Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Northern Kentucky
Soccer Cards Top Northern Ky. 2-1 In Home Opener
August 25, 2012 | Soccer
An own goal just minutes later gave the Cardinals a 2-0 cushion and helped them hold off the visiting Norse to even their record at 1-1-0. Northern Kentucky also now stands at 1-1-0.
Both teams will be back in action Sunday at the Ball State Tournament with NKU battling Western Kentucky at 12 p.m., followed by Ball State's matchup with Xavier at 2:30 p.m. Western Kentucky defeated Xavier, 3-0, in Friday's first contest.
"We moved the ball very well today," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. "I was really delighted with our possession game. We found our connections really well. I felt like when we got into that attacking third, we took our opportunities when we created them."
Ball State and Northern Kentucky were scoreless through 65 minutes of play Friday. The Cardinals managed to get 11 shots off in the first half but couldn't get one to find the net. That all changed in the 66th minute when senior defender Amanda Dreyfus lined up a corner kick opposite the BSU bench.
The ball off Dreyfus' foot made it all the way through to the back post, where Chew lined it up and headed it past Northern Kentucky goalkeeper Cassie Lingenhoel. It was the first goal of the season and the second career tally for the senior defender from Mason, Ohio.
"There's not really much that goes through my mind on corners," Chew said. "You have to get to the ball, and when it's in the air you just give it everything you have. Sometimes it goes in, sometimes it doesn't. I got on the lucky side of it today."
Less than three minutes later, Ball State found the scoreboard again. With the Cardinals on the attack, senior forward Paige Stroinski sent a hard pass from the left side of the box. A Northern Kentucky player, trying to clear the ball away from the goal, instead kicked it into the net to give BSU a 2-0 advantage.
That margin stood until the 85th minute when Northern Kentucky's Megan Frye collected a loose ball in front of the goal and put it into the top left portion of the net. The Norse, which had only three shots in the first half, registered 10 over the final 45 minutes. They continued to pressure the goal after their score but were not able to find the equalizer.
"It's nice to get our first win of the season," Roberts said. "I was very pleased with our overall game for pretty much 75 percent of the night. We just need to work on closing out games when we have a lead."
Ball State goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler made five saves to help the Cardinals to a victory on day one of the first regular-season tournament the program has ever hosted. Lingenhoel managed four saves for Northern Kentucky before being relieved by Stephanie Glass late in the game.
Northern Kentucky's Allison Ponzer led all players with four shots, while Alyssa Ables, Aubrey Hauenstein and Maimee Morris finished with three each for Ball State.
