Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Jacksonville State
Soccer Takes Down Jacksonville State, 3-1
September 20, 2014 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State soccer team scored twice early against Jacksonville State and rode out a 3-1 win Saturday afternoon as the Cardinals celebrated Senior Day at the Briner Sports Complex.
“I'm really proud of our seniors,” Ball State head coach Craig Roberts said. “They put in a great performance. We set the tone for the game as we scored early with all the seniors in, and then we were able to close out the game with the seniors on the field again.”
Elaina Musleh, Gabby Veldman and Leah Mattingly scored goals as Ball State remained unbeaten in its past four games and improved to 4-1-2 on the season. Jacksonville State fell to 4-5 overall.
It its final tuneup for Mid-American Conference play, Ball State came out of the gates quickly with goals from Musleh and Veldman in the opening 20 minutes.
Musleh took a pass from Jasmine Moses and beat Jacksonville State keeper Meara Johnson on a tough angle from the right side of the net into the top left corner. That goal game in the 11th minute, and then Veldman struck just six minutes later.
Kelsey Wendlandt broke free down the right side and sent a ball into the box. Johnson got her hands on it but couldn't hold on, and Veldman was there to put it away for her team-leading third goal of the season.
“We possessed very well at times,” Roberts said. “We had some chances to score more goals and just weren't able to convert in the final third. But overall, it was a good performance from our team.”
The 2-0 score stood until the 52nd minute when Jacksonville State's Kayla Thompson went one-on-one with a Ball State defender on the left side of the box and then found the right side of the net.
Ball State buckled up defensively and held the Gamecocks without another score, and then Mattingly sealed the win in the final 10 minutes with her second goal in the past three games.
Brooke Dennis played the full 90 minutes in goal for the Cardinals and made three saves. A total of 23 Ball State players saw action on the day.
The Cardinals will begin MAC play next Friday with a home game against Bowling Green at 5 p.m. when they will again celebrate Youth Soccer Month.
