MUNCIE, Ind. - A slow start to the game hurt the Redbirds (4-2-0) as they fell behind Ball State (3-4-0) early and couldn't come back, losing, 1-0, to the Cardinals on Friday, Sept. 21. Ball State scored in the first 20 minutes of play and was able to hold off Illinois State the rest of the game. The win was Ball State's first against ISU in the all-time series.
Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Grill-Donovan made six saves for ISU, but suffered her second loss of the season. Both Illinois State losses have come by 1-0 margins in the last three games.
Ball State dominated the first half, outshooting the Redbirds 12-0. It was the first time all season that the Redbirds failed to register a shot in a full period. The Cardinals had a strong attack and controlled the offensive tempo for the entire first half. In the 19th minute, forward Sarah Leibel took a cross from forward Sarah Schumacker and scored on a shot from six yards out for what would prove to be the game-winning goal for Ball State.
ISU showed some life in the second half, registering seven shots to Ball State's eight. Only three of those shots were on goal and the first didn't come until the 68:20 mark when freshman midfielder Bethany Brown put one on goal for the Redbrids that was saved. Senior midfielder Yvonne Northover led the team with four shots, two of which were on goal. Sophomore midfielder Ammanda Wisniewski and freshman forward Alyssa Schulz had the other two shots for the Redbirds.
Head coach Drew Roff acknowledged that way the Redbirds started the game played a major factor in the outcome.
"We talked a lot this past week about coming out fast and starting strong this game, but we weren't able to do it." Roff said. "Ball State was a very athletic team, very high pressure and they just got after us. We played better in the second half. Ball State had been playing really high pressure throughout and as they began to tire, there was about a 15 minute stretch where I thought we could get back in it. Our goal now is to not hang our heads and refocus because we need to play a full 90 minutes against Oregon."
Illinois State hosts Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 23, at noon.
