The Cardinals celebrate with chocolate milk and music on their bus ride back to the hotel.
While enjoying their post-game drink the Cardinals sang out Mood by 24kGoldn, a song that Ball State soccer has had in their minds for almost two years.
“[It] was the song that Bowling Green played the last time we played them in the championship and we lost,” fifth-year midfielder Sammi Corcoran said.
The Cardinals also celebrated their victory with All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled.
Ball State started out scoring with Corcoran’s first tournament goal in the 19th minute.
“We were under fire for a good amount of time [though],” second-year goalkeeper Moser said.
The Falcons answered 11 minutes into the second half tying the game. Third-year forward Lacee Bethea crossed the ball into the box at the back post where first-year forward Brynn Gardner headed the ball into the back of the net.
Bowling Green had almost twice as many shots as the Cardinals but Moser said that players like third-year defender Abby Elger were able to “switch between offense and defense giving us strength in both areas.”
Although tensions were high in the semifinal of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament, head coach Josh Rife tried to keep a sense of consistency.
“The game is emotional enough and is very intense, so we don’t shy away from it, we recognize that it’s real and we talk about it,” Rife said.
Leading into the always high-drama penalty shootout after three periods of extra time with no winner, Moser said her feelings were not getting the best of her.
“[I was] more so excited at the fact that I had complete control of the situation. It is easy to be in those high-pressure situations because that's my job and it becomes part of my mentality after so many years.”
When the game was on the line, Moser said she was confident in her teammates, and when fifth-year midfielder Jenna Dembrowski converted the final penalty kick for the win, it was a different level of elation.
“Just being together and enjoying these moments… it’s more than just soccer,” Moser said.
Now Ball State’s focus shifts.
“Our main focus now is how we recover and how we prepare for the next match,” Rife said.
The No. 2 seed Cardinals will line up against the No. 1 seed Buffalo in the championship game.
“I’ve got a good feeling,” Corcoran said.
The championship kicks off Nov. 6 at 1 p.m.
“We still have something to prove but I think we know what we have to do and we have all the tools we need to do it,” Moser said.
Contact Meghan Sawitzke with comments at meghan.sawitzke@bsu.edu or on Twitter @MSawitzke.
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