Sunday, August 20
South Bend, Ind.
1:30 PM
Ball State University
1-1
0
at
4
Notre Dame
1-0-1
1
2
F
Ball State
0
0
0
Notre Dame
0
4
4
Photo by: Marcus Snowden
Soccer Falls as No. 18 Notre Dame Pulls Away
August 20, 2017 | Soccer
Cardinals, Irish were tied through 57 minutes in South Bend
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Ball State soccer team played No. 18 Notre Dame even into the 58th minute Sunday before the Fighting Irish broke through and pulled away for a 4-0 victory.
Ball State, the two-time reigning MAC regular season champion, finished the season's opening weekend with a 1-1 record. The Cardinals defeated Fort Wayne in their first game Friday.
"I thought the girls played really well for three quarters of the game, but you're playing against a quality team like Notre Dame and you have to be consistent with positioning and so forth," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said.
"I felt that late on we kind of struggled with the physicality of things. It was a learning experience for how we need to raise our game and how committed and how physical we need to be in order to match up with their strength."
Sunday's contest was a tight battle through the first half. The Cardinals' back line stood strong, and goalkeeper Tristin Stuteville made five saves to keep the Fighting Irish off the scoreboard.
But Notre Dame (1-0-1) broke through 13 minutes into the second half when Natalie Jacobs wound up with a clean look in the middle of the box and converted to break the tie.
Ball State bookended that Notre Dame goal with two of its best looks of the day. Just minutes before the strike, Sam Kambol nearly put the Cardinals ahead, but Notre Dame keeper Brooke Littman dove to deflect her laser from the top of the box. Just minutes afterward, Lauren Roll fired a shot around a Notre Dame defender, but Littman was there to stop that one as well.
"I thought we broke them down several times and there we some very, very good saves from their goalkeeper when we had our opportunities," Roberts said. "I think if we could have taken those chances, it could have really affected the outcome of the game."
Notre Dame made it a two-goal lead when Jennifer Westendorf scored in the 64th minute. The Irish then added tallies from Sandra Yu in the 69th minute and Katie Uhler in the 90th to stretch the final margin.
Ball State finished the afternoon with seven shots, including five on goal, but could not get one past Littman. Going scoreless is nothing new for Notre Dame opponents, though. The Irish allowed only one goal on their home field all of last season.
The Cardinals will return to action with two more games next weekend. BSU visits Xavier at 4:30 p.m. Friday and hosts Appalachian State at noon Sunday.
Ball State, the two-time reigning MAC regular season champion, finished the season's opening weekend with a 1-1 record. The Cardinals defeated Fort Wayne in their first game Friday.
"I thought the girls played really well for three quarters of the game, but you're playing against a quality team like Notre Dame and you have to be consistent with positioning and so forth," Ball State coach Craig Roberts said.
"I felt that late on we kind of struggled with the physicality of things. It was a learning experience for how we need to raise our game and how committed and how physical we need to be in order to match up with their strength."
Sunday's contest was a tight battle through the first half. The Cardinals' back line stood strong, and goalkeeper Tristin Stuteville made five saves to keep the Fighting Irish off the scoreboard.
But Notre Dame (1-0-1) broke through 13 minutes into the second half when Natalie Jacobs wound up with a clean look in the middle of the box and converted to break the tie.
Ball State bookended that Notre Dame goal with two of its best looks of the day. Just minutes before the strike, Sam Kambol nearly put the Cardinals ahead, but Notre Dame keeper Brooke Littman dove to deflect her laser from the top of the box. Just minutes afterward, Lauren Roll fired a shot around a Notre Dame defender, but Littman was there to stop that one as well.
"I thought we broke them down several times and there we some very, very good saves from their goalkeeper when we had our opportunities," Roberts said. "I think if we could have taken those chances, it could have really affected the outcome of the game."
Notre Dame made it a two-goal lead when Jennifer Westendorf scored in the 64th minute. The Irish then added tallies from Sandra Yu in the 69th minute and Katie Uhler in the 90th to stretch the final margin.
Ball State finished the afternoon with seven shots, including five on goal, but could not get one past Littman. Going scoreless is nothing new for Notre Dame opponents, though. The Irish allowed only one goal on their home field all of last season.
The Cardinals will return to action with two more games next weekend. BSU visits Xavier at 4:30 p.m. Friday and hosts Appalachian State at noon Sunday.
Team Stats
BSU
ND
Goals
0
4
Shots
7
23
Shots on Goal
5
13
Saves
9
5
Corners
1
6
Fouls
6
12
Scoring Plays
Natalie Jacobs (1)
Assisted By: Jennifer Westendorf
through ball into the box and then shot
57:20
Jennifer Westendorf (1)
Assisted By: Sandra Yu
through ball score
63:17
Sandra Yu
Assisted By: Jennifer Westendorf , Eva Hurm
5 yards out, tap in
68:35
Katie Uhler (1)
Assisted By: Sammi Fisher
Off the crossbar and then volleyed over
89:07
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
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