Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Lipscomb
Soccer Rolls Past Lipscomb, 4-0
September 18, 2009 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State soccer team picked up its second straight win to close out non-conference play as the Cardinals turned in a dominating effort in a 4-0 shutout over visiting Lipscomb Friday afternoon. The Cardinals claimed the four-goal victory in front of a program-record 808 fans at the BSU Soccer Field as the BSU Soccer program was celebrating of Youth Soccer Month in the Muncie community.
"Today was a great effort, especially in the second half, as we were aggressive and played attacking soccer," head coach Michael Lovett said. "We have been working on attacking all week long and it was promising to see the players translate that work into the game. We were excited to play in front of such a great crowd this afternoon and were inspired by all of the local youth players in attendance. These past two games give us great momentum heading into Mid-American Conference play next weekend."
The Cardinals (2-5-0) controlled play the entire game as they held a 23-2 advantage in shots, including a 16-1 edge in their three-goal second half. Ball State started the attack in the first half as junior forward Missy Gordon (Carmel, Ind./Marshall) ripped a shot from 25-yards out that went past Lipscomb goalkeeper Erin Zerio, but struck the cross bar in the 22nd minute.
The Cardinals continued to press and opened the scoring in the 24th minute with Gordon in the middle of the action. She broke down the left side and beat a pair of Lady Bison defenders before sending a cross into the box. Zerio came out for the ball but could not corral it and senior Patti Hoeg (Northville, Mich./Ladywood) was there to poke the loose ball into the back of the net for her first career goal.
Ball State's momentum slowed going into halftime before the Cardinals regrouped during the break and came out controlling the pace in the second half. Junior forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) came within inches of the Cardinals' second goal as she ripped a shot from 20-yards out off of the cross bar in the 58th minute of action.
The Cardinals' pressure paid dividends in the 68th minute of play as they earned a corner kick. Junior defender Kristina Anderson (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) stepped forward and sent a perfect bending kick over goalkeeper Ally Marler's head and into the side netting for her first goal of the season.
Anderson, who missed most of last season due to an injury, had a foot in the Cardinals' third goal of the contest as well as Ball State got another corner kick in the 79th minute of play. This time Anderson drove a ball to the back post where redshirt sophomore defender Tina Vannatta (Powhatan, Va./Springboro) rose up and drilled a header into the back of the net for her first goal of the season and a 3-0 BSU lead.
The Cardinals kept the attack going down the stretch as they tallied their fourth goal of the contest in the 87th minute of action. Freshman defender Brigit Reder (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) found some space and sent a long pass to classmate Paige Stroinski (Granger, Ind./Penn). Stroinski gathered the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and made a couple of moves to lose her defender before rocketing a shot into the far corner for her second goal of the season.
Freshman goalkeeper Nicole Wood (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville) tallied her second win as she played the first half and posted one save while senior goalkeeper Amy Cleeter (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn) played a flawless second half to preserve Ball State's first shutout of the season.
The crowd of 808 fans set a Ball State soccer record for largest crowd at BSU Soccer Field, surpassing the previous mark of 759 fans September 30, 2007 against Eastern Michigan.
Ball State is off this Sunday as it prepares for Mid-American Conference play which begins next weekend. The Cardinals open league action next Friday evening when they travel to Kent State to take on the Golden Flashes.
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