Buffalo (7-2-1, 1-1-1 MAC) took down Ball State 2-1 (3-5-1, 1-1-1 MAC) Thursday evening, giving the Cardinals their first Mid-American Conference loss of the season.
“It was a tough game.” head coach Josh Rife said. “Buffalo is a good team. The game definitely had some big momentum swings, and you have to capitalize when it swings your way.”
The Cardinals started the game with a goal from senior midfielder Tatiana Mason in the sixth minute. Mason's shot would serve as the only one for Ball State until the 55th minute of the second half.
In the 21st minute, Buffalo freshman defender Alya Ruken dished the ball off to senior midfielder Katherine Camper, who swung the ball to freshman forward Arianna Zumpano. Zumpano finished with a shot to the lower right side of the goal.
The Bulls extneded their lead in the 63rd minute, after another double-assist by Ruken and Camper, which led to a goal from senior forward Taylor Caridi.
Buffalo outshot Ball State 18 to six, as well as 10 to four in shots on goal. Four of Ball State’s six shots came in a 51-second span in the 55th minute. The final shot came from senior defender Grace Alsop in the 88th minute, which was turned away by the Bulls’ senior goalkeeper Emily Kelly.
Despite the loss, Cardinals senior goalkeeper Alex DeRuvo finsihed with eight saves, a new career-high. Her previous career-high was six.
“I thought Alex [DeRuvo] made some big saves for us today to keep the game close," Rife said.
Ball State returns to action at Briner Sports Comple against Akron Oct. 3, at 2 p.m.
Contact Nate Grubb with comments at nathaniel.grubb@bsu.edu or on Twitter @GrubbNate43
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