The situation looked desperate for the soccer team (5-3-2,3-1-1) after Friday's 1-0 double overtime loss at home againstCentral Michigan (3-3-2, 2-2-1).
The Cardinals lost the game in the 106th minute on a deep shotby Rachel Snyder. The ball skipped on the rain-dampened grass andbetween the feet of goalie Megan Swafford.
"The wet grass might have affected that a little bit," headcoach Ron Rainey said. "It's just something we have to look atfilmwise, and are we collapsing the way we should be and justfigure that out."
Some of the missed offensive opportunities were the downfall ofhis team, Rainey said.
"We had a lot of opportunities to finish and sometimes thatmakes the difference," he said. "If you can poke one home itchanges the completion of the game in regulation."
The darkening, cloudy sky seemed to foreshadow the task at handfor the team. A trip to Eastern Michigan was next against an Eaglesteam that was undefeated in Mid-American Conference play.
A loss would jeopardize a league title, pushing the Cardinalstwo games behind the leaders.
The Cardinals battled to a 1-1 double overtime tie with theEastern Michigan. Ball State notched a goal in the 39th minute offthe foot of Alicia Kalafut, but the Eagles countered in the secondhalf and scored in the 57th minute on a shot by Cyndi Mullins thatbeat Alison Becker.�
Rainey said he was happy with the rebound his team made afterthe difficult loss at home to Central Michigan.
"There was lots of passion out there today," he said. "It'sgreat when you're on the road and play well."
Rainey was able to work two of his injured freshman back intothe rotation Sunday. Alison Becker saw her first action in goalsince the match at Miami on Sept. 14. Rainey also used Amy Holst ina substitute role. Holst, who was hurt in practice on Tuesday,missed Friday's match against Central Michigan.
Rainey said it is too early to tell who would win the MAC thisyear. He said seven or eight teams are still capable of taking thetitle, and the goal of the Cardinals each year is to first solidifya birth in the conference tournament and clinch home fieldadvantage in the first round of the tournament.
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