The soccer team (9-6-2, 7-4-1) wrapped up a first round homegame in the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 1-0 winagainst Akron (6-8-1, 5-6) on Friday.
Dee Nocero took a pass from Amy Holst and scored from five yardsout in the minute 52 to seal the victory for Ball State. The chancewas created by the hustle of Holst in the box and her ability tofight off a defender in her effort to get the ball to Nocero.
Head coach Ron Rainey said the win and home field in the firstround was a good reward after a successful season for theCardinals, but they must take advantage of the situation.
He said he could not ask anything more from his team than theeffort it exhibited on the offensive and defensive side of theball.
"We created some good chances and in soccer you don't getunlimited chances, and it was good that we finished on that one,"he said.
The Cardinals missed some golden chances in the firsthalf.�About ten minutes into the match Kate Nadalin foundNocero for a wide-open shot five yards out and in the middle of thepenalty box, but her shot went high.
The defense recorded its sixth shutout of the season and allowedonly five shots by the Akron offense.�Goalies Megan Swaffordand Alison Becker combined to record one save in the match.
"(On the defensive side) it looked like it almost had the feelof a playoff game in the way that you really had to earn whateveryou got, and that goal was a lot of hustle on Amy Holst and aclassy finish by Dee."
The Cardinals hit the road today, traveling to play Wright State(7-8-1) at 7 p.m.
Rainey said the Raiders would bring the same type of ability andflair that many MAC teams have exhibited all year.�WrightState possesses a balanced offensive attack with seven players thathave two goals or more on the season.
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