Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Northern Illinois
Soccer Rolls Past Northern Illinois, 3-0
September 25, 2011 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State soccer team picked up its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season on a soggy Sunday afternoon as the Cardinals posted an impressive 3-0 victory over visiting Northern Illinois at the Briner Sports Complex. The victory improves the Cardinals to 6-4-1 on the year and 1-1-0 in MAC play.
Ball State opened the scoring in the 34th minute of play as its offensive pressure finally broke through the NIU defense. Junior forward Paige Stroinski (Granger, Ind./Penn) found some space on the end-line off a throw-in and sent the ball back into the box.
Junior midfielder Sarah Orisich (Columbus, Ind./North) got on the end of the pass and ripped a shot from 10-yards out that deflected off an NIU defender and past goalkeeper Amy Carr for the 1-0 lead. The goal was the first of the season for Orisich after leading the Cardinals in scoring last year with four goals.
The Cardinals and Huskies played an evenly matched first half with the NIU holding a 6-5 edge in shots. Ball State came out of the halftime break and dominated play, out-shooting the Huskies 12-5 in the second half to surge itself to victory.
The Cardinals broke through once again in the 59th minute of play as they offense built up from the midfield. Freshman Ellie Chadick (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) made a run down the left sideline before sending a cross to the top of the 18-yard box.
Midfielder Kelsey Shapiro (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) was able to flick the cross towards the goal where freshman defender Pavla Benyrova (Prague, Czech Republic/Prague Gymnasium 9) slid in front of Carr and chipped the ball over her and into the back of the net for the 2-0 lead. The goal was the third of the season for Benyrova and her second goal in as many games after posting a penalty kick goal Friday against Western Michigan.
Ball State's unyielding pressure in the second half paid dividends as it kept peppering the NIU defense. The Cardinals posted their third goal of the game in the 69th minute as Benyrova sent freshman midfielder Becca Sutton (Channahon, Ill./Minooka Community) a long cross to the top of the 18-yard box.
Sutton cut back across the top of the box on her first touch and rifled a shot over Carr's head and into the back of the net for the 3-0 lead. The goal was the first of Sutton's career and she becomes the 10th different Cardinal to score this season. Additionally, she becomes the fifth different member of the Ball State freshman class to score a goal this year.
Junior goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler (Waukesha, Wis./UT-Martin) recorded four saves to notch her team-leading third shutout of the season and first career MAC shutout. Carr posted four saves in the loss for NIU which falls to 1-7-2 overall and 0-2-0 in MAC play.
Ball State returns to action Friday afternoon as it travels to arch rival Miami. Game time is set for 4 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio.
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