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Western Michigan
Soccer Drops MAC Opener At Western Michigan
September 23, 2011 | Soccer
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Ball State soccer team had its four-game unbeaten streak snapped Friday afternoon as the Cardinals opened Mid-American Conference play with a 3-1 loss at Western Michigan. The loss drops the Cardinals to 5-4-1 on the season and is their first loss since September 4 at Xavier.
Western Michigan (5-4-0, 1-0-0 MAC) opened the scoring quickly as it tallied two goals less than two minutes apart early in the first half. Anina Cicerone scored both goals for the Broncos as she found the back of the net in the 16th minute and once again in the 18th minute to give Western Michigan the early 2-0 lead against junior goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler (Waukesha, Wis./UT Martin).
Ball State weathered the early storm and answered back in the 41st minute as its offensive pressure paid dividends. The Cardinals were attacking the WMU goal and were awarded a penalty kick. Freshman defender Pavla Benyrova (Prague, Czech Republic/Prague Gymnasium 9) stepped up and drilled the kick from the penalty kick past WMU goalkeeper Michelle Watson to narrow the gap to 2-1. The goal was the second of Benyrova's career and the Cardinals' first penalty kick goal since Megan Ridley converted one September 7, 2009 at #14 Purdue.
The Cardinals battled for the game-tying goal in the second half but were unable to find the back of the net against Watson and the Broncos. Western Michigan picked up a much needed insurance goal in the 79th minute as Hope Spangler jumped on a loose ball in the 18-yard box and deposited it into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season.
Ball State was out-shot for the first time in the past seven games as the Broncos held a 16-9 advantage. Cicerone led all players with a game-high eight shots while freshmen Hannah Chadick (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) and Ellie Chadick (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) led the Cardinals with two shots apiece.
Ball State returns home to the Briner Sports Complex Sunday afternoon as it hosts Northern Illinois in its MAC home opener. Game time is set for 1 p.m. and admission is FREE.
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