With a perfect Mid-American Conference record on the line, theBall State field hockey came out ready to play against CentralMichigan Saturday at Turf Field. The Cardinals played welloffensively and defensively on their way to a 4-1 win to keep themon top of the MAC.
"I think a lot of things went well," head coach Annette Paynesaid. "We came out and played hard, passed the ball well and hadsmooth transitions.
"Everyone played their game today."
Ball State (3-7, 3-0 MAC) wasted little time asserting itsoffensive game and setting the tempo against the Chippewas (4-4,1-2 MAC). Chantelle Isaac scored the opening goal just 1:53 intothe game for the Cards off an assist from Lindsay Quay. The goalwas the third on the season Isaac, last week's MAC Offensive Playerof the Week.
"(Scoring early) was very important to get our tempo," saidQuay, the team leader in assists with three. "We wanted to controlthe game and scoring early allowed us to do that."
Quay, who entered the game as the Cards leading scorer, alsoadded two goals to go with her assist. The first goal came in thefirst half on a one-timer assisted by Jen Strodel that gave BSU a2-0 lead.
"It was good teamwork," Quay said. "We just made eyecontact."
Quay added her second goal of the game just 27 seconds into thesecond half coming off a rebound shot.
The final goal for the Cards came from freshman Theran Teach.The goal was her second on the year and came on a break away,assisted by Strodel.
The Chippewas ended BSU goalkeeper Tracy Bannister's quest for ashutout with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.Courtney Blanchard connected on her first goal of the season,coming off one of Central Michigan's eight penalty corners.
Ball State, meanwhile, was unable to get a single penalty cornerfor the entire game, which is somewhat rare for field hockey.
"You gotta work hard and take what you get," Payne said."Fortunately, we were able to score in the field of play."
Ball State was better able to score in the field of play as theyoutshot the Chippewas 17 to 14.
The win was the third of the year for Ball State, all of whichhave come at home. The next home game will not come until the endof the month as the Cards are on the road the next three weekends.Ball State will play its next five games on the road which willlikely determine its standing in the conference.
"I think it's definitely tough," Payne said of the road trip,"but the girls are used to it."
BSU travels to Kent State and Ohio next weekend which will bekey games against the two remaining teams in the conference theCards have yet to face.
"The next two are huge," Payne said. "We just gotta get readyfor them."
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