Soccer Flies Past Air Force, 1-0

Friday, September 5

Colorado Springs, Colo.

6 p.m. (MT)

Ball State University

Air Force

Soccer Opens Season Friday At Valparaiso

September 06, 2008 | Soccer

By: Ball State Athletics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ? The Ball State soccer team picked up its first victory of the 2008 season as the Cardinals took home a hard fought 1-0 victory against Air Force on chilly Friday night at the Cadet Soccer Stadium. The Cardinals controlled the tempo for most of the game and turned in a strong defensive effort to claim the inaugural victory for first-year head coach Michael Lovett.

“It was great to get our first win of the season tonight, but it was even better that it came from a total team effort,” Lovett said. “The entire team stepped up and played fast, strong and together as a unit. I am proud of our team and especially our defensive effort. Our back line and Rachael Murphy played inspired tonight and turned in their best performances of the season.”

The Cardinals (1-2-0) weathered Air Force's fast start that saw the Falcons register three corner kicks in the first 90 seconds of the game. The Cardinals' defense and senior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) held strong to keep Air Force without a shot off its early pressure.

Ball State regained momentum after the slow start and controlled tempo for most of the first half. The Cardinals started to put pressure on the Air Force defense and was able to force the Falcons into a mistake in the 27^th minute. Senior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) put high pressure on Air Force goalkeeper Erin Wallace and forced a corner kick for the Cardinals after attacking a loose ball in front of Wallace.

Senior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) took the corner and drove the ball into the box. Junior forward Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) was left alone at the top of the six-yard box and drilled a header into the back of the net for her first goal of the season. The goal is the third of her career and her first since her freshman season.

“Our high pressure all over the field was a huge factor in disrupting their attack,” Lovett said. “It is great to get my first win as a coach but it is even better seeing this team continue to make strides each and every game we play. Tonight we turned in a full 90 minute effort as a team and good things come when do that.”

The Cardinals continued to set the pace of the game in the second half as their defensive unit kept Air Force at bay. Ball State came close to adding an insurance goal in the 68^th minute off of another corner kick. Alexander sent the ball into the box where Ridley's header was deflected back towards the top of the 18-yard box. Senior midfielder Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) stepped up and cracked a shot that sailed just wide of the goal.

Air Force (0-4-0) put some pressure on the Cardinals as the Falcons had a dangerous corner kick in the 71^st minute. Cassie Wilson was able to get a shot off on the corner kick but Murphy was there to nullify the effort.

Murphy came up with a game-changing save in the 74^th minute to keep the Falcons off of the scoreboard. Air Force forward Rachael Emory got behind the Cardinals' defense on a breakaway. Emory was one-on-one with Murphy and ripped a shot from 15-yards out but Murphy smothered the shot to keep the shutout in hand.

Ball State controlled the tempo down the stretch and the team turned in a strong team defensive effort to keep Air Force off the board. The Cardinals came within inches of icing the game in the final seconds as sophomore forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) beat two Falcon defenders at the top of the 18-yard box. Eft ripped a shot from 15 yards out to the far corner as she beat Air Force goalkeeper Ashlee Curtis but found the post with just eight seconds left in the game.

Murphy finished the game with three saves to earn her first shutout of the season and her 18^th career shutout. She is now tied with former Cardinal Alison Becker for the BSU career record for shutouts with 18. Wallace picked up the loss for Air Force as she allowed the goal in the first half and made a save while Curtis notched one save in the second half.

The Cardinals will continue their road trip on Sunday afternoon as they take on Colorado College at 11 a.m. (MT) at Stewart Field. Colorado College enters Sunday's game with a 3-0-1 record on the year after a scoreless tie against Long Island this afternoon.

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