Ball State University
Illinois
Soccer Falls At Big Ten Foe Illinois, 3-0
August 29, 2010 | Soccer
CHAMPAIGN, Ill - The Ball State soccer team suffered its first loss of the 2010 season Sunday afternoon as the Cardinals dropped a 3-0 decision to Big Ten foe and regional power Illinois at the Illinois Soccer Stadium. The loss moves the Cardinals to 3-1-0 on the season while the victory improves the Illini to 3-0-0 on the year.
The loss is first-year head coach Craig Roberts' first at Ball State. Roberts became the first Cardinals' coach to win his first three games with Friday's victory at IUPUI. Desptie the loss, Ball State's 3-1-0 record through the first four games of the season is the best start in program history since 2004 when BSU opened the year with a 4-0-0 record.
Illinois controlled the action for most of the game as it held a 20-6 advantage in shots in the victory. The Fighting Illini scored two first half goals on its way to the victory. Illinois leading scorer Vanessa DiBernardo scored her third goal of the season in the 16th minute of action against sophomore goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler (Waukesha, Wis./UT-Martin).
The Illini took a 2-0 lead in the 37th minute as Shayla Mutz scored an unassisted goal off a BSU turnover. Illinois rounded out the scoring in the 57th minute as Jordan Hilbrands beat freshman goalkeeper Layne Schramm (The Colony, Texas/The Colony) for the game's third goal.
Senior forward Jacki Eft (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) led the Cardinals' attack as she posted a team-high three shots in the loss. Buehler tallied two saves in 45 minutes of action as she picked up her first loss of her BSU career while Schramm added a save in 45 minutes of play. Illinois also used two goalkeepers in the victory Steph Panozzo made two saves in the first half while Alexandra Kapicka notched three saves in the second half.
Ball State returns to action Friday evening as it travels to SIU-Edwardsville for a non-conference contest at 7 p.m.
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