Ball State University
Illinois
Soccer Falls To No. 19 Illinois
August 26, 2011 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State soccer team hosted its first ever regular season contest at the Briner Sports Complex Friday afternoon and the Cardinals dropped a 5-0 decision to No. 19 Illinois. The Illini have scored five goals in all three games so far this season and are just the second Big Ten team ever to visit Muncie in BSU soccer history (Purdue, 11/1/03).
Ball State (1-2-0) controlled the tempo of the game in the early going as it held possession against the Illini for a majority of the first 10 minutes. Illinois started to take control after the early BSU surge and reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Vanessa DiBernardo scored her team-leading fifth of the season in the 25th minute as she got behind the Cardinals defense.
Illinois broke open the game thanks to forward Niki Read who posted a hat trick with straight goals. Read scored in the 28th, 31st and 66th minutes of action with two of her goals being unassisted tallies.
Ball State had its chance to score in the 69th minute of as it got a free kick 25 yards from goal. Junior forward Paige Stroinski (Granger, Ind./Penn) stepped up and ripped a bullet to the corner of the net but Illinois goalkeeper Steph Panozo made a sprawling save to keep the Cardinals off the board.
The Illini closed out the scoring in the 88th minute as Stephanie Pouse ripped a shot from 25 yards out into the back of the net for the 5-0 advantage. Sophomore goalkeeper Layne Schramm (The Colony, Texas/The Colony) posted five saves in the loss, including four in the second half.
Ball State returns to action next weekend as it travels to instate rival Indiana State Friday evening for a 7 p.m. start.
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