Thursday, April 8
DeKalb, Ill.
2:00 PM CT (3:00 ET)
Ball State University
5-2-1, 5-2-1
1
at
0
Northern Illinois
1-8-0, 1-8-0
1
2
F
Ball State
0
1
1
Northern Illinois
0
0
0
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Cardinals Keep Title Hopes Alive with Late Goal at NIU
April 08, 2021 | Soccer
Melissa Diceman scores for third time this season against Huskies
DEKALB, Ill. -- The Ball State soccer team's championship hopes were hanging in the balance.
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The Cardinals were locked in a scoreless battle through 83 minutes Thursday afternoon at Northern Illinois. A tie would do them no good on this day. They needed a win and the three points to stay in the race.
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It had been nearly two games worth of frustration. Shut out four days earlier at Western Michigan and still hunting a goal in this one despite generating chances throughout both games. Ten corner kicks without a goal at WMU and nine without a score in this one.
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The 10th corner this time would be different. With the clock ticking into the 84th minute, a breakthrough when BSU needed it most.
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Tatiana Mason sent the kick toward Grace Alsop who got her head on it, driving it into the 6-yard box. Melissa Diceman was there amongst a crowd and fired it past NIU keeper Julia Lentz for the game-winner.
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The 1-0 victory sets up a showdown for the top spot in the MAC West Division in Sunday's final scheduled regular season game against Eastern Michigan.
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"As usual, it was another tough MAC battle," BSU head coach Josh Rife said. "We created a lot of chances and were close on several. At the end of the day we got one goal and that was all we needed. Defensively, we made enough plays to preserve the shutout. I'm proud of this group's grit and perseverance to compete for 90 minutes."
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It was fitting that Diceman scored the winning goal for a couple reasons. First, she also scored the only two goals in BSU's first win over Northern Illinois last month in Muncie. Second, she had some of the better chances earlier in this game.
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Lentz made quality saves on would-be goals from Diceman in both the 19th and 54th minutes, diving for the second stop to keep her team in the game. She made another impressive save on a laser from Sammi Corcoran in the 81st minute, just deflecting it over the crossbar.
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But the Cardinals (5-2-1) kept attacking and finally found the goal they needed just three minutes later on Diceman's fifth shot (fourth on goal) of the day.
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Ball State led 12-3 in shots and 10-3 in corner kicks. NIU (1-8-0) managed just one shot on goal, and Maitane Bravo was there to stop it on the way to the Cardinals' fourth shutout of the year.
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Sunday's game with Eastern Michigan is set for 2 p.m. at the Briner Sports Complex on ESPN3. Ball State needs a win to claim the West Division title and a spot in the MAC Championship game. EMU (6-2-0) would earn the title with a win or a draw.
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The Cardinals were locked in a scoreless battle through 83 minutes Thursday afternoon at Northern Illinois. A tie would do them no good on this day. They needed a win and the three points to stay in the race.
Â
It had been nearly two games worth of frustration. Shut out four days earlier at Western Michigan and still hunting a goal in this one despite generating chances throughout both games. Ten corner kicks without a goal at WMU and nine without a score in this one.
Â
The 10th corner this time would be different. With the clock ticking into the 84th minute, a breakthrough when BSU needed it most.
Â
Tatiana Mason sent the kick toward Grace Alsop who got her head on it, driving it into the 6-yard box. Melissa Diceman was there amongst a crowd and fired it past NIU keeper Julia Lentz for the game-winner.
Â
The 1-0 victory sets up a showdown for the top spot in the MAC West Division in Sunday's final scheduled regular season game against Eastern Michigan.
Â
"As usual, it was another tough MAC battle," BSU head coach Josh Rife said. "We created a lot of chances and were close on several. At the end of the day we got one goal and that was all we needed. Defensively, we made enough plays to preserve the shutout. I'm proud of this group's grit and perseverance to compete for 90 minutes."
Â
It was fitting that Diceman scored the winning goal for a couple reasons. First, she also scored the only two goals in BSU's first win over Northern Illinois last month in Muncie. Second, she had some of the better chances earlier in this game.
Â
Lentz made quality saves on would-be goals from Diceman in both the 19th and 54th minutes, diving for the second stop to keep her team in the game. She made another impressive save on a laser from Sammi Corcoran in the 81st minute, just deflecting it over the crossbar.
Â
But the Cardinals (5-2-1) kept attacking and finally found the goal they needed just three minutes later on Diceman's fifth shot (fourth on goal) of the day.
Â
Ball State led 12-3 in shots and 10-3 in corner kicks. NIU (1-8-0) managed just one shot on goal, and Maitane Bravo was there to stop it on the way to the Cardinals' fourth shutout of the year.
Â
Sunday's game with Eastern Michigan is set for 2 p.m. at the Briner Sports Complex on ESPN3. Ball State needs a win to claim the West Division title and a spot in the MAC Championship game. EMU (6-2-0) would earn the title with a win or a draw.
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Team Stats
BSU
NIU
Goals
1
0
Shots
12
3
Shots on Goal
8
1
Saves
1
6
Corners
10
3
Fouls
8
5
Scoring Plays
Melissa Diceman (3)
Assisted By: Grace Alsop , Tatiana Mason
finished second ball off corner
83:37
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
5
SOG
4
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
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GK
/ Soccer
M/D
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/ SoccerM/F
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