Soccer Stays Perfect in MAC with 2-1 Win at CMU

Sunday, October 4

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1:00 PM

Ball State University

8-2-2, 4-0-0

Central Michigan

3-7-1, 2-2-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Ball State	0	2	2
Central Michigan	0	1	1

Soccer Favored to Win MAC West in Preseason Poll

October 04, 2015 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

By: Ball State Athletics

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Ball State soccer team gritted out a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Central Michigan to improve to 4-0 in Mid-American Conference play for only the third time in program history.

The Cardinals (8-2-2 overall), who had not won their first four league games since 2007, extended their overall winning streak to five games. Chelsy Swackhamer and Leah Mattingly scored the Ball state goals, with Mattingly's tally in the 82nd minute proving to be the game-winner.

All the scoring came in the second half in damp conditions at CMU Soccer Stadium.

“It was a highly competitive game, and our team did well to raise our level of play,” Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. “We did a much better job in the second half possessing the ball and connecting passes on the wet turf once the girls got used to the speed the ball was traveling.”

Roberts credited senior Madison Oyer with changing the dynamic of the game with her midfield play in the second half. Oyer found Swackhamer just outside the top of the box in the 52nd minute, and Swackhamer fired a strike into the net for the game's first goal.

But the lead didn't last long. Seven minutes later, Alexis Pelafas scored on a header for Central Michigan (3-7-1 overall, 2-2 MAC), and the teams were all square once again.

The game remained tied until the clock ticked under 10 minutes to go in regulation. Ball State earned a free kick, and Mattingly ripped it past Central Michigan goalkeeper Maddy Bunnell from 22 yards out. It was Mattingly's second goal of the weekend and her third in the past four games.

“It was an absolutely outstanding strike of the ball to win the game,” Roberts said. “I felt we showed true character in our relentlessness to go forward and not settle for a tie. We really attacked and pushed to get ourselves in position to score another goal.”

Ball State, which won its third straight in the series with Central Michigan, controlled the action by holding a 13-6 advantage in shots and a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. The team has yet to be out-shot by an opponent this season.

The Cardinals won both games on the road this weekend despite playing somewhat shorthanded. Of their four wins to start the conference season, three of them have come away from home.

“Going into this weekend, we had to make some late adjustments because of injuries and sicknesses,” Roberts said. “I'm proud of the players who stepped into those areas we needed to fill. It was great to come out with two quality wins even when we perhaps weren't at full strength.”

Ball State's 8-2-2 start this season is the program's best since the 2006 team began the year 9-1-2. The Cardinals' current five-game winning streak is their longest since 2007.

Ball State will return home for a pair of games next weekend, hosting Kent State at 4 p.m. Friday and Ohio at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Briner Sports Complex.