Ball State Soccer (10-3-2, MAC 6-2-1) traveled to Central Michigan (6-11-0, MAC 4-5-0) on Thursday evening. The Cardinals won 2-1 in overtime after freshman forward Tatiana Mason scored the game winner to make it her fifth goal of the season.
The Cardinals entered this match on a four game MAC win streak, also not conceding a goal in their last three matches. The Cardinals were on the scoreboard first, as freshman defender Jenna Dombrowski scores her first goal of the season. The goal was assisted by Mason, for her third assist of the season. The Chippewas leveled the score in the 39th minute, with a goal from forward Lexi Pelafas, her ninth of the season. The Cardinals had 12 shots in the first half, with five of them on target. The Chippewas had five shots, with three on target.
“We went up early and I thought it was quite deserving,” head coach Craig Roberts said. “Our energy level didn’t drop off.”
The second half opened up for the Cardinals, but they couldn’t find the back of the net. The Cardinals had seven shots in the second half, compared to the Chippewas two. The Cardinals also had three corners, compared to the Chippewas one. The second half concluded with a tie, forcing the teams to go to overtime.
Just five minutes into overtime, Mason scored her fifth goal of the season. She leads the Cardinals in goals, and is tied with the team in assists alongside Paulo Guerrero with three each.
“She’s a confident individual,” Roberts said. “She focuses in training and has the right mindset.”
The Cardinals refused to let up pressure as the Chippewas faced 21 total shots. Senior goalkeeper, Tristan Stuteville had three saves for the Cardinals while Chippewa goalkeeper Morgan Britain had seven saves.
The Cardinals remain in second behind Bowling Green in the MAC standings. Stuteville is No. 2 in the MAC with .69 goals against average a game. That is now five straight MAC wins for the Cardinals as they try to catch the Falcons in the final stretch of the regular season.
Contact Tyler Pence with any comments at tapence@bsu.edu or on Twitter @tylerpencee
Read More
Cardinals fall to Western Michigan in MAC Championship Final
By Daniel Kehn / 14 minutes agoBall State ended the 2024 season with a loss to Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Championship Final.
Turning the Tides: How Ryleigh Skaggs is changing Wes-Del girls' basketball
By Logan Connor / 9 hours agoHead coach Ryleigh Skaggs is looking to turn the narrative on Wes-Del girls’ basketball
Cardinals survive five-set marathon against Central Michigan, advance to MAC Championship Final
By Daniel Kehn / 19 hours agoBall State advances to the MAC Championship with a five-set marathon victory over Central Michigan
