Ball State University
Fairfield
Field Hockey Falls One Goal Short In Double Overtime
September 04, 2009 | Field Hockey
Despite losing by a lone goal, Ball State managed to take 18 shots in regulation (24 total) while allowing Fairfield to take 17 all game including the two overtime periods. The Cardinals also kept the pressure on the Stags' goalkeeper Caitlin O'Donnell who tallied 14 saves. Cardinal goalkeeper Tiffany Shifflett (Yorktown, Va./Hampton Roads Academy) played all 98:31 minutes in the cage, posting eight saves.
Fairfield took an early 1-0 lead ten minutes into the game on a goal from Marit Westenberg, assisted by Molly Byrnes. However, Ball State's 2008 leading scorer, sophomore Brittany Hammer (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) brought the Cardinals into the game by tying the score 1-1 as she logged her first goal of the season on an unassisted shot. Junior Hannah Jones (Louisville, Ky./Dupont Manual) gave the Cardinals the lead nine minutes later, maintaining the 2-1 advantage into halftime.
As the Stags tied the score once more twelve minutes down in the second period, Ball State answered back, commanding a two-goal lead. Jones stepped up for the Cardinals with her second goal of the game and added an assist to junior Elizabeth Blaum's (Wilkes Barre, Pa./Wyoming Seminary College Prep.) goal with 11 minutes remaining in regulation.
Fairfield made another comeback by scoring one goal off a penalty corner opportunity and another on a one-on-one opportunity with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, bringing the game to its first overtime. Neither team scored in the first extra period although Shifflett made three saves, while Ball State attacked the net five times. However, at the 1:29 mark in double overtime, Stag midfielder Carly McCullough gave Fairfield the 5-4 victory with the final goal.
Ball State owns a 2-1 record heading into Saturday's 2 p.m. road game against Villanova. The Wildcats have only played one game so far this season, recording a 7-1 loss to Old Dominion.
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