With a pair of losses this weekend, the Ball State University soccer team's tournament hopes are still alive but in doubt.
The Cardinals (8-9-1, 4-5-1 Mid-American Conference) lost to Western Michigan University (6-10-1, 5-4-1 MAC) Friday and Northern Illinois University (9-4-5, 5-3-2 MAC) Sunday, with 1-0 scores in both games.
"We didn't come to play this weekend, unfortunately," coach Michael Lovett said. "We didn't get to win these two games. We did well just to compete. We should have been more prepared."
With the two losses this weekend, the best Ball State can finish in the regular season is .500. This will be the first non-winning regular season - in conference play and overall - since 2000 for the Cardinals. Ball State finished 7-10-2 overall and 2-8-2 in the MAC during 2000, the second season in program history.
With one game remaining in the regular season, Ball State is still fighting for a spot in the MAC tournament. The Cardinals could be the No. 7 or 8 seed in the tournament, or they could not make it.
A win or a tie against Miami University (6-10-1, 5-5 MAC) Thursday would guarantee Ball State a spot in the postseason. An Ohio University (4-10-3, 3-5-2 MAC) loss to the University of Akron (7-8-2, 2-6-2 MAC), which has been eliminated from tournament contention, would also guarantee Ball State a spot in the tournament. A Ball State loss and an Ohio win would knock the Cardinals out of the tournament for the first time in eight years.
"It's a little bothersome for sure," Lovett said. "If we win on Thursday against Miami then we're still heading in the right direction for our goal of the MAC tournament and the NCAA tournament."
None of the Ball State players were available for comment on Sunday.
After having 66 shots last weekend and four goals, the Cardinals were shut out and limited to 22 shots this weekend.
With seven shots Sunday compared to Northern Illinois' nine, Ball State was outshot for the first time in MAC play since Oct. 28, 2007, against Kent State University. The seven shots were the fewest for the Cardinals since their 1-0 win against Air Force on Sept. 5, when they also had seven shots.
Lovett attributed the decreased amount of offense to the harsh weather Ball State faced all weekend that made it almost impossible for either team to get a shot off in either game. It rained during Friday's game at Western Michigan while it snowed Sunday at Northern Illinois.
"It evened out the playing field against us for both teams," Lovett said. "It was whoever wanted it more and who was the fortunate recipient of a goal."
With one game remaining in the regular season, Lovett said Ball State needs to be more consistent to keep its goal of winning the MAC tournament and making the NCAA tournament for the first time alive. The team will have to have one of its best performances of the season Thursday to get a win and secure a spot in the MAC tournament, Lovett said.
"It's a must-win game for us," he said. "We can't take it lightly. We can't take it for granted."
Five things to take away1. Northern Illinois outshot Ball State nine to seven on Sunday. It was the first time Ball State has been outshot in MAC play this season.
2. Bailey Decker was the one Ball State player to have more than one shot on Sunday. Decker is tied for seventh on the Cardinals for the most shots this season.
3. Ball State was swept in its two games this weekend, the second time that has happened this season. The last time Ball State was swept during a weekend twice in a season was in 2000.
4. With a 8-9-1 overall record and 4-5-1 conference record, the best the Cardinals can finish in the regular season is .500. They have not had a non-winning season since 2000.
5. If Ball State wins against or ties Miami on Thursday it will secure a spot in the MAC tournament. The Cardinals could also secure a spot with an Ohio loss or tie against Akron. A Ball State loss with an Ohio win would knock Ball State out of the MAC tournament for the first time since 2000.
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