After a pair of losses to begin the season, the Ball State University soccer team recorded its first win of the season and the first win for Michael Lovett as the Cardinals' coach Friday.
Playing against a winless Air Force (1-4) team, which won Sunday, the Cardinals (1-4) recorded their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory Friday. The win was the first for Lovett as a head coach, excluding spring games, after he spent the previous six years as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech and Murray State University.
Even though Lovett wanted to get his first win with the Cardinals sooner, he said, it was great to get a win this weekend.
"[It was] very special," the Cardinals' first-year coach said. "I kind of got the monkey off the back so to speak."
Ball State gained the lead and the winning goal against Air Force after scoring off a corner kick about 26 minutes into the game. Katelyn Alexander sent the ball into the box, where Megan Ridley headed it into the net to give Ball State a 1-0 lead. The goal was the third of the junior's career and the first since her freshman season.
"It felt good," Ridley said. "For it to be a game-winning goal is even better."
For the game, the Cardinals outshot the Falcons 7-5, the first time this season Ball State has finished a game with more shots than its opponent. This season Ball State has finished with fewer shots than its opponent in three of four games. Last year Ball State finished with fewer shots than its opponent three times all season.
The stronger offensive attack from the Cardinals was a result of them fighting for a much-needed win, Ridley said.
"We wanted to win, and it showed," she said. "We were out there going all out."
Like the offense, the Ball State defense also had a season first against Air Force. After recording 10 shutouts last year, the Cardinals picked up their first of the season Friday as they held Air Force scoreless.
Lovett, who played goalkeeper collegiality and professionally, said the shutout was a result of the entire defense stepping up its play.
"It was a good confidence boost for the team because we had gotten scored on each time this year," he said.
The shutout was the 18th of goalkeeper Rachael Murphy's career, which ties her with Alison Becker for the most career shutouts in Ball State's 10-year program history.
The Cardinals' defense continued its shutout streak as it held Colorado College (4-0-1) scoreless in the first half Sunday.
"The first half was unbelievable," Lovett said. "It was the best soccer we've played all year. I was so proud of the effort, so proud of the competitive nature. We were really playing great, great soccer."
The Cardinals could not hold off the Tigers' offensive attack in the second half though.
In the 58th minute, Murphy made a save, but the ball deflected to Colorado College's Tiffany Brown, who scored off the rebound to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. About 12 minutes later Colorado College scored another goal to give it a 2-0 lead, which also was the final score.
The difference in the first half compared to the second half, Lovett said, was the Cardinals' mentality on the field. Like Friday night, the team played to win the first 57 minutes of the game but then became tight, disorganized and played not to lose.
With solid play most of the weekend and the first win of the season, Lovett said, he was pleased with how the weekend played out for the Cardinals, although he would have liked to have won twice.
"It is a successful weekend," he said. "If we hadn't gotten one win there would be some serious thoughts of concern, but we have turned the corner."
Five things to take away:1. Ball State won its first game of the season Friday, which was also the first win for Michael Lovett as the Cardinals' coach.
2. Rachael Murphy recorded her 18th career save against Air Force, which ties her for the all-time Ball State lead.
3. Megan Ridley scored the winning goal against Air Force, her first since her freshman season.
4. In the win against Air Force, Ball State had more shots than its opponent for the first time this season.
5. After starting the season 1-3 on the road, Ball State will play home games for the first time this weekend.
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