The field hockey team failed Saturday in its attempt to win three games in a row for the first time this season.
After playing a statistically even first half, the Cardinals (7-9, 4-3 MAC) stumbled in the second, losing to Louisville (8-7, 4-3 MAC) 3-2 in their final home game of the season.
The loss tied Ball State with Louisville and Central Michigan for second in the Mid-American Conference. Kent State, whom the Cardinals play Friday, leads the MAC with a 5-1 conference record.
The Cardinals went into halftime tied with Louisville. Each team had one goal on five shots on goal in the period.
Louisville scored two goals in the second half and shot the ball more to take the victory. Cardinals' head coach Annette Payne said it was the second half that did them in.
"We had let downs in the second half," Payne said. "We needed to come out playing to win and we didn't."
One advantage Ball State had was in penalty corners, 10-7. In the first half, the Cardinals had double the corners of Louisville, 8-4. They converted on just one, though.
"We just couldn't put the skill on and finish the ball," Payne said. "In a situation like that you have to play the ball well, you have to play the ball smart and you have to finish."
Payne has blamed many of the Cardinals' losses this season on a lack of focus. Afton Hess, who scored both Ball State's goals, said that was the case again Saturday.
"Mentally we just weren't there," Hess said. "We just didn't play consistenly. Our intensity was very low."
When the team scored seven goals against Miami on Friday, Payne said passing was one of the keys to victory. Hess, however, said passing was a problem for the Cardinals against Louisville.
"We didn't pass the ball as a team," Hess said. "We weren't feeding each other. We weren't seeing the open spaces. The passes were there, just a split second too late."
With three goals in the two games over the weekend, Hess regained her conference lead in goals scored with 14. Kent State senior Jennifer Melnyk took the lead last weekend with 12 goals, but was held scoreless in her game Friday.
Her goals and one assist also increase her MAC lead in overall points. She has 35 points, nine ahead of Kent State's Berber Rischen.
Saturday's game was the last home contest for the senior Hess. While she said it was a disappointing way to end her home career, she plans to use it as motivation the rest of the season.
"It was a sucky way to end it," Hess said. "We have to come back strong next weekend. That will really prove who we are as a team."
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