Soccer Stymies Central Michigan in 1-0 Win

Sunday, October 15

Muncie, Ind.

2:00 PM

Ball State University

8-6-2 (6-1-1MAC)

Central Michigan

6-7-3 (1-5-2MAC)

Central Michigan

Ball State

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

October 15, 2017 | Soccer

Box Score PDF Box Score Photo Gallery

Peighton Cook scores game-winner, Cardinals post another shutout

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Peighton Cook's first collegiate goal lifted the Ball State soccer team to a 1-0 victory Sunday over Central Michigan on a cold, damp and windy afternoon at the Briner Sports Complex.

The Cardinals (8-6-2, 6-1-1 MAC) closed out their regular season home schedule with their second win of the weekend to remain atop the Mid-American Conference West Division standings. They will play their final three games on the road before the league tournament.

"I thought we did very well," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. "It was definitely going to be a game of two halves with the wind as it was. We knew we were going to have the advantage of that wind in the second half, and I thought we did really well pushing on and attacking."

The wind was blowing steadily near 20 miles per hour all day. The Cardinals played pretty consistently regardless of their direction but did have most of their best looks in the second half.

Ball State generated 11 corner kicks on the day and finally broke through on the ninth one. Paula Guerrero sent the ball in, and Cook headed it past Central Michigan keeper Zoie Reed in the 72nd minute for what proved to be the day's only goal.

The sophomore midfielder nearly scored again on another header just minutes later, but Reed made a play to deny that one.

Ball State stifled Central Michigan (6-7-3, 1-5-2 MAC) throughout the day, finishing with a 13-4 advantage in shots. The Cardinals held Lexi Pelafas, the MAC's leading scorer, without so much as a shot. She entered the day with 12 goals.

Senior goalkeeper Tristin Stuteville stopped a hard shot from Madison Costner in the first half, and BSU dodged a late strike by Marle Bringard to keep the Chippewas off the board. The Cardinals posted their second shutout of the weekend and fourth in the past five games.

"I felt Yela Ziswiler and Taylor Pooley did a tremendous job," Roberts said. "They kept (Lexi Pelafas) at bay. She's always a threat; she's a very good player. We respected her ability level, but I felt Yela and Taylor also showed their talent defensively as two quality center backs."

Ball State will return to action next weekend with a road trip to play Thursday against Buffalo (7 p.m.) and Sunday versus Akron (1 p.m.).

The Cardinals are currently second in the overall MAC standings with 19 points, trailing only Kent State (21). The top four teams in the final standings will host first-round conference tournament games.