As the siren from the scoreboard blared, the Ball State soccerteam shuffled off the field.Some sat on the bench with their headin their hands, crying. The purple-clad Chippewas of CentralMichigan jumped in jubilation, celebrating the 2-0 victory overBall State.
The Cardinals began the game aggressive, but in the ninth minutethe Chippewas' Rachel Snyder received a long ball into the box, cutthe ball past the Ball State defense and looped a shot past goalieMegan Swafford. Snyder also scored against the Cardinals when thetwo teams faced in September. Once again, the goal turned out to bethe only one the Chippewas needed as Anne Decker and the CentralMichigan defense shut out the Ball State offense.
"It's tough," coach Ron Rainey said. "They make a couple goodsaves, and they cleared one ball off the line, I think. Those arethe type of things that you look back, and if that would have gonedifferently, maybe we tie the game up and that changes thecomplexion as we go through the last 10 or 15 minutes."
Forward Dee Nocero, who recorded two of the three shots on goalfor Ball State, said the team created good chances on goal, but thetiming was not perfect.
Ball State had several solid opportunities to score. In thefirst half Kate Nadalin took the ball into the box with twodefenders draped on her, but her shot curled across the goalmouthand out of bounds.
"Our team created some good chances, and we put the ball in somedangerous places," Rainey said. "Then it just becomes that deal,trying to get that final shot on goal or that final pass on goal.It just didn't click today, but I don't think it was because weweren't in sync offensively."
The Cardinals weren't the only home team to fall in theMid-American Conference Tournament Tuesday. No. 1 Eastern Michiganand No. 2 Kent State both lost in their opening games.
Rainey said he still considers the season a success despite theopening round loss to the Chippewas.
"I think for sure it's a step forward," he said. "Because whatwe did from year four to year five is we've stayed in the upperlevel of the MAC through the regular season."
Nocero named player of the week
Forward Dee Nocero was named soccer player of the week in theMid-American Conference this week. Nocero scored two game-winninggoals last week against Wright State and Purdue. The Ohio nativeled the Cardinals in goals this year with seven and finished secondon the team in assists with four.
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