Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Toledo
Soccer Stuns MAC Champion Toledo, 1-0 In Season Finale
October 28, 2010 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State soccer team pulled off the biggest upset of the 2010 Mid-American Conference season Thursday afternoon as the Cardinals became the first team this year to defeat MAC co-champion Toledo as Ball State notched a 1-0 victory over the Rockets at the BSU Soccer Field in the season finale.
The loss drops Toledo, No. 33 in the nation in RPI, to 14-3-2 overall and 10-1-0 in MAC play, while the Cardinals pick up their first win in MAC play to end the year 1-8-2 in the league and 7-10-2 overall. The loss snaps Toledo's 11-game MAC winning streak and ended the Rockets' attempt to become the first team in MAC history to end the year without a blemish in league play.
"The team played really hard today for each other," head coach Craig Roberts said. We felt all season long we have been in every game and worked really hard so we deserved a positive outcome. This game, especially for the seniors, was special as Toledo beat us in the final second last year and the team brought that felling with them today. We wanted to reward our seniors with a victory for all that they have given to the program."
Toledo came out of the gate quickly to start the game as the Rockets tallied eight first half shots. Toledo came within inches of scoring the game's first goal in the 11th minute of play as Brittany Hensler ripped a shot from 10-yards out after a scramble that was cleared off the BSU line by sophomore defender Brigit Reder (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West).
Ball State turned the defense into offense as it scored the game's lone goal in the 26th minute of action. Senior midfielder Missy Gordon (Carmel, Ind./Marshall) made a long run down the left hand side and beat two Toledo defenders before sending a cross into the six-yard box. Senior defender Danielle Rogers (Orland Park, Ill./UT-Martin) ran onto the cross and headed the ball past UT goalkeeper Nicki Traven for her first career goal at Ball State and a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals tried to use the momentum from the goal to add a second tally in the ensuing minute. Gordon drove down the left side and turned towards goal before ripping a shot from 18-yards out that Traven was able to punch wide to keep the game a one-goal contest at halftime.
Toledo came out of the halftime break with the wind on their side and used it to its advantage as it out-shot the Cardinals 10-5 in the second half. Rachael Kravitz stepped up in the 51st minute and found some space 30 yards out. Kravitz cracked a shot that BSU freshman goalkeeper Layne Schramm (The Colony, Texas/The Colony) made a diving save on to keep the Cardinals in the lead.
Ball State spent most of the half in its zone defending but used a counter-attack in the 57th minute for a strong scoring opportunity. Gordon once again was in the middle of the action as she drove down the left side and weaved her way through three Toledo defenders. After beating the last defender she was in alone on a one-on-one with Traven who was able to get enough of her hand on the shot to steer it wide of goal.
Toledo went on the all-out-attack over the final 30 minutes but the Ball State defense and Schramm stood tall. The Cardinals got another huge defensive stand in the 61st minute after a scramble in the box. Ana Reynolds jumped on a rebound in the box and sent the ball past Schramm towards the far corner. Senior defender Tina Vannatta (Powhatan, Va./Springboro) saved the victory for the Cardinals as she cleared the sure-goal off the end line for the Cardinals' second team save of the afternoon.
Ball State held on down the stretch as Toledo out-shot it 18-12 in the loss and held a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Schramm posted her first career shutout in the victory as she made six saves while getting the help of two team saves from Reder and Vannatta. Traven made four saves as she played 67:01 before being pulled for Angela Righeimer.
Ball State ends the season with a 7-10-2 record in Roberts' first year at the helm. The Cardinals nearly doubled their win total from last season (4) and also posted a 6-2-0 record in non-conference play this year. Toledo enters the 2010 MAC Tournament as the number one seed despite the loss.
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