Ball State University
Buffalo
Soccer Falls at Buffalo on Overtime Penalty Kick
October 24, 2014 | Soccer
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Ball State soccer team led midway into the second half Friday at Mid-American Conference leader Buffalo, but the Bulls rallied for a 2-1 win in overtime at UB Stadium.
Buffalo (11-2-3, 7-0-2 MAC) was awarded a penalty kick on a controversial hand ball whistle in the second minute of overtime, and Katie Roberts connected for her second score of the game. The win kept the Bulls unbeaten in league play.
Ball State (9-5-2, 5-4 MAC) had its streak of three straight shutout wins snapped. The Cardinals will continue their weekend road trip Sunday with a noon kickoff at Akron. Only two regular season games remain as the teams fight for MAC Tournament positioning.
The Cardinals scored their goal on a penalty kick of their own shortly before halftime. Buffalo goalkeeper Laura Dougall collided with Nicole Pembleton in the box, and Orla Travers-Gillespie converted the penalty kick for the first score of the game in the 44th minute.
Buffalo ramped up its offensive attack in the second half, but Ball State hung tough to defend some dangerous situations. Goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel went fully extended with one arm to deflect a shot in the 62nd minute, and the Bulls had another attempt go off the post six minutes later.
Then Roberts, the MAC's second-leading goal scorer, broke through in the 71st minute when she scored off a pass from Celina Carrero to tie the game. The goal snapped Heintschel's streak of 369 consecutive shutout minutes between the posts.
Ball State had an opportunity in the final minute of regulation with its fifth corner kick of the game, but Buffalo successfully defended it to force overtime.
Early in the first extra period, the Cardinals were whistled for a hand ball in the box on a bang-bang play in which the ball appeared to hit Victoria Jacobs' head. Roberts capitalized for Buffalo by converting on the decisive penalty kick.
Heintschel made seven saves for the game, including five in the second half. Buffalo ended the night with a 19-10 advantage in shots and a 9-4 edge in shots on goal.
Ball State visits Akron for its final regular season road game Sunday before returning home to host Miami in the finale Thursday. The Cardinals will enter Sunday's contest either third or fourth in the overall league standings based on the outcome of Friday's late games.
