Sunday, October 29
Muncie, IN
1 p.m.
Ball State University
0
vs
2
Ohio University
Photo by: Brayden Goins / Ball State Athletics
Soccer’s Season Ends With Loss To Ohio in MAC Championship Quarterfinals
October 29, 2023 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The fight was there Sunday afternoon at the Briner Sports Complex, unfortunately the goals were not for the Ball State soccer program which suffered a 2-0 setback to Ohio in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Mid-American Conference Women's Soccer Championship.
"I'm proud of this group, it's a wonderful group of ladies," head coach Josh Rife said. "With how the season started, to how it grew throughout the year and to where we positioned ourselves at the end, I couldn't be prouder of a group that stayed, bought in and committed. You look at the group and some of the different personnel, injuries and adversity we had to overcome, to finish third in the conference is not an easy feat. The MAC, top to bottom, is such a difficult conference to get yourself to postseason play. To put ourselves where we did, just proud of the group."
The Cardinals, who end the season with an 8-8-3 overall record, pushed the pace early in Sunday's contest and generated some solid scoring chances. Unfortunately, the Bobcats (7-7-5) defense stood tall, and Ball State was not even able to capitalize with a shot until the 31st minute.
Ohio matched Ball State's intensity, however, and tested redshirt junior goalkeeper Bethany Moser as well on the other end of the pitch. Moser made a pair of early saves before deflecting a third save back into the goal area where the Bobcats were able to capitalize with a 14th-minute tally.
Ball State came close to countering in the 31st minute when junior midfielder Kaitlyn Fraser blasted a rocket towards the top right corner of the goal. Unfortunately, a leaping Celeste Sloma was able to punch the ball over the cross bar for her lone save of the match.
The Cardinals would finish the contest with eight total shots, four of which were blocked by the tough Ohio defense. Ohio would go on to add an insurance goal in the 79th minute, giving the game its final score.
Overall, Moser finished the contest with six saves, raising her Ball State single-season record to 113.
"I'm proud of this group, it's a wonderful group of ladies," head coach Josh Rife said. "With how the season started, to how it grew throughout the year and to where we positioned ourselves at the end, I couldn't be prouder of a group that stayed, bought in and committed. You look at the group and some of the different personnel, injuries and adversity we had to overcome, to finish third in the conference is not an easy feat. The MAC, top to bottom, is such a difficult conference to get yourself to postseason play. To put ourselves where we did, just proud of the group."
The Cardinals, who end the season with an 8-8-3 overall record, pushed the pace early in Sunday's contest and generated some solid scoring chances. Unfortunately, the Bobcats (7-7-5) defense stood tall, and Ball State was not even able to capitalize with a shot until the 31st minute.
Ohio matched Ball State's intensity, however, and tested redshirt junior goalkeeper Bethany Moser as well on the other end of the pitch. Moser made a pair of early saves before deflecting a third save back into the goal area where the Bobcats were able to capitalize with a 14th-minute tally.
Ball State came close to countering in the 31st minute when junior midfielder Kaitlyn Fraser blasted a rocket towards the top right corner of the goal. Unfortunately, a leaping Celeste Sloma was able to punch the ball over the cross bar for her lone save of the match.
The Cardinals would finish the contest with eight total shots, four of which were blocked by the tough Ohio defense. Ohio would go on to add an insurance goal in the 79th minute, giving the game its final score.
Overall, Moser finished the contest with six saves, raising her Ball State single-season record to 113.
Players Mentioned
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