Ball State University fell behind 2-0 two times over the weekend, and both times the deficit proved too much to overcome.
The Cardinals fell to No. 11 Ohio University in a 4-3 overtime defeat Saturday, then saw a late rally fall short in a 3-2 loss to Kent State University Sunday. Ball State now stands at 2-8 overall and 0-3 in the Mid-American Conference.
"It's a little bit ironic," coach Annette Payne said. "Sometimes, it makes a difference [to fall behind]. It shouldn't."
There were five minutes remaining in regulation against Ohio when senior midfielder Jamie Kahn put in the tying goal to force overtime. However, senior back Nicole Humphreys was unable to score on a penalty stroke in overtime, and a few minutes later Bobcats forward Katelyn Shelley fired the ball past the diving goalkeeper Tiffany Shifflett to win the game.
"It's hard," Kahn said. "We put everything out there."
This was the second consecutive game Ohio had defeated Ball State in overtime. Last season, the Cardinals lost to the Bobcats in overtime of the MAC Championship game.
Saturday's loss came despite being outshot by 16-15 against the Bobcats. It was the first time since Ball State's second game of the year, against La Salle University, they were that close to their opponent in the shots department. Ball State has yet to outshoot an opponent this year.
Against Kent State, things progressed more quickly.
The Golden Flashes entered the second half with a 1-0 lead. Thirty-two seconds into the half, the Flashes added to their lead with a goal.
It took the Cardinals all of 38 seconds to respond to that as senior midfielder Lauren Cruz beat Flashes goalkeeper Kara Copeland to make it 2-1. A few moments later, senior forward Katie Kloeckener took a pass from sophomore forward Brooke MacGillivary and buried her shot into the net to tie it.
"It's never over until the last whistle," MacGillivary said. "If they can score, we can score."
It was Kent State who could score last, as Megan Scraper came off the bench to deliver the game-winner two minutes after Ball State had tied it. The Cardinals were unable to answer the goal in the final 25 minutes of play.
Payne said the team needs to jump out to early leads of their own.
"If we can get out early, we won't have to play catch-up," Payne said. "Either way, we want to be ahead at the end."
Ball State, having played four home games in an eight-day period, now plays a road game against Central Michigan University this weekend.
"We've got some time to prepare," Payne said. "We have to grow from this game. We need to be prepared to play at our full potential."
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