Soccer Shows off Firepower in Season-Opening Win

Friday, August 21

Jacksonville, Ala.

8:00 PM

Ball State University

1-0

Jacksonville State

0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Ball State	1	3	4
Jacksonville State	0	0	0

August 22, 2015 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score

By: Ball State Athletics

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- Freshman Kelcy Fiser scored the first goal of the season and the Ball State soccer team rolled to a 4-0 victory Friday night in its season opener at Jacksonville State.

The Cardinals (1-0) controlled play and dominated possession throughout the evening. They broke the game open with three goals in the second half against a Jacksonville State team that reached the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament finals a year ago.

“We played very well offensively,” head coach Craig Roberts said. “We are always trying to continue our progression, and I was pleased with how consistent we were tonight in each area of the field. It was good to see our goals come from four different players and to see one of our freshmen score right off the bat.”

Jacksonville State (0-1) was rarely able to move the ball into the attacking third. The Gamecocks applied little pressure, forcing Ball State sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel to make just one save on the way to her fifth career solo shutout.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, were on the attack from the outset. They out-shot Jacksonville State by an 18-3 margin and held an astounding 15-1 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

After a couple early chances went begging, Ball State broke through on Fiser's goal in the 35th minute off a look from Jenna Finke. Gabby Veldman continued the scoring early in the second half when she took advantage of a misplay by the Jacksonville State goalkeeper and scored from close range.

Then the floodgates opened when Lorina White and Kelsey Wendlandt scored within three minutes of each other. White, the 2014 national junior college player of the year, headed home a beautiful cross from Lauren Hall, while Wendlandt got free on a breakaway and converted to put the game out of reach.

“I thought our consistency and depth paid off for us tonight, allowing us to control the game,” Roberts said. “I thought our experience came into play, and I was also really pleased with the performances of our newcomers.”

Ball State looked for the entire evening like a team worthy of its selection as a preseason co-favorite in the Mid-American Conference West Division.

The team will now head to Nashville to close out its season-opening weekend Sunday at Lipscomb. That contest is slated for a Noon CT (1 p.m. ET) start. Lipscomb opened its season Friday night by playing Tennessee to a scoreless draw.