Ball State University
Northern Illinois
Soccer Downs NIU for Third Straight 1-0 Win
October 19, 2014 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State soccer team shut out its third straight opponent Sunday with another 1-0 victory, this time over Northern Illinois at the Briner Sports Complex.
Victoria Jacobs scored for the second time in three games and Alyssa Heintschel continued her impressive shutout streak in goal, while Cailey Starck moved within one of the Ball State single-season assists record.
“We are delighted with the victory,” Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. “I thought the girls played very well today. We haven't played many teams that drop into low pressure as much as NIU did. We really pushed to an offensive system in the second half, and it finally paid off with us getting down there and finishing off a set play.”
The Cardinals improved to 9-4-2 (5-3 Mid-American Conference) and maintained a tie with Eastern Michigan for the best record among West Division teams. NIU fell to 5-9-2 (3-3-2 MAC).
Heintschel made her third consecutive start and controlled the action between the posts. The freshman from Oregon, Ohio, recorded four saves and came out to collect numerous crosses. With just one goal allowed in six total appearances this season, Heintschel owns a 0.23 goals against average and a .962 save percentage.
Like Friday's game against Western Michigan, Sunday's contest was scoreless through the first half. Neither team put together much of a threat over the opening 45 minutes.
The Cardinals broke through nine minutes into the second half on a corner kick when Jacobs got her head on the ball and put it into the bottom of the net. Starck and Gabby Veldman recorded assists on the play. It was Starck's sixth assist of the season, one shy of Angie Heyer's school record from 2005.
Ball State held NIU off the scoreboard the rest of the way. The Huskies threatened on a corner kick in the 68th minute when the ball got loose in front of the net, but Heintschel was able to secure it to maintain the clean sheet.
Sunday's shutout was the eighth of the season for Ball State and the 17th for the Cardinals over the past two years. The school record for shutouts in a season is 10.
Ball State now owns 15 points in the MAC standings, tied with Eastern Michigan for the third-most in the league. Buffalo (20) and Miami (19) are the top two teams. Three conference games still remain, and the Cardinals will have a shot at both the Bulls and RedHawks in the next two weeks.
Ball State hits the road next weekend to face Buffalo at 5 p.m. Friday and Akron at noon Sunday. The Cardinals will then conclude the regular season at home Oct. 30 against Miami.
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