Ball State field hockey gets back on track with road win

<p>Junior Michaela Graney passes the ball inbounds in Ball State's Field Hockey match against Saint Francis University Aug. 26 at Briner Sports Complex. The Cardinals won 2-1 over Saint Francis in their season opener. Eli Houser, DN</p>

Junior Michaela Graney passes the ball inbounds in Ball State's Field Hockey match against Saint Francis University Aug. 26 at Briner Sports Complex. The Cardinals won 2-1 over Saint Francis in their season opener. Eli Houser, DN

Coming off a 1-0 loss to Appalachian State (12-4, 5-1 MAC) on senior day, Ball State field hockey (7-9, 2-4 MAC) earned its most lopsided win of the season with a 7-0 victory over Queens University of Charlotte (0-15) Sunday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Cardinals' seven goals is not only the most they've scored all season, but their most scored in a single game since they put up seven against Bellarmine October 11, 2015. 

After neither side scored in the first period, Ball State found the back of the cage twice in the second. Graduate student Kerrianne McClay put in the first score on a penalty corner goal shot assisted by senior Emma Hilton and graduate student Libby Krauss. A little more than three minutes later, senior Michaela Graney scored on another penalty corner goal shot assisted by the same pair.

Once halftime passed, McClay scored the lone goal of the third period on another penalty corner goal assisted by Krauss and freshman Nadine Loeps. Then the Cardinals had their most successful period of the season.

Graney kicked things off with her second goal of the game and seventh of the season, this time off of a penalty corner assist from McClay. Next up, sophomore Fleur Knopert continued her standout season with her 13th goal of the campaign on a scramble in front of the cage assisted by senior Rachel Bohn.

Nearly 10 minutes passed in the fourth period until the next score when senior Paloma Gomez Rengifo capitalized on a Queens turnover for her third goal of the season. Two minutes later, sophomore Christine Ditizio scored on a shot from the top of the circle for her first career goal at Ball State. 

The Cardinals only allowed three shots on goal in the contest, all saved by senior Hannah Johnston.

Ball State's next match is a key MAC contest against Miami (11-7, 5-1 MAC) in Oxford, Ohio, at 3 p.m.

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