A corner kick in the 103rd minute almost gave the Ball Statewomen's soccer team its fifth win of the season on Sunday, but anillegal use of hands by defender Michelle Noble of Mid-AmericanConference rival Central Michigan prevented the goal.
Noble blocked a potential game-winning shot with her hands,drawing a red card and giving the Cardinals a penalty kick. ButBall State (4-0-2) couldn't convert, and had to eventually settlefor a 3-3 tie, its second deadlock of the weekend at the Ball StateSoccer Field.
"[Noble] sacrifices herself for the team, and she can't play nowthe next game," BSU coach Ron Rainey said. "In the end she doesn'tallow in the game-winning goal, so it's a tradeoff. It's somethingthat she made the decision and it worked out well for them."
After Rachel Snyder gave CMU a one-goal lead halfway through thefirst half, Brittany Walden tied the game in the 36th minute.
Stacy Shull gave the Cardinals the lead four minutes into thesecond half, but it would be short lived. The Chippewas' JacquieLacek and Jessie Jandasek scored 14 minutes apart, and Ball Stateappeared on the verge of losing for the first time this season.
But Laura Bandy scored with five minutes remaining inregulation, and the Cardinals headed into its second consecutivedouble overtime game. Ball State had several opportunities to winthe game in both overtimes, taking five shots total, including theshot Noble knocked out.
"Both teams have a good attacking posture," Rainey said. "Peopleweren't afraid to attack and go forward. People finished on theirchances."
Despite settling with two ties over the weekend, Rainey washappy with how his team achieved them. He added that the effort onSunday was memorable.
"Effort-level for both [teams], my goodness, we'll remember thisgame for a long time," he said.
On Friday, the Cardinals battled to a scoreless tie with EasternMichigan. Ball State outshot Eastern, 13-12, but both teams hadnine shots on goal. Rainey called the game another superior effortby his team, noting its attacking mentality the last 60 minutes ofthe game.
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