Ball State University Athletics
Soccer Gets Rematch at Buffalo in MAC Semifinals
November 06, 2014 | Soccer
The Ball State soccer team continues its hunt for a championship Friday in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at No. 1 seed Buffalo.
The fourth-seeded Cardinals meet the Bulls at 4 p.m. Friday in the first semifinal at UB Stadium, while the nightcap features No. 6 seed Western Michigan versus No. 7 seed NIU. The winners will meet in the championship game Sunday at Noon, again at UB Stadium, for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
A live video stream of Friday's game will be available through the Women's Soccer Championship page at mac-sports.com, while a free live radio broadcast by Ball State's student station WCRD will be available at ballstatesports.com.
The Cardinals (11-6-2) have already achieved a program first by reaching the semifinals in back-to-back seasons. They will be able to draw on the experience of last year's postseason run when they topped Miami in a penalty kick shootout to reach the championship game for the first time ever.
To get another shot at the championship, Ball State will have to overcome the MAC regular season champion on its home field. Buffalo (13-2-3) was unbeaten at home this season, but the Cardinals came as close as anyone all season to ending that streak.
Ball State held a 1-0 lead at Buffalo on Oct. 24 before the Bulls scored in the second half to force overtime. Then the Cardinals were called for a hand ball in the box when the ball appeared to hit a Ball State player in the face. Buffalo's Katie Roberts converted the ensuing penalty kick for the game-winner.
Roberts is the top scorer in the MAC, having recorded 11 of Buffalo's 29 goals on the season. She scored both goals in the regular season meeting between the teams.
Ball State will put the league's top scoring offense (31 goals) on the line against the league's top defensive team statistically. The Bulls have surrendered only 12 goals all season and have shut out 13 of their 19 opponents.
Elaina Musleh's two goals in the semifinal round were the difference in Ball State's 2-0 win over Kent State. She became the sixth Cardinal with at least three goals this season, led by Gabby Veldman and Leah Mattingly with four each.
Victoria Jacobs, with three goals, is one of those six. She is poised to set a school record by just taking the field Friday. The senior defender will become the school's all-time leader in games played, seeing action in the 82nd game of her career.
For a complete preview of the Cardinals in the MAC semifinals, check out This Week in Ball State Soccer.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State soccer, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateSoccer on Twitter.
