Back-to-Back! Soccer Wins MAC Regular Season

Thursday, October 27

Muncie, Ind.

3:00 PM

Ball State University

14-3-2 (9-1-1MAC)

Miami (OH)

8-8-2 (5-4-2MAC)

Miami

Ball State

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

October 27, 2016 | Soccer

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Cardinals earn No. 1 tournament seed, host Northern Illinois Sunday

MUNCIE, Ind. -- It was almost like business as usual Thursday when the Ball State soccer team wrapped up the Mid-American Conference regular season championship with a 2-0 win over Miami.

Of course there was a mild celebration at the Briner Sports Complex, a quick dogpile, the obligatory championship photo ... but nothing over the top. These Cardinals have been there before, winning the MAC regular season a year ago. But there was nothing usual about what they accomplished Thursday.

Ball State (14-3-2, 9-1-1 MAC) became only the second team in MAC women's soccer history to win back-to-back outright regular season championships. The other one? The 2006 and 2007 Cardinals.

"Everyone is very proud of the accomplishment, to do it back-to-back years," head coach Craig Roberts said. "I think it's very commendable for my assistant coaches, our managers, the players, the whole program. To be the most consistent team in the MAC throughout just says a lot."

Still, this Ball State team has more goals in front of it. The Cardinals will be the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament, an event they will be looking to win for the first time. It's a position they found themselves in last year before a heartbreaking upset in the opening round.

This Ball State group is a year older and a year wiser, led by one of the winningest senior classes in school history. The team will welcome No. 8 seed Northern Illinois for a quarterfinal game Sunday at 1 p.m. If the Cardinals advance, they would host the semifinals and finals the weekend of Nov. 4-6.

"I think we all learn by experience," Roberts said. "We were there last year in the same spot. We're not about just enjoying this win. Once this day is over, we'll be focused on the next opponent. All we are interested in is who is coming next, and that's the team we have to defeat."

The Cardinals entered Thursday's game as an incredibly balanced offensive team, and they became even more balanced. Junior midfielder Lucy Walton and freshman defender Yela Ziswiler tallied their first collegiate goals, giving the team 12 different scorers on the year.

The scoreboard read 2-0 at the end of the game, but that did not fully indicate the level to which Ball State controlled play.

The Cardinals registered 34 shots, including 24 in the first half, to just one for Miami. The 34 shots were the third-most by a Ball State team since 2005. BSU also held a 16-1 advantage in corner kicks.

This was against a Miami team (8-8-2, 5-4-2 MAC) that entered the day fourth in the overall league standings and second in the MAC East Division.

"I think our team did very well today," Roberts said. "We came out with the right attitude. There are always things to work on and improve, but overall we were very happy with the strong performance we put forward against a very good Miami team."

After threatening for the entire first half, Ball State broke through in the 34th minute when Kelsey Wendlandt sent a cross into the box and Walton volleyed it home. The Cardinals tacked on their second goal in the 63rd minute on a beautiful strike by Ziswiler from 30 yards out.

Midfielder Gabby Veldman came out firing and helped to set the tone early. She finished the game with a team-high five shots, including two on goal. Alessandra Fistrovich and Peighton Cook had four shots each.

Veldman is one of five seniors on the team, along with Wendlandt, Leah Mattingly, Chay McNitt and Lorina White. The group has now moved within one victory of matching the Ball State record for most wins by a class (51 by the 2007 class).

Mattingly, who already held the school record for career minutes played, added another record Thursday. Her 81 games started (every game of her college career) are now the most by any player in school history.