Ball State University
Indiana State
Soccer Earns Tough 1-0 Victory Over Indiana State
August 22, 2010 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. - For the first time since the 2005 season the Ball State soccer team has opened the year with two straight victories as the Cardinals earned a hard fought 1-0 victory over instate rival Indiana State Sunday afternoon at the BSU Soccer Field. Freshman midfielder Alyssa Peterson (Elburn, Ill./St. Charles North) scored her first career collegiate goal in the 73rd minute to improve the Cardinals to 7-0-0 all-time against the Sycamores in program history.
"Today was a very competitive game," first-year head coach Craig Roberts said. "Both teams came to battle today as every ball was contested. We have been consistent in using some of our freshmen early in the year and today we were delighted to see one of them step up in Alyssa and score the game-winning goal."
Ball State (2-0-0) came out early and put pressure on the Sycamores in the opening 20 minutes of the contest. Sophomore forward Paige Stroinski (Granger, Ind./Penn) had the best scoring chance of the half in the 17th minute as she found an opening in the box and ripped a shot from 12 yards out that sailed just wide of the far post.
Indiana State (0-2-0) came on late in the second half and answered the Cardinals' pressure as it held a 6-3 edge in shots in the first half. The Sycamores' best chance in the opening frame came in the 44th minute as Alyssa Grell sent a shot from 15 yards out on net, but sophomore goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler (Waukesha, Wis./Tennessee-Martin) was there to make the save.
Ball State regrouped at halftime and came out and dominated play in the second half as it held an 8-1 advantage in shots in the half. The Cardinals came close in the 47th minute as Alyssa Ables (Huntertown, Ind./Shattuck St. Mary's) found freshman Robyn Miley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) in space in the box. Miley uncorked a shot from 10 yards out that ISU goalkeeper Emily Lahay was able to stop to keep the game scoreless.
The Cardinals finally broke the scoreless tie in the 73rd minute of action. Ables once again was involved as she sent a long ball to the top of the 18-yard box that Stroinski was able to one-touch into the box. Peterson out-worked the ISU defender to the ball and blasted a shot from 10 yards out past a diving Lahay for her first career goal and a 1-0 Ball State lead.
BSU was strong down the stretch and limited the Sycamores' time on the attack. The Cardinals came within inches of making it a two-goal contest in the 90th minute as senior Kristina Anderson (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) drilled a shot from 15-yards out towards the bottom corner but Lahay was able to poke the ball around the goal post for a corner kick that ran out the clock in the second half.
Buehler picked up her second career victory for the Cardinals as she made one save in the shutout. Lahay tallied two saves in the loss for the Sycamores.
Ball State returns to action Friday evening as it travels down I-69 for a meeting at IUPUI. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and marks the first of six straight road games for the Cardinals.
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