Despite losing to nationally ranked Ohio State University, Ball State University's field hockey team played a solid game.
Coach Annette Payne said the game produced several positives.
"I know it doesn't show on the scoreboard, but I thought we played a solid game," Payne said. "As a coach the great part about this game was that we stuck to our game plan for the entire game and we had several players do some great things offensively and defensively."
Ohio State scored twice within the first nine minutes and managed two more goals in the first half, before the Cardinals were able to get their first shot on goal 25 minutes into the game.
In the second half, the Buckeyes scored two more times before Ball State starting goaltender Caroline Lehman was replaced by freshman Tiffany Shifflett.
Currently Lehman has started every game for the Cardinals this season and is second among all Mid-American Conference goaltenders for saves and shutouts this season.-á
The substitution for Lehman also marked only the second time this season, that Lehman has not finished a game which she has started.
"Today was a great opportunity for us to play players who have been working hard for us all season," Payne said. "I wasn't making substitutions because players were doing things bad. I just felt there were players who deserved the right to play in the game."
With this win, Ohio State remains undefeated at 9-0 and is now off to its best start in school history.
The Cardinals on the other hand, extended their losing streak to five games, the team's longest since the start of the 2005 season, and finished the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 1-7 record.
Over the past two seasons, the Cardinals have lost last 15 of its last 17 non-conference games and during that stretch Ball State is 0-7 against schools from the Big Ten Conference.
In addition, Ball State remains winless on the road this season, and has now lost 12 of its last 13 road games.
"We just need to make sure we learn from today and use it for our upcoming games," Payne said. "I don't think that any person will be affected by this game and the players are looking forward towards are next game."
With the non-conference schedule now behind them, the Cardinals resume its conference play this Friday afternoon against the defending MAC champions Central Michigan University.
In the two team's most recent meeting Ball State defeated Central Michigan 6-0 last season.
Offensively, the Cardinals enter this game after Ohio State held them to a season-low three shots on goal, and have now been shutout for the third time in its past four games.
"You always need to make adjustments after every single game," Payne said. "Tomorrow we just need to give our players' legs a rest and go over a couple things so we will be successful against Central Michigan."
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