COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ? The Ball State soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision against Colorado College on Sunday afternoon at Stewart Field as the Tigers scored two second half goals. The loss drops the Cardinals to 1-3-0 on the season while Colorado College improves to 4-0-1 on the season.
“This is a disheartening loss,” head coach Michael Lovett said. “We dominated every facet of the game in the first half as we turned in our best half of the season. After Colorado College scored, we lost our focus as a team. We will learn from this and get ready for next weekend.”
The Cardinals controlled the tempo in the first half against the Tigers as they out-shot CC by a 5-4 advantage, including a 2-0 advantage in shots on goals. Freshman midfielder Abby Milillo (Fairfield, Ohio/Badin) gave the Cardinals their first chance as she got to a loose ball in the corner before CC goalkeeper Emma Bailey. Milillo sent a ball into the box but the Tigers' defenders were able to clear the ball in front of the open goal.
Ball State came close to converting off of a set piece in the 29th minute as senior midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) sent a ball from 30-yards out into the box. Senior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) made a run and sent a header just wide of the post.
Alexander and Rein connected again in the 32nd minute off of another set piece. Alexander sent a corner kick into the box where Rein's header was drilled low but Bailey was able to corral the shot to keep the Cardinals off of the board.
The Cardinals came out in the second half and put pressure on early with a pair of corner kicks. Ball State had an opportunity in the 55th minute as Rein ripped a shot that Bailey was able to save but the rebound came out to the top of the 18-yard box. Alexander ran onto the ball and sent a rocket of a shot just over the cross bar to keep the game scoreless.
Colorado College broke the scoreless tie in the 58th minute off of a counter attack. The Tigers came down the field quickly and Sydney Fetter got off a strong shot from 10 yards out. BSU goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) made a sprawling save on the initial shot but the rebound came out to Tiffany Brown who placed it in the back of the net for the 1-0 CC lead.
The Cardinals tried to respond to the goal as freshman midfielder Sarah Orisich (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) ripped a shot from 18-yards out that was sent just wide of the net by Bailey. After the goal, the Tigers took control of the tempo and continued to put the pressure on the Cardinals. The Tigers netted the second goal of the game in the 70th minute as Fetter was able to get a loose ball away from Murphy and deposit in the back of the net.
Colorado College finished the game with 15-10 advantage in shots as it out-shot the Cardinals by an 11-5 mark in the second half. Murphy finished the game with three saves while Bailey notched four saves for her second straight shutout.
The Cardinals will open the home portion of their 2008 schedule next weekend when they play host to Eastern Illinois on Friday afternoon at the BSU Soccer Field.
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