Thursday, October 26
Muncie, Ind
3 p.m.
Ball State University
8-7-3, 6-2-3
2
vs
0
Central Michigan
2-8-6, 1-7-3
1
2
F
Central Mich.
0
0
0
Ball St.
1
1
2
Soccer Tops CMU 2-0; Secures Home MAC Quarterfinal Match
October 26, 2023 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Junior forward Lexi Fraley scored her third brace of the season, helping lift the Ball State soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Central Michigan Thursday afternoon in the final regular season match of the 2023 season.
With the win, the Cardinals (8-7-3; 6-2-3 Mid-American Conference) secured the third seed and a home quarterfinal match in the 2023 MAC Women's Soccer Championship and will battle No. 6 seed Ohio Sunday at 1 p.m. back on the Briner Sports Complex pitch.
"We played with a little extra focus today," head coach Josh Rife said. "The margins are so small in the game of soccer. It might be one of the only sports where you can do all the things right and still lose the game. The MAC is a very unforgiving conference, and you have to be dominant every day. Today was not easy by any means. Credit to the ladies for being prepared, focused and taking care of opportunities when they got them."
Sophomore forward Delaney Caldwell had a helping the Cardinals capitalize on a pair of those opportunities, sparking both goals by winning battles for the ball. In the eighth minute, she battled for the ball just outside the defending third and found an open junior midfielder Kaitlyn Fraser with a pass.
Fraser took the ball to the midfield line and found an open Fraley in the attacking third, who proceeded to dribble into the penalty area and around the Chippewas (2-8-6, 1-7-3 MAC) goalie to find the back of the net.
In the 48th minute, another battle win from Caldwell at midfield was passed to Fraley who made another run and goal, giving her 10 on the season and 19 over her career. With her two helpers, Caldwell raised her season total to six. Fraser's primary assist on the opening goal was her second of the season.
Overall, the Ball State defense did a solid job shutting down the CMU attack, limiting the Chippewas to 13 shots, only six of which were on goal. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Bethany Moser finished the day with six saves, raising her Ball State single season record total to 107.
Also helping lock down the Chippewas were junior defender Maya Millis and freshman defender Audrey Goodyear who played all 90 minutes.
"Home field is always big," Rife said. "The MAC is such a difficult conference that the familiarity of being home is big. To not have to get on another bus and travel right now is massive. Heading into Sunday, we have to be focused and keep everything in check physically, mentally and emotionally. You have to play with a certain edge, but make sure it doesn't push you into mistakes."
With the win, the Cardinals (8-7-3; 6-2-3 Mid-American Conference) secured the third seed and a home quarterfinal match in the 2023 MAC Women's Soccer Championship and will battle No. 6 seed Ohio Sunday at 1 p.m. back on the Briner Sports Complex pitch.
"We played with a little extra focus today," head coach Josh Rife said. "The margins are so small in the game of soccer. It might be one of the only sports where you can do all the things right and still lose the game. The MAC is a very unforgiving conference, and you have to be dominant every day. Today was not easy by any means. Credit to the ladies for being prepared, focused and taking care of opportunities when they got them."
Sophomore forward Delaney Caldwell had a helping the Cardinals capitalize on a pair of those opportunities, sparking both goals by winning battles for the ball. In the eighth minute, she battled for the ball just outside the defending third and found an open junior midfielder Kaitlyn Fraser with a pass.
Fraser took the ball to the midfield line and found an open Fraley in the attacking third, who proceeded to dribble into the penalty area and around the Chippewas (2-8-6, 1-7-3 MAC) goalie to find the back of the net.
In the 48th minute, another battle win from Caldwell at midfield was passed to Fraley who made another run and goal, giving her 10 on the season and 19 over her career. With her two helpers, Caldwell raised her season total to six. Fraser's primary assist on the opening goal was her second of the season.
Overall, the Ball State defense did a solid job shutting down the CMU attack, limiting the Chippewas to 13 shots, only six of which were on goal. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Bethany Moser finished the day with six saves, raising her Ball State single season record total to 107.
Also helping lock down the Chippewas were junior defender Maya Millis and freshman defender Audrey Goodyear who played all 90 minutes.
"Home field is always big," Rife said. "The MAC is such a difficult conference that the familiarity of being home is big. To not have to get on another bus and travel right now is massive. Heading into Sunday, we have to be focused and keep everything in check physically, mentally and emotionally. You have to play with a certain edge, but make sure it doesn't push you into mistakes."
Team Stats
CMU
BSU
Goals
0
2
Shots
13
13
Shots on Goal
6
8
Saves
6
6
Corners
9
3
Fouls
14
7
Scoring Plays
Lexi Fraley (10)
Assisted By: Kaitlyn Fraser , Delaney Caldwell
GOAL by BSU Fraley, Lexi Assist by Fraser, Kaitlyn and Caldwell, Delaney.
07:53
Lexi Fraley (10)
Assisted By: Delaney Caldwell
GOAL by BSU Fraley, Lexi Assist by Caldwell, Delaney.
47:35
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
5
SOG
4
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ SoccerF
/ SoccerM
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
GK
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