After what many thought was a step forward in a 3-2 win against Indiana, the Ball State field hockey team took a hit after suffering through a 0-2 weekend at Ohio and Ohio State.
Despite the losses, coach Beth Maddox said she thought the weekend was a growing experience.
"This weekend was not a step backward for us," Maddox said. "In order to grow and get better, you have to have weekends like this. I am confident that our team will learn and continue to improve."
The Cardinals were outscored 16-1 over the weekend.
On Saturday, Ball State fell to Mid-American Conference foe Ohio 7-0.
Ohio started the rout by scoring a goal seven minutes into the match and never looked back from there.
Ohio goalkeeper Brittany Walker has been named MAC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season, and she lived up to her title. Walker allowed zero goals all day Saturday, but it's possible she wasn't even needed against the Cardinals.
Ball State attempted just one shot against Ohio all afternoon. With three minutes remaining in the first half, sophomore Tarel Teach attempted a shot that went wide of the Bobcats' goal.
Ball State sophomore Leanne Goldblatt received a yellow card in the match.
Maddox's explanation for the lack of attempts was simple.
"We played in our defensive half of the field the whole weekend," Maddox said. "We got caught on our heels, so attacking wasn't really an option."
Freshman goalkeeper Shelby Henley played all 70 minutes Saturday, recording six saves.
After Saturday's shutout, Ball State was able to score a goal against Ohio State on Sunday, but still lost 9-1.
Senior Marisa Weachter scored her second goal of the season just a minute into the second half.
Weachter scored off a rebound from the right side of the goal.
Ball State was able to get just three shots off during the match against Ohio State. One shot was Weachter's goal early in the second half, and Teach attempted another off a penalty corner play late in the match.
Freshman goalkeeper Maddi Elliott played the full match against the Buckeyes, her second complete match of her career. Elliott recorded nine saves on Sunday.
"Our keepers did some nice things this weekend," Maddox said. "They need to learn through experience, and [we] were able to give them that this weekend."
All-in-all, Ball State was outshot 69-4 over the weekend. It also lost the penalty corner battle 32-2.
"We need to play better defense. It's not rocket science," Maddox said. "This is a simple game, and unfortunately we made it too complicated this weekend."
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