay in the fist half as it induced nine offsides penalties called on the Sooners.
The Cardinals continued to apply pressure out of the halftime break as they registered three shots on goal in the first five minutes of the second half. Rein was the catalyst as she tallied two shots that were saved by Jett, while senior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) had a chance in the 49th minute to add to the Cardinals' lead.
Oklahoma (1-2-0) tied the score in the 55th minute as Whitney Palmer scored her second goal of the season as she beat BSU senior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) with a strong shot after getting in behind the BSU defense. Allison Kelsey picked up the lone assist on the game-tying goal.
The two teams battle back-and-forth for much of the second half with each team having chances to take the lead. The Cardinals looked like they re-took the lead in the 59th minute as Alexander scored off of a corner kick before having the goal called back for goalkeeper interference.
Oklahoma would find the back of the net again to take the 2-1 lead with a goal in the 82nd minute. Jordan White was able to get behind the Cardinals' defense and place a shot just past the diving hands of Murphy for the game-winning goal on a breakaway.
The Cardinals put pressure on Oklahoma in the final 10 minutes of the game pressing for the game-tying goal. Ball State's best opportunities in the final minutes both came off of corner kicks. Sophomore defender Tina Vannatta (Powhatan, Va./Springboro) had a header go just wide and sophomore forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) had a shot go just over the cross bar in the final seconds of the game.
Oklahoma finished the game with a 15-11 advantage in shots while the Cardinals boasted an 8-5 advantage in corner kicks. Murphy finished the game with four saves in 90 minutes while Jett tallied three saves for the Sooners.
“Rachael Murphy played an outstanding game and was lights outs,” Lovett said. “She was one of the best players on the field and it is a testament to her abilities to be able to rise to the occasion in a big game.”
The Cardinals will continue their season-opening four-game road swing next weekend when they travel out west for two games in Colorado Springs, Colo. Ball State will battle Air Force on Friday evening at 6 p.m. (MT) before meeting Colorado College Sunday morning at 11 a.m. (MT).
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