During Thursday's practice, the Ball State University field hockey team spent about 30 minutes practicing penalty strokes.-á
Little did they know how big that practice would become.
Friday, forward Carla Chiampi scored the game-winning goal on a penalty stroke four minutes into overtime as the Cardinals defeated Central Michigan University 2-1.
"I don't know if we thought practicing strokes would ever pay off like that, but it was something that we wanted to practice, and it's pretty nice to have something payoff," coach Annette Payne said.
Having never scored a penalty stroke goal in her college career prior to this game, Chiampi said Thursday's practice had a lot to do with Friday's goal.
"We practiced them [Thursday,] and my focus was just straight down on the ball and was picturing it going in," Chiampi said. "[Thursday's] practice was definitely reassuring."
Despite out-shooting the Chippewas 18-13 during the game, Ball State trailed Central Michigan 1-0 for most of the game.
With three minutes left in the game the Cardinals were on the verge of their third straight conference loss before forward Lindsay Quay scored on a penalty corner to tie the game and force overtime.
In overtime, Ball State was able to carry the momentum of this late goal, as they had two shots on goal and a penalty corner before Chiampi scored the game-winning goal.
"It's the team with the most heart that comes out with a win in an overtime game," Quay said. "I give props to Central Michigan. They played hard today but we just wanted it more."
Offensively, the Cardinals scored the same amount of goals in this game than they had in their previous five games and finished with a season-high 18 shots against Central Michigan.
Ball State was led by Quay who finished with 10 shots and now has a team-high six goals this season.
In addition, Quay continues to move up the Cardinals all-time scoring list.-áCurrently, she is only four goals away from tying June Lenher for 10th place.
"We earned this win by playing like a team, and finally things went our way," Quay said. "It's good to see us on the winning side of the scoreboard because we have been dominating games."
Along with the offense, another reason for this win was because of the play of freshman goaltender Caroline Lehman.
Despite giving up six goals earlier this week against Ohio State University, Lehman rebound and made seven saves in Friday's game, including two saves in overtime.
Lehman is now second among all Mid-American Conference goalies in saves and shutouts.
"She's had a couple bumps this season, and she has attacked those bumps in the right way," Payne said. "She came out today, made some good decisions, and that is the kind of goalkeeper which we need."
With this win, the Cardinals snapped their five game losing streak, and it marks only the second time in the past two seasons that the Cardinals have won a game in overtime.
In addition, the team improved its conference record to 1-2 and is now tied with Kent State University for fourth place in the MAC.
"After being faced with adversity, we got something to fall our way today," Payne said. "We were coming off of some MAC play where we played great and didn't get the win, but today we did what it took to get the win."
Although Ball State is still two games back of Ohio University for first place in the MAC, for Payne this first win might prove to be the source that will springboard the Cardinals towards consecutive wins.
"Once you get one win, you look for another and then another," Payne said. "As long as we are doing the right things and taking care of ourselves, the games start to fall your way."
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