After falling behind 1-0 to Central Michigan University early in the second half Sunday, Ball State University quickly struck back.
The Cardinals tallied two goals within the next 16 minutes to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish, giving Ball State a 2-1 win against the Chippewas, avenging the defeat inflicted by Central Michigan Sept. 30. The win earned the Cardinals a weekend split after losing to Miami University 3-1 Friday.
Senior midfielder Jamie Kahn scored the game-winner on a slap shot fired off of a penalty corner. She expressed confidence that the shot would go in.
"I knew I was going to score, since I shot it," Kahn joked. "That was sort of the corner plan, and I just picked up the slack and put it in the cage."
Central Michigan defeated the Cardinals 3-0 in the two teams' first meeting Sept. 30, which at the time was Ball State's third straight defeat. Since then, the Cardinals have won three of their last five games to improve to 3-6 in the Mid-American Conference, 4-11 overall.
"I think it's a great win for us," coach Annette Payne said. "They just made some awesome adjustments. We were able to execute on corners. It's a great accomplishment."
Ball State was outshot 11-9, but held a 5-3 advantage in the second half. Sophomore goalkeeper Tiffany Shifflett saved six shots for the Cardinals, moving her season total to 140. Shifflett now ranks fifth in Ball State history for saves in a single season. The all-time record is held by Angela Dello Russo, who tallied 187 saves in 1998.
"It's nice to know that the first year I've started playing, I've got a record," Shifflett said. "You don't want to have 50 million saves; you'd rather have your team score 50 million goals, but it's nice."
Shifflett has tallied her save total in 2007 mainly as a result of constant activity around the goal, but Sunday she faced 11 Chippewa shots, the third-lowest total Ball State has allowed all season.
"It was nice to get a break," Shifflett said. "I don't mind standing around. Constant action can get a little bit stressful. When they're down on the other end, I never complain."
The 20 total shots was the second-lowest total in a game the Cardinals have played all year. The only game with fewer total shots was the first game between the Cardinals and Chippewas, when 16 shots in total were attempted.
Payne said her midfielders, led by Kahn, helped the team get the victory.
"They did great," Payne said. "They had some great transitions. It was really important that they stuck to the game plan, and we were able to do that."
Ball State will play its final league game at Missouri State University Sunday.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
