Soccer Grabs Solo First in MAC with Win at Toledo

Friday, October 2

Toledo, Ohio

4:00 PM

Ball State University

7-2-2,3-0-0MAC

Toledo

4-8-0,0-3-0MAC

Team	1	2	Final F
Ball State	1	2	3
Toledo	0	1	1

October 02, 2015 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

By: Ball State Athletics

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Ball State is the lone remaining undefeated women's soccer team in Mid-American Conference play after a 3-1 victory Friday at Toledo.

Freshman forward Abbie Boswell scored a pair of goals as the Cardinals (7-2-2, 3-0 MAC) stretched their winning streak to four games. Leah Mattingly scored the other goal, her second in three games, and the Cardinals came within mere seconds of shutting out the Rockets (4-8, 0-3 MAC).

Friday losses by Western Michigan and Miami left Ball State as the only unbeaten team just three games into the conference schedule.

The wind played a major factor Friday at Toledo's Scott Park, and Boswell's goal against the wind in the 18th minute gave Ball State a big boost. She created a disruption between the Toledo goalkeeper and a defender and took advantage to put the Cardinals on top early.

“We played with a lot of intelligence going into that wind in the first half,” Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. “Our players really listened to the game plan, and we were delighted to come away with a goal. We knew we could step out and press them a lot more in the second half, which we did.”

It didn't take long for Boswell to strike again after the break. Passes from Chelsy Swackhamer and Gabby Veldman set her up for a score in the 47th minute and a two-goal advantage. Boswell's second goal of the day was her fifth of the season, the most on the team.

The Cardinals then added their third goal on a corner kick in the 59th minute when Lauren Hall fed Mattingly. It was Hall's third straight game with an assist, and it came in a game in which she played a position different from her typical midfield spot.

Ball State got a little creative with its lineup Friday. Roberts shifted several of his players around, including moving Hall and fellow midfielder Elaina Musleh to the back line.

“It was something we've done well in practice,” Roberts said. “We rewarded some players with new starting positions, and it paid off with some increased goal scoring. We also had a chance to get a lot of young players some time on the field after we went up by three goals.”

Toledo's score came in the closing seconds from Italia Bond. It was the only thing that kept Ball State's Alyssa Heintschel from her second straight clean sheet. The sophomore goalkeeper from just outside Toledo made three saves in front of a hometown crowd.

Ball State took a measure of revenge from the victory after playing one of its most disappointing games of the season a year ago in a 3-0 home loss to the Rockets. The Cardinals responded with their first win in Toledo since 2006.

Now the team is 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 2007, and its 7-2-2 overall record is the best for the program through 11 games since the 2006 team started 8-1-2.

“It was a strong performance today against a good Toledo squad, especially on the road here,” Roberts said. “We'll shift our focus to a tough test Sunday at Central Michigan. We're excited to play in their new stadium on artificial turf like we're used to playing on every day at home.”

The Cardinals and Chippewas are set for a 1 p.m. kickoff Sunday in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Central Michigan handed Miami its first MAC loss Friday.