Soccer Keeps Streak Going with 1-0 Win at WMU

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Ball State soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to six games Thursday and recorded its second straight shutout with a 1-0 victory at Western Michigan.

Sophomore forward Sam Kambol scored shortly after halftime for the game's only. The Cardinals (6-5-2, 4-0-1 MAC) maintained solo possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference standings.

Alyssa Heintschel made four saves to keep a clean sheet. The senior recorded the 34th win of her career, tying Rachael Murphy (2004-08) for the most by a goalkeeper in program history.

After a scoreless first half, Ball State broke through less than two minutes into the second. Allison Abbe sent a cross into the box, and Kambol was there to head it home for her fourth goal of the year.

"We created several chances in the first half, and Sam Kambol was unlucky not to score then," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. "We made one or two adjustments at halftime, and we really did a good job of seeing those through. The goal was a great cross from Allison and a great finish by Sam."

Kambol's goal was all that was needed for a Ball State defensive unit that has now surrendered only three goals through five league games. The Cardinals successfully defended six corner kicks from Western Michigan (7-4-1, 2-2-1 MAC) on the day, including two in the final minutes to close it out.

"I thought we showed a lot of maturity to finish off the game," Roberts said. "We played solid defensively, and it was a great performance from Alyssa. I thought Western Michigan played very well, but we held strong consistently and kept them at length."

Ball State will return home to host Northern Illinois at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Cardinals will play their next three games at the Briner sports Complex.

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Team Stats

Sam Kambol

Allison Abbe

Lucy Walton

Emily Scott

Players Mentioned

Allison Abbe

Alyssa Heintschel

Sam Kambol

Players Mentioned

Allison Abbe

Alyssa Heintschel

Sam Kambol