Sunday, October 8
Muncie, Ind.
2:00 PM
Ball State University
6-6-2 (4-1-1MAC)
2
vs
3
Northern Illinois
7-5-1 (4-2-0MAC)
1
2
OT 2
F
Northern Illinois
1
1
1
3
Ball State
2
0
0
2
Photo by: Scott Mattlin
Soccer’s Home Streak Snapped with OT Loss to NIU
October 08, 2017 | Soccer
Lauren Roll, Allison Abbe account for BSU goals in 3-2 defeat
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State soccer team had not lost a home game in nearly three full years and was in position to keep that streak alive Sunday.
The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead late into regulation, but Northern Illinois scored on set pieces in the 87th and 94th minutes to steal a 3-2, overtime victory at the Briner Sports Complex.
It was Ball State's first home loss since Oct. 30, 2014. That covers a span of 25 games (21 wins and four draws). Sunday's defeat was also the first for the Cardinals in a month and the first in Mid-American Conference play this season.
"I just think we had mental lapses defensively, which is unusual for us," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. "We need to be more consistent with our mentality for the entire game. I felt we played relatively well for the most part. We just needed to be more consistent on dealing with the set pieces."
First-half scores from Ball State's Lauren Roll and Allison Abbe, sandwiched around a goal from NIU's Sammy O'Brien, left the Cardinals with a 2-1 lead at the break. Roll's rebound goal was her third tally in six conference games, while Abbe's came on a beautiful strike from 25 yards out.
BSU (6-6-2, 4-1-1 MAC) controlled play for the majority of the opening 45 minutes. O'Brien's goal, which came via a breakaway on a counterattack, was the only shot the Huskies registered in the first half.
But NIU (7-5-1, 4-2-0 MAC) picked up its attack in the second half, registering 10 shots and placing seven on goal. The Cardinals managed to withstand those opportunities most of the way. Goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel made five saves, including an extended tip over the crossbar in the 75th minute.
Then NIU, always dangerous on set pieces, broke through on one. Ball State was whistled for a foul just outside the box in the 87th minute, and Lauren Gierman converted with a low strike to tie the game and force overtime.
Just four minutes into the extra period, the Huskies struck again. Gierman sent a deep free kick that was headed twice before falling at the feet of Kyleigh Dominguez, who tapped it with her own head past a pulled out Heintschel for the game-winner.
"They're a set piece team, a counterattack team," Roberts said. "We knew they were going to be very direct. We were prepared for it, and I felt we dealt with it very well for the majority of the game. At the end of the game, we set up incorrectly and consequently we paid for it."
Despite the loss, Ball State remains atop the MAC West Division by one point over the Huskies. The Cardinals are now two points behind East Division leader Kent State in the overall league race.
Ball State will have a chance to begin a new streak again soon. The Cardinals continue a stretch of three straight home games next weekend when they hosts Eastern Michigan at 4 p.m. Friday and Central Michigan at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead late into regulation, but Northern Illinois scored on set pieces in the 87th and 94th minutes to steal a 3-2, overtime victory at the Briner Sports Complex.
It was Ball State's first home loss since Oct. 30, 2014. That covers a span of 25 games (21 wins and four draws). Sunday's defeat was also the first for the Cardinals in a month and the first in Mid-American Conference play this season.
"I just think we had mental lapses defensively, which is unusual for us," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said. "We need to be more consistent with our mentality for the entire game. I felt we played relatively well for the most part. We just needed to be more consistent on dealing with the set pieces."
First-half scores from Ball State's Lauren Roll and Allison Abbe, sandwiched around a goal from NIU's Sammy O'Brien, left the Cardinals with a 2-1 lead at the break. Roll's rebound goal was her third tally in six conference games, while Abbe's came on a beautiful strike from 25 yards out.
BSU (6-6-2, 4-1-1 MAC) controlled play for the majority of the opening 45 minutes. O'Brien's goal, which came via a breakaway on a counterattack, was the only shot the Huskies registered in the first half.
But NIU (7-5-1, 4-2-0 MAC) picked up its attack in the second half, registering 10 shots and placing seven on goal. The Cardinals managed to withstand those opportunities most of the way. Goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel made five saves, including an extended tip over the crossbar in the 75th minute.
Then NIU, always dangerous on set pieces, broke through on one. Ball State was whistled for a foul just outside the box in the 87th minute, and Lauren Gierman converted with a low strike to tie the game and force overtime.
Just four minutes into the extra period, the Huskies struck again. Gierman sent a deep free kick that was headed twice before falling at the feet of Kyleigh Dominguez, who tapped it with her own head past a pulled out Heintschel for the game-winner.
"They're a set piece team, a counterattack team," Roberts said. "We knew they were going to be very direct. We were prepared for it, and I felt we dealt with it very well for the majority of the game. At the end of the game, we set up incorrectly and consequently we paid for it."
Despite the loss, Ball State remains atop the MAC West Division by one point over the Huskies. The Cardinals are now two points behind East Division leader Kent State in the overall league race.
Ball State will have a chance to begin a new streak again soon. The Cardinals continue a stretch of three straight home games next weekend when they hosts Eastern Michigan at 4 p.m. Friday and Central Michigan at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Team Stats
NIU
BSU
Goals
3
2
Shots
11
10
Shots on Goal
8
3
Saves
1
5
Corners
2
6
Fouls
11
10
Scoring Plays
ROLL, Lauren (3)
scored off rebound in front of net
7:52
O'BRIEN,SAMMY (1)
Assisted By: YASS,NATALIE
breakaway and beat keeper 1v1
16:57
ABBE, Allison (1)
from 25 yards off keeper's fingertips
18:41
GIERMAN,LAUREN (2)
scored on free kick from just outside bo
86:23
DOMINGUEZ,KYLEIGH (2)
Assisted By: INGHAM,ALLIE , YASS,NATALIE
tapped it past pulled out keeper
93:43
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
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