
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Pereira’s OT Game-Winner Pushes Field Hockey Past Ohio
October 05, 2018 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State field hockey redshirt sophomore Rachel Pereira hit the game-winning goal in double overtime to push the Cardinals past Ohio University by a score of 3-2 Friday afternoon at the Briner Sports Complex.
"I am really excited a lot of hard work obviously has gone into the season thus far," Ball State head field hockey coach Stephanie Bernthal said. "It is great to be on the other side of it. Ohio played a great game. It was definitely a battle it could have ended a little earlier so we still have a lot of details to take care of but certainly excited with the outcome. We worked a lot this week on defensive discipline and taking care of those details. This team is so resilient and they are such hard workers. I am just so proud of their heart."
With the win, the Cardinals improved to 2-10 overall and 2-1 in Mid-American Conference action while the Bobcats fall to 4-5 on the season and 2-1 in league action.
Pereira netted the game-winning goal 5:47 into the double overtime frame after aggressively attacking the circle. Pereira also got help from redshirt sophomore Sierra Jefferson and senior Anya Eicher who were both awarded with assists. The goal was Pereira's third of the season.
It was a defensive battle in the opening minutes of play. The Cardinals finally broke through off of a shot from Jefferson to take an early 1-0 lead over the Bobcats at the 20:55 mark. Ball State held Ohio scoreless for the first 35 minutes of regulation to take their lead in intermission.
Ohio evened the game quickly with just two minutes shaved off the clock in the second frame. But Ball State would answer back, as senior Beth Barnes found the cage to put Ball State back up, 2-1. Just when you thought the game was over, Ohio knotted the game again just minutes after the Cardinals had scored, sending the contest into overtime.
The Cardinals had three corners in the first overtime but struggled to score. After that, the game went into a second overtime where Ball State would seal the contest.
The Ball State field hockey team returns to the road next weekend when it plays at Kent State (Oct. 12) and at Big Ten foe Michigan (Oct. 14). Both contests are set to begin at 1 p.m. ET.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State field hockey team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateFH.
"I am really excited a lot of hard work obviously has gone into the season thus far," Ball State head field hockey coach Stephanie Bernthal said. "It is great to be on the other side of it. Ohio played a great game. It was definitely a battle it could have ended a little earlier so we still have a lot of details to take care of but certainly excited with the outcome. We worked a lot this week on defensive discipline and taking care of those details. This team is so resilient and they are such hard workers. I am just so proud of their heart."
With the win, the Cardinals improved to 2-10 overall and 2-1 in Mid-American Conference action while the Bobcats fall to 4-5 on the season and 2-1 in league action.
Pereira netted the game-winning goal 5:47 into the double overtime frame after aggressively attacking the circle. Pereira also got help from redshirt sophomore Sierra Jefferson and senior Anya Eicher who were both awarded with assists. The goal was Pereira's third of the season.
It was a defensive battle in the opening minutes of play. The Cardinals finally broke through off of a shot from Jefferson to take an early 1-0 lead over the Bobcats at the 20:55 mark. Ball State held Ohio scoreless for the first 35 minutes of regulation to take their lead in intermission.
Ohio evened the game quickly with just two minutes shaved off the clock in the second frame. But Ball State would answer back, as senior Beth Barnes found the cage to put Ball State back up, 2-1. Just when you thought the game was over, Ohio knotted the game again just minutes after the Cardinals had scored, sending the contest into overtime.
The Cardinals had three corners in the first overtime but struggled to score. After that, the game went into a second overtime where Ball State would seal the contest.
The Ball State field hockey team returns to the road next weekend when it plays at Kent State (Oct. 12) and at Big Ten foe Michigan (Oct. 14). Both contests are set to begin at 1 p.m. ET.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State field hockey team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateFH.
Team Stats
OHIO
BSU
Goals
2
3
Shots
12
16
Shots on Goal
5
8
Saves
5
3
Corners
9
13
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays

JEFFERSON, Sierra
Assisted By: PEREIRA, Rachel
GOAL by BSU JEFFERSON, Sierra (FIRST GOAL), Assist by PEREIRA, Rachel.
20:55

Tayla Hansen
Assisted By: Ashley Wilbur
GOAL by OHIO Tayla Hansen, Assist by Ashley Wilbur.
37:02

BARNES, Beth
GOAL by BSU BARNES, Beth.
68:00

Jillian Shive
Assisted By: Ashley Wilbur
GOAL by OHIO Jillian Shive, Assist by Ashley Wilbur.
68:05

PEREIRA, Rachel
Assisted By: EICHER, Anya , JEFFERSON, Sierra
GOAL by BSU PEREIRA, Rachel, Assist by EICHER, Anya and JEFFERSON, Sierra.
84:53
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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