For the second weekend in a row, the Ball State soccer team failed to pick up a Mid-American Conference win.
It lost 1-0 to Ohio on Sunday after falling to Akron 3-1 Friday.
An early goal in the eighth minute of play was all Ohio needed to hold off Ball State.
The team is searching for answers as they look to recover from their four-game skid.
Coach Craig Roberts has a simple explanation for the Cardinals' struggles.
"If you don't score goals, you don't win games," he said.
During the team's losing streak, Ball State has tallied only one goal to their opponents' eight — the same number Ball State gave up in its first seven matches. After being shut out twice in their first eight games, the Cardinals' offense has scored zero goals in three out of the past four matches.
"There are no gaping problems with our system of play or tactics. It just comes down to individual mistakes," Roberts said. "Any day of the week we can do these things and carry out these plays, but for whatever reason we are making mistakes."
Injuries were part of the problem this weekend. Senior midfielder Missy Gordon sat out Sunday's game, while sophomore midfielder Alyssa Ables wasn't 100 percent for the two games. Senior defender Kristina Anderson will be out for significant time with a possible torn ligament in her knee.
A 0-4 start to conference play dampens Ball State's chances to make the MAC Tournament, but Roberts is still encouraged by what he sees.
"We outplayed them today for the majority of the game," Roberts said. "That has been the story the last four games, even against Western Michigan. The girls have been outstanding with their effort. It is only a matter of time before they get rewarded with results."
The good news for the Cardinals is they play at home for five of their final seven games. Mathematically, they are still in the hunt to make the tournament, so the team is staying positive.
"There is not an opponent we played we came away thinking we couldn't beat on another day," Roberts said. "The ball just hasn't fallen our way. I know and the team still has the belief we will turn it around."
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