With time running down on the Ball State University field hockey team's first victory in seven weeks, senior forward Casey Hunsicker went down the line of players left on the bench giving high fives.
Hunsicker had one question for her teammates as they snapped their school-record 11-game losing streak.
"How's that feel ladies?"
The Cardinals defeated Missouri State University 6-2 in their final home game of the season. The goals were all scored by different players to give Ball State its first home win of the season, and the Cardinals improved to 2-12 overall.
"It feels pretty darn good," Hunsicker said. "We've been waiting for this for a long time. It feels exactly like it's supposed to."
Despite controlling the game, Ball State fell behind when junior forward Melissa Lantz gave the Bears a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute. After the goal, coach Annette Payne took a time out, but she said there was not a feeling of despair in the huddle.
"I told them it was important that they didn't let it get to them," Payne said. "I just told them we need to step up defensively."
The Cardinals went back on the attack and five minutes later were awarded a penalty stroke. For the second time in three games freshman midfielder Devanny Kuhn converted on the opportunity.
Sophomore defender Elizabeth Blaum would give Ball State its first lead in eight games when she scored her first career goal on a penalty corner. Blaum said it was nice to be able to help out her offense.
"It's just nice to be able to give back," Blaum said. "Casey works so hard all the time getting corner after corner. It's such a team effort."
The 2-1 halftime lead was the first lead for the Cardinals since Sept. 12 when they led the University of Michigan 3-2 at the break.
Ball State would continue to build on its lead as leading scorer Brittany Hammer added her sixth goal of the season.
Hunsicker and her fellow senior Jodi Mann each scored goals to close out theirs career at Ball State Turf Field. The Cardinals' third senior, defender Melanie Pasillas notched two assists in her final home game.
Sophomore midfielder Kaitlin Mitchell scored her first career goal to close out the Cardinals' scoring off one of Mann's two assists.
"What means the most to me is that we had six goals and each goal was by a different person," Hunsicker said. "I just think that says a lot about what we're capable of. I couldn't ask for anything different for my last home game."
Missouri State added a second goal on a penalty corner with no time left on the clock, but that could not dampen the spirits of the Cardinals, who wore pink jerseys to support the Think Pink Initiative and the fight against breast cancer.
"It's very good for these guys," Payne said. "It means a lot to them and a lot to us."
Ball State had a season-high 22 shots coming from 10 players. The six goals are the most Ball State has scored since defeating Central Michigan University 6-0 on Oct. 22, 2005.
The team can use the confidence from Sunday's performance to keep its momentum, Hunsicker said.
"I knew all along that we were capable of it with the talent we have on this team," she said. "I just think this brings up everyone else's confidence, and maybe everyone else can be on the same page and know what we're capable of doing."
Five things to take away1. The Cardinals snapped their school-record, 11-game losing streak.
2. Six players scored for Ball State in the 6-2 victory against Missouri State.
3. The six goals are the most scored in one game in three years.
4. Sophomore Elizabeth Blaum scored her first career goal to give Ball State a 2-1 lead it would never relinquish.
5. All three seniors recorded points in their final home game.
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