Sunday, August 22
Valparaiso, Ind.
2 p.m.
Ball State University
1-0-0, 0-0-0
3
at
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Valparaiso
0-2-0, 0-0-0
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Ball State
2
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Valparaiso
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Photo by: Joe Gilbert
Soccer Converts Pair of Penalty Kicks, Tops Valpo 3-1
August 22, 2021 | Soccer
VALPARAISO, Ind. - - Redshirt senior Nicky Potts got the Ball State soccer team rolling in Sunday afternoon's season opener, connecting on a penalty kick in the 12th minute to help lead the Cardinals (1-0-0) to a 3-1 victory at Valparaiso.
Potts' 11th career goal was followed by an equalizer from the Beacons' (0-2-0) Kelsie James a little over seven minutes later. That was all the offense the hosts were able to muster, however, as the Cardinals defense locked Valparaiso down the rest of the way.
"We showed a good response to adversity today," head coach Josh Rife said. "The opening half was not our best half of soccer, we gave up a goal, but then we responded with two more goals and played much better in the second half. The first regular season game will always have some nerves and anxiousness to it. Once we got through the first 20-25 minutes, we really settled into the match."
It looked like the match would remain tied going into the half, but senior defender Emily Simmons had other plans. In her first match back after suffering a season-ending injury just six contests into the delayed 2020-21 season, Simmons notched her second career goal, beating the Valpo keeper in the bottom center of the net in the 42nd minute to give BSU a 2-1 edge.
After an evenly played opening half, which saw each team tally six shots, the Cardinals came out strong in the second. BSU's pressure eventually forced a second penalty kick in the 53rd minute.
Senior Chelcy Ralph would capitalize on the opportunity, depositing the ball into the bottom left corner for her second career goal. The tally gave Ball State a 3-1 edge and capped the scoring in the game.
"Penalties are usually the result of an attack mentality and hunger to get into the penalty box," Rife added. "To earn two penalties today is a credit to the ladies working hard to get into the 18."
The Cardinals managed to out-shoot the Beacons 7-3 in the second frame and finished the match with a 13-9 advantage. Three of BSU's 13 shots, including three of the team's eight on goal, came from senior Kennedy Metzger in the second half.
In just her second career start in net, senior Alex DeRuvo stopped five of the six shots on goal she faced. Three of those saves came after the Cardinals took a 3-1 edge, including a key save in the 54th minute, just after Ralph's goal.
The Ball State soccer team will face another tough test next Sunday (Aug. 29), when it travels to West Lafayette for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Purdue. The Boilermakers are 0-0-2 on the season, tying Kentucky Thursday and No. 18 Vanderbilt this afternoon by identical 1-1 scores.
Potts' 11th career goal was followed by an equalizer from the Beacons' (0-2-0) Kelsie James a little over seven minutes later. That was all the offense the hosts were able to muster, however, as the Cardinals defense locked Valparaiso down the rest of the way.
"We showed a good response to adversity today," head coach Josh Rife said. "The opening half was not our best half of soccer, we gave up a goal, but then we responded with two more goals and played much better in the second half. The first regular season game will always have some nerves and anxiousness to it. Once we got through the first 20-25 minutes, we really settled into the match."
It looked like the match would remain tied going into the half, but senior defender Emily Simmons had other plans. In her first match back after suffering a season-ending injury just six contests into the delayed 2020-21 season, Simmons notched her second career goal, beating the Valpo keeper in the bottom center of the net in the 42nd minute to give BSU a 2-1 edge.
After an evenly played opening half, which saw each team tally six shots, the Cardinals came out strong in the second. BSU's pressure eventually forced a second penalty kick in the 53rd minute.
Senior Chelcy Ralph would capitalize on the opportunity, depositing the ball into the bottom left corner for her second career goal. The tally gave Ball State a 3-1 edge and capped the scoring in the game.
"Penalties are usually the result of an attack mentality and hunger to get into the penalty box," Rife added. "To earn two penalties today is a credit to the ladies working hard to get into the 18."
The Cardinals managed to out-shoot the Beacons 7-3 in the second frame and finished the match with a 13-9 advantage. Three of BSU's 13 shots, including three of the team's eight on goal, came from senior Kennedy Metzger in the second half.
In just her second career start in net, senior Alex DeRuvo stopped five of the six shots on goal she faced. Three of those saves came after the Cardinals took a 3-1 edge, including a key save in the 54th minute, just after Ralph's goal.
The Ball State soccer team will face another tough test next Sunday (Aug. 29), when it travels to West Lafayette for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Purdue. The Boilermakers are 0-0-2 on the season, tying Kentucky Thursday and No. 18 Vanderbilt this afternoon by identical 1-1 scores.
Team Stats
BSU
VALPO
Goals
3
1
Shots
13
9
Shots on Goal
8
6
Saves
5
4
Corners
5
1
Fouls
8
13
Scoring Plays
Nicky Potts
BSU Nicky Potts PENALTY KICK GOAL.
11:28
Kelsie James (1)
GOAL by VALPO James, Kelsie.
18:30
Emily Simmons (1)
GOAL by BSU Simmons, Emily.
41:05
Chelcy Ralph
BSU Chelcy Ralph PENALTY KICK GOAL.
52:49
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
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