Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Kent State
Soccer Drops MAC Opener At Kent State, 4-0
September 25, 2009 | Soccer
KENT, Ohio - The Ball State soccer team opened Mid-American Conference play with a 4-0 loss at the hands of Kent State Friday afternoon at the Kent State Soccer Field. The loss drops the Cardinals to 2-6-0 overall and 0-1-0 in MAC play, while the Golden Flashes improve to 5-3-0 overall and 1-0-0 in league action.
Kent State took advantage of a BSU miscue in the 21st minute to score the first goal as the Cardinals had an own goal to put KSU ahead 1-0. The Golden Flashes took a 2-0 in the 39th minute as Catherine Marosszeky scored from 20-yards out off of a free kick past a diving Nicole Wood (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville). The Cardinals' early momentum was slowed after the first Kent State goal as the Golden Flashes out-shot BSU 10-5 in the first half with seven of their shots coming in the final 25 minutes of the half.
The Cardinals regrouped at halftime as freshman forward Paige Stroinski (Granger, Ind./Penn) came out and ripped a shot from 15-yards out that KSU goalkeeper Kelly Sherwood made a diving save on in the 58th minute of action. Junior forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) tallied her second shot of the half in the 62nd minute, but could not get it past Sherwood.
Kent State scored its third goal in the 65th minute of action as Vanessa Salerno scored off of a cross from Kellyn Flanagan. The Golden Flashes added a fourth goal moments later in the 69th minute as Salerno scored her second goal as she got her head on a KSU corner kick.
Ball State kept battling down the stretch and put pressure on the KSU defense. Senior midfielder Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) had the Cardinals' best chance in the 79th minute as she beat Sherwood with a shot but found the post to keep the Cardinals off of the board. Junior midfielder Cortney Coombs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) had a strong opportunity off of a corner kick in the 81st minute but Sherwood was there to coral her header.
The loss is only the Cardinals' second loss in a MAC opener over the past nine seasons as they are 6-2-1 during that frame. The loss is also Ball State's first against Kent State in the past six seasons, snapping a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2).
The Cardinals continue their MAC-opening weekend road swing Sunday afternoon as they travel to Buffalo. Game time is set for noon at UB Stadium.
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