SOCCER: Ball State drops double-overtime match to Central Michigan University
By Evan Barnum-Steggerda / October 28, 2013In a crucial matchup for conference tournament seeding Central Michigan University topped Ball State 1-0 in double overtime.
In a crucial matchup for conference tournament seeding Central Michigan University topped Ball State 1-0 in double overtime.
Every match is important but as the season winds down, wins and losses seem even more significant. After splitting a pair of crucial matches against top-tier Mid-American Conference last weekend, Ball State’s soccer team is searching for two victories and stability in conference standing against University of Toledo (5-9, 2-4 MAC) and Northern Illinois University (4-8-2, 2-3-1 MAC). Ball State (9-4-1, 4-2 MAC) dropped its match against Western Michigan University (7-3-3, 5-0-1 MAC) on Sunday, and is now in a five-way tie behind Western Michigan. “A good team always responds to a loss,” head coach Craig Roberts said.
The foliage lining the Briner Sports Complex has started to change, meaning that fall and conference play are here.
In the 2-1 victory against Ohio University, Ball State needed 51 seconds to strike in the rain.
After starting with its best record since 2006, Ball State (7-3-1) dropped its first conference game of the season to Kent State (7-4) 1-0.
After traveling more than 3,000 miles to play in its last five matches, the Ball State soccer team will defend its 4-0 home record for the first time in three weeks.
Ball State came out firing in the last of five consecutive road matches to beat Akron, 2-0.
Ball State (5-2-1) commences its conference schedule by traveling to Buffalo (3-2-2) and Akron (3-3-2) this weekend. And though this is just the beginning of Mid-American Conference play, the Cardinals tout the conference’s best record.
A tie wasn’t what Ball State soccer head coach Craig Roberts was looking for.
Before each of Ball State’s seven games, head coach Craig Roberts has stressed that win or loss, what is important is getting ready for conference play.
Ball State has been tying up loose ends on the field in preparation for the conference opener.
It took 109 game minutes, 45 lightning-delay minutes and a mid-game site change to decide anything between Ball State and Air Force.
Ball State soccer dropped the first match on its road trip to Colorado College 2-0.
Starting with the program’s best record since 2005 (4-1) does not satisfy Ball State head soccer coach Craig Roberts.
Entering the 2013 season with 13 new players, Ball State soccer head coach Craig Roberts knew there would be some lineup shuffling.
Ball State’s 2-0 victory over Tennessee Tech was just another day in the office, fitting the mold of each of Ball State’s games: dominate possession, let the team’s depth be an advantage and hold strong on the backline.
After dropping its first match of the season, Ball State’s soccer team is priming itself for two winnable games this weekend. Ball State (2-1) will take on Eastern Illinois on Friday and Tennessee Tech on Sunday, both of which tout 0-4 records on the year.
Ball State’s soccer team went into its match with IPFW undefeated on the season and unbeaten by the Mastodons all-time—both of those streaks came to end on Friday.
A 5-1 goal differential, the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week and most importantly, two wins. Not a bad opening weekend for a team that did not have a starting lineup set until the day of its first match.
A 5-1 goal differential, the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week and most importantly, two wins. Not a bad opening weekend for a team that did not have a starting lineup set until the day of its first match.
