A much improved performance for the Ball State University field hockey team turned up the same result against Miami University on Friday.
Ball State was able to produce one goal but it was not enough to avenge their loss earlier in the season to the RedHawks as they lost 3-1.
The Cardinals were able to hold off the RedHawks' offense until the 30th minute.The first point of the contest was put up by Miami and credited to forward Jackie Nguyen who tipped in a goal at the 29:18 mark.
The score remained the same for the last five minutes going into the second half as Ball State was outshot 12-1 in the first half.
Ball State found some rhythm in their offense in the second half as midfielder Gretchen Lulow recorded her first goal of the 2009 season at the 44:33 mark, assisted by a pass from the left side of the baseline by fellow midfielder Kaitlan Mitchell.
Ball State had momentum after that goal, but it was short lived as Miami's Mary Hull put in an unassisted goal at the 55:58 mark.
Hull did not let up after that as she recorded another goal off a fast break, putting the score at 3-1.
That goal was enough for the RedHawks to pick up the win as they held the Cardinals off for the remaining five minutes of the match.
Total saves was the only category that Ball State led: seven saves to Miami's five.
Coach Annette Payne had only positive things to speak about to her team after they walked off the field Friday.
"As a team, we talked about how we played hard," Payne said. "They did what we went over in practice during the week and that showed today in the game."
Throughout the past eight games, getting off to a strong start in the match is something that Payne has stressed to her team, but it has not happened, as was the case Friday.
This loss puts Ball State at 0-2 against Miami on the season and 0-3 in Mid-American conference play.
The stretch of losses for Ball State has climbed to eight games. In this losing streak, the Cardinals have been outscored nine-to-34 with two of those losses being shutouts.
Earlier in the year, Ball State's offense had no problem putting up points, winning the first two games of the season. Since being 2-0, they have been outplayed and outshot 73 to 118.
A rough stretch like this is not fun for any team, but staying positive is something that can get a team out of a slump, the coach said.
"We did a lot of good things from start to finish; we played like a great hockey program today," Payne said. "We had moments where we did great things with the ball."
There are a few minor adjustments necessary for Ball State to make prior to their match against Missouri State University on Saturday.
"I think we need to do much of the same as we did today," Payne said. "We need to continue to work on taking care of our opportunities which we had today and continue for focus on playing for 70 minutes."
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