Swackhamer's OT Goal Keeps Soccer atop MAC

Sunday, October 25

Muncie, Ind.

2:00 PM

Ball State University

13-3-2 (9-1MAC)

Buffalo

10-6-2 (6-3-1MAC)

Team	1	2	OT 2	Final F
Buffalo	0	0	0	0
Ball State	0	0	1	1

October 25, 2015 | Soccer

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By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Overtime had not been friendly to the Ball State soccer team in its recent meetings with defending Mid-American Conference champion Buffalo.

Twice last season, the Cardinals took the Bulls to extra periods only to suffer heartbreaking losses. The second of those defeats ended their season in the league semifinals.

So when Chelsy Swackhamer's rebound attempt found the net in the fourth minute of overtime Sunday, it was like three games worth of frustration let out all at once. The Cardinals stormed the field to celebrate a 1-0 victory over the Bulls and their first perfect regular season at home.

"I was really proud of the girls' effort," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. "We talked about how Buffalo was going to be a good team and it was going to be a long process. I was really proud of the character our team demonstrated and how hungry we were to win."

More important than avenging last year's losses, the victory kept Ball State in the driver's seat with one game left in the MAC championship race. The Cardinals (13-3-2, 9-1 MAC) remained two points ahead of Western Michigan, which also won Sunday, for first place in the conference standings.

The team will close out the regular season Thursday at Miami with the chance to secure the MAC championship outright with a win.

Much like Friday's 1-0 victory over Akron, Ball State held a decided advantage in controlling the flow of Sunday's game. But unlike Friday's win, the team did not find the scoreboard early.

The Cardinals out-shot Buffalo by a 27-3 margin and earned nine corner kicks to just one for the Bulls (10-6-2, 6-3-1 MAC). Although there were some close calls, none of Ball State's scoring opportunities in regulation came to fruition. Buffalo goalkeeper Laura Dougall made 11 saves to keep the game scoreless.

Ball State's ninth corner kick of the day proved to be the knockout punch. Leah Mattingly sent the ball into the box, and it was batted around before falling to Swackhamer, whose header hit off the crossbar. The ball came right back to her, and she bumped it into the net to set off the celebration.

"Chelsy is a special player, and she was first-class today," Roberts said. "We kept knocking on the door and couldn't get one. But eventually, through perseverance, we ended up getting the goal we needed. It was just down to sheer grit and determination."

Alyssa Heintschel saved the only three shots Buffalo managed in the game for her second shutout of the weekend and the seventh of the season for Ball State. In two games this weekend, the Cardinals held their opponents scoreless on three combined shots.

"I think our defense and goalkeeping were tremendous today when they were called upon," Roberts said. "They were very concrete back there, very consistent and hard-working. It just shows the ability of the back four and the goalkeeping to be able to shut down a good team like Buffalo."

Swackhamer registered a team-high eight shots, while Gabby Veldman posted five for the Cardinals. Both players put three of their shots on frame.

Ball State matched the school record with its ninth conference victory and is now two shy of the school record for total wins in a season (15 in 2005). The Cardinals finished their regular season home schedule perfect for the first time at 6-0.