Ball State University
Miami University
Soccer Falls to Miami, Claims No. 4 Tourney Seed
October 30, 2014 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision Thursday afternoon to Miami University in the final game of the regular season.
Jasmine Moses scored the goal for Ball State, which still secured the No. 4 seed and a first-round home game in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. The Cardinals will host No. 5 seed Kent State at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Briner Sports Complex.
Ball State finished the regular season at 10-6-2 (6-5 MAC) and earned a first-round tournament home game for the first time since 2007. The team finished second in the MAC West Division standings behind Eastern Michigan, marking its best finish since the league implemented divisions in 2010.
Miami improved to 14-3-1 (8-2-1 MAC) with Thursday's win. The RedHawks, the No. 2 seed for the tournament, went ahead on a goal from Rachel Marble in the closing minutes of the first half and never trailed again. Kelsey Dinges scored two goals for Miami, and Chloe Knue added a late one.
“We definitely know we need to be better defensively than we were today,” Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. “Our defense has been outstanding all year long, from goalkeeping to the back line, but today we had an off day.”
Moses' goal was the 13th of her career, moving her into a tie for sixth on Ball State's all-time list. It brought the Cardinals even with Miami with the 15th minute. That score held until the 43rd minute when Marble broke the tie.
The RedHawks kept the attack going in the second half and picked up a pair of insurance goals. Ball State had its share of looks but could not get one past Miami keeper Danielle Wiseman, who made five saves in the second half. Another late shot from Aly Kohanowski hit the crossbar.
“We still need to convert more goals,” Roberts said. “We have relied on our defense to keep us in games and have been able to pull out a goal here or there. We've done very well with that, but we definitely need to convert more opportunities offensively.”
Ball State now turns its attention to the league tournament, having made a run to the championship game last year. Sunday's first-round game against Kent State will be the second meeting between the teams this season. The Cardinals picked up a 1-0 road win over the Golden Flashes back on Oct. 12.
