After enduring a tough stretch that included two losses to Central and Western Michigan University, the Ball State University women's soccer team has responded with two straight Mid-American Conference wins. The latest came in the form of a 1-0 margin Friday afternoon against Northern Illinois University.
"Anytime you drop two games in a row you have to do some soul searching," coach Michelle Salmon said. "But with all the injuries we have had, it came to a point where we needed some players to step up and those players have stepped up. I think we have done a really good job of responding."
Ball State held the Huskies' offense to just eight shots, four on goal, which gave goalkeeper Rachel Murphy her third straight shutout. It was also the Cardinals' sixth on the season.
"[Murphy] stayed connected with the back line very well," Salmon said. "As a team, defensively we played great."
The Cardinals lone goal came early in the contest when Sarah Liebel received the ball from 20 yards out, beat two defenders in the process and placed a left-footed shot in the back of the net. The goal was unassisted and gave Ball State a chance to turn up the pressure on the other side of the ball.
Coach Salmon talked about the goal in greater detail.
"She beat the first defender, took an excellent dynamic touch into the box, slipped another defender, hit a great left footed shot low, and driven into the back of net," Salmon said.
With the win Ball State improves its record to 11-3-3 overall and a 6-2-1 record in the conference. The Cardinals remains one game up on Toledo for first place in MAC conference play.
"This is unique in that it has team leadership," Salmon said. "I told them to stop worrying about what everyone else was doing in the league. Since we have done that, I feel we have played some of our best soccer."
Neither team was able to amount much of an attack offensively. Northern Illinois scored most of their shots off in the second half with five, whereas Ball State generated most of their attack in the first.
"I thought we played really well," Salmon said. "We came out and executed our game plan."
Ball State will return home on Friday, where they will be up against Miami, OH.
"I think anytime you can win one on the road, we are encouraged," Salmon said. "A good win on the road is important, especially down the stretch."
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