Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Bowling Green
Soccer Knocks Off Bowling Green In MAC Home Opener
October 02, 2009 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State soccer team picked up its second straight Mid-American Conference victory Friday afternoon as the Cardinals turned in an inspired effort with a 1-0 victory over rival Bowling Green at the BSU Soccer Field. Junior forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) scored the game's only goal in the 25th minute of action for the victory.
"This week we came together as a family," head coach Michael Lovett said. "We talked about families sticking together and picking each other up any time that we needed it. We turned in an inspired effort today throughout the team and I couldn't be more proud of our team this afternoon. We showed a lot of heart and passion today for each other. Today was a true team effort and that is great to see."
Ball State, which was short-handed and started six true freshmen, improves to 2-1-0 in MAC play with the hard-fought victory. The Cardinals played against the 30-mile per hour wind in the first half and Bowling Green took advantage as it registered nine first half corner kicks. The Cardinals' defense stood tall though, as it only allowed four shots in the opening frame.
Freshman goalkeeper Nicole Wood (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville) was strong in the opening frame as she controlled her territory efficiently. Wood came up big in the 14th minute of play as Bowling Green was threatening with multiple corner kicks. The Falcons had a great chance for a goal after the initial corner kick as Alyssa Zucaro found herself alone behind the BSU defense one-on-one with Wood. Wood was able to make a sprawling save to thwart the close-range shot and keep the Falcons off of the board.
The Cardinals adjusted to the windy conditions and scored on a counter-attack as freshman forward Paige Stroinski (Granger, Ind./Penn) broke down the right side and beat a BGSU defender. Stroinski's hard work paid off as she sent a cross into the box where it found an on-charging Eft around three Falcon defenders.
Eft was able to one-touch the cross towards the goal where BGSU goalkeeper Alexa Arsenault got a hand on the shot, but it wrung off of the cross bar and into the back of the net for the game's lone goal. The goal was Eft's first of the season and her sixth point overall as she leads the team with four assists.
The two teams closed out the opening frame with an evenly-played 20 minutes of soccer. The teams re-grouped at halftime and the Cardinals came back playing with the wind. Bowling Green had another chance on an early corner kick in the 49th minute as the ball caromed around the six-yard box before Wood was able to pounce on the loose ball in front of a Falcon attacker.
Ball State came just inches from taking a two-goal lead in the 55th minute of action as junior forward Missy Gordon (Carmel, Ind./Marshall Univ.) ripped a shot from 25-yards out that sailed just over the cross bar after getting past Arsenault.
Bowling Green (4-7-1, 0-2-1 MAC) made a late push to tie the game but the Cardinals' defense stood tall. Wood made a strong save on Megan Amann in the 85th minute and freshman defender Brigit Reder (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) cleared a Zucaro shot off of the line in the 87th minute of play to preserve the victory.
Wood finished the game with five saves as she recorded her second straight career shutout. Arsenault tallied four saves in the loss as the Cardinals improve to 7-3-2 all-time against the Falcons.
Ball State will wrap up its home MAC weekend Sunday afternoon as it hosts three-time defending MAC Tournament champion Toledo at 1 p.m. at the BSU Soccer Field. The Cardinals will be supporting the fight against breast cancer Sunday as part of the Think Pink initiative. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show their support.
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