Soccer's Comeback Falls Short Against NIU

Friday, October 23

Muncie, Ind.

3 p.m.

Ball State University

Northern Illinois

Soccer Ties Cincinnati 2-2 In Exhibition Game Saturday

October 23, 2009 | Soccer

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State soccer team saw its second half rally fall short Friday afternoon as the Cardinals suffered a 2-1 loss to Mid-American Conference foe Northern Illinois at a wet and muddy BSU Soccer Field. The loss drops the Cardinals to 4-12-0 overall and 2-7-0 in MAC play while the Huskies improve to 5-10-2 overall and 1-6-2 in league action.

"We were very tentative in the first half today and dug ourselves into a hole," head coach Michael Lovett said. "We came out in the second half and played inspired soccer. Our team really responded to the adversity of Nicole's injury, but we could not overcome the two-goal deficit."

Northern Illinois struck first in the sixth minute of the game as Lisa Maier got in behind the Cardinals' defense and placed a shot off of the far post past BSU freshman goalkeeper Nicole Wood (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville). The Huskies took advantage of the sloppy playing conditions and the wind at their backs to score their second goal in the 21^st minute. NIU sent a free kick from midfield into the box where Kelsey Passaglia was able to poke a loose ball into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Wood, who had played 600-plus consecutive minutes, suffered an injury on a collision in the box in the 33^rd minute. Senior goalkeeper Amy Cleeter (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn) was summoned on in relief for BSU.

Ball State regrouped at halftime and was aided with the switching of ends as it played with the wind in the second half. The Cardinals battled back and held a 9-4 advantage in shots in the second frame as they fought for the game-tying goal.

BSU narrowed the margin to 2-1 in the 67^th minute of play as it finally beat NIU goalkeeper Lindsey Curnock. Freshman forward Maggie Brown (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) sent a ball into the box where it found an on-charging Paige Stroinski (Granger, Ind./Penn). Stroinski gathered the ball and generated some space before ripping a shot past Curnock for her third goal of the season.

The Cardinals kept attacking down the stretch as they battled through the tough playing conditions. Ball State had its best chance for the game-tying goal 85^th minute as junior forward Missy Gordon (Carmel, Ind./Marshall Univ.) sent a cross into the box where senior midfielder Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) got a head on the cross but had the shot blocked to thwart the attack.

The loss evens the all-time series between Ball State and Northern Illinois to 4-4-3 in series history.

Ball State returns to action Sunday afternoon as it closes out the home portion of the regular season when it hosts Western Michigan at 1 p.m. The Cardinals will recognize the senior duo of Cleeter and Ridley prior to the game at BSU Soccer Field.

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