You wouldn't know it by coach Annette Payne's reaction, but the Ball State University Cardinals' field hockey team suffered two defeats at the hands of Mid-American Conference opponents this weekend.
However, Payne was still upbeat and pleased about the way her team played in a weekend trip to Ohio.
"This weekend I think we played some great hockey," Payne said. "Obviously the score doesn't show it, but I think what matters right now is that the girls know that they played some great hockey, and that's all that matters now."
On Friday, the Cardinals faced off against Ohio University in Athens. The Bobcats scored early and often, with three goals in the first 27 minutes of play, running away with a 4-0 victory. The Cardinals allowed seven shots while only taking three shots themselves. Tiffany Shifflett saw her first action of the season in goal late in the second half but did not face a shot on goal. Caroline Lehman stopped three of seven shots in the loss to the Bobcats.
Saturday's game against Kent State University provided a different Cardinals team. The Cardinals out-shot the Golden Flashes 9-4, yet Kent State drew first blood a little over two minutes into the game. The Golden Flashes went up 2-0 at 43:37 in the first half before Lindsay Quay scored Ball State's lone goal of the game.
Golden Flashes goalkeeper Kara Copeland preserved the 2-1 lead. Cardinal goalkeeper Caroline Lehman stopped two of four shots on net in the loss.
Payne was quick to point out how well her team played, despite the losses that makes the Cardinals 0-2 in the MAC conference and 1-8 overall this season.
"Obviously we want to win games and be in the other column, but the nice part about Saturday's game was that we won every single category [against Kent State] besides the win category," Payne said. "I know that they are not wins right now, but I think those wins are going to come if we keep playing the hockey that we played this weekend."
Although Lindsay Quay scored the lone goal of the weekend, and Caroline Lehman made five of 11 saves for the Cardinals, Payne pointed out that the Cardinals played like a team.
"I think that's what the great part about this weekend was," Payne said. "We played as a team. We communicated and played as a solid unit, and I think that's what was so great about this weekend."
The Cardinals will travel to Ohio State University on Wednesday to face the Buckeyes at 3:00 p.m. The Cardinals then return home for a four-game homestand starting Friday against Central Michigan University.
"I think we should continue to play like we did this past weekend," Payne said.
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