Ball State University Athletics
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Heintschel Named MAC Defensive Player of the Week
September 13, 2016 | Soccer
Junior goalkeeper shut out Louisville with career-high 11 saves
MUNCIE, Ind. -- For her performance in shutting out ACC foe Louisville with a career-high 11 saves Friday, Ball State goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Heintschel's 11 saves are tied for the most by a MAC goalkeeper this season and are the most in a winning performance. Every one of the saves was needed in a 1-0, double-overtime victory on the road. The win was the first for Ball State over a Power 5 conference opponent since 2006.
Louisville entered the contest averaging more than three goals per game but could not get one past Heintschel, a junior captain from Oregon, Ohio. It was the first time this season Louisville had been shut out.
Several of Heintschel's saves were highlight-reel quality -- a sliding block of a point-blank shot and a fingertip deflection over the crossbar in the first half, plus a diving deflection of a shot at the post in the second.
The game was scoreless going to overtime, where Heintschel made two of her saves and batted away a dangerous free kick. She kept the Cardinals even until teammate Lorina White scored the game-winner in the 108th minute.
This week's award marks the third time Heintschel has been recognized as the MAC Defensive Player of the Week during her career. She earned the honor twice last season on her way to being named the All-MAC First Team goalkeeper.
Heintschel and fellow junior Tristin Stuteville have shared time in goal this season, teaming together to help Ball State to a 4-2-1 start. After three straight road games, the Cardinals return to the Briner Sports Complex to host Morehead State at 5 p.m. Friday.
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Heintschel's 11 saves are tied for the most by a MAC goalkeeper this season and are the most in a winning performance. Every one of the saves was needed in a 1-0, double-overtime victory on the road. The win was the first for Ball State over a Power 5 conference opponent since 2006.
Louisville entered the contest averaging more than three goals per game but could not get one past Heintschel, a junior captain from Oregon, Ohio. It was the first time this season Louisville had been shut out.
Several of Heintschel's saves were highlight-reel quality -- a sliding block of a point-blank shot and a fingertip deflection over the crossbar in the first half, plus a diving deflection of a shot at the post in the second.
The game was scoreless going to overtime, where Heintschel made two of her saves and batted away a dangerous free kick. She kept the Cardinals even until teammate Lorina White scored the game-winner in the 108th minute.
This week's award marks the third time Heintschel has been recognized as the MAC Defensive Player of the Week during her career. She earned the honor twice last season on her way to being named the All-MAC First Team goalkeeper.
Heintschel and fellow junior Tristin Stuteville have shared time in goal this season, teaming together to help Ball State to a 4-2-1 start. After three straight road games, the Cardinals return to the Briner Sports Complex to host Morehead State at 5 p.m. Friday.
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