MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to five straight games Sunday afternoon as the Cardinals posted a 1-1 double overtime tie against visiting Ohio in Mid-American Conference action at the Briner Sports Complex. The tie improves the Cardinals to 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and gives them 13 points in the MAC standings.

Ball State (9-4-2, 4-1-1 MAC) dominated the game as it held a commanding 40-18 edge in shots, including an 11-4 advantage in the overtime periods. The 40 shots are the most in a single game in Ball State history, surpassing the previous mark of 36 shots versus Ohio in 2008 (10/17/08).

Ohio (6-7-1, 3-2-1 MAC), the leader in the MAC East Division, opened the scoring quickly as it found the back of the net in the eighth minute. Kelsey Pichel was the recipient of a strong passing sequence by the Bobcats as she found space at the top of the 18-yard box. Pichel rifled a shot into the top corner of the goal for the 1-0 Ohio lead and her fourth goal of the season.

Ball State took the game over after the initial Ohio goal and continually pressed the Bobcats’ defense. The Cardinals looked like they tied the game in the 41^st minute, but the goal was called back due to a foul.

Freshman forward Nicole Pembleton (Mississauga, Ontario/Clarkson Secondary) found an opening in the box and ripped a shot past Ohio goalkeeper Mattie Liston, but it found the cross bar and bounded back into the six-yard box. Pembleton pounced on the rebound and deposited it into the back of the net for the apparent game-tying goal, but she was called for a handball to wave off the goal.    The Cardinals held a 12-8 advantage in shots in the first half but stepped up their game even more after the halftime break posting 17 second half shots. Ball State came out of the break spirited and nearly tied the game in the first minute as freshman Pavla Benyrova (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnasium Prague 9) had a header sail just over the cross bar from eight-yards out.

The Cardinals kept the pressure on and scored the game-tying goal in the 47^th minute of play. Freshman Ellie Chadick (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) made a run down the left-hand side and sent a through ball into the box.

Junior forward Shaniece Thorpe (Westmoreland, Jamaica/WVIT) got to the pass first and one touched it to fellow forward Jasmine Moses (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) who rocketed it past Liston to tie the game at 1-1. The goal moved Moses into the team lead in scoring with seven goals on the year and her seven goals rank seventh all-time in single-season scoring records at Ball State.

Ball State came within an inch of taking the lead in the 66^th minute of play. Freshman forward Hannah Chadick (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) got in behind the Ohio defense and was one-on-one with Liston. Chadick beat Liston with the shot but it rolled just off the outside of the post to keep the game tied at 1-1.

The Cardinals controlled play down the stretch of regulation and held the most dangerous scoring chances of the overtime periods. Ball State relentlessly pressured the Bobcats’ defense in the extra frames, including a 7-1 edge in shots in the second overtime.

The Cardinals once again nearly won the game in the 103^rd minute of play off a corner kick. Junior defender Skylar Chew (Mason, Ohio/Mason) flicked the corner kick into the six-yard box where Hannah Chadick was able to strike a shot from the penalty spot past Liston but ball was cleared off the end line by an Ohio defender to preserve the 1-1 tie.

Ball State had 13 different players register a shot in the game, including seven players with at least five shots apiece. Moses, Benyrova and Ellie Chadick led the attack with five shots apiece as they nearly out-shot Ohio as a trio. Junior goalkeeper Aubrey Buehler (Waukesha, Wis./UT Martin) posted one save in the tie while Liston ended the afternoon with a season-high 11 saves in addition to the two team saves by her defenders.

Ball State returns to action next weekend as it hosts its final two regular season games of the season. The Cardinals welcome in Buffalo next Friday afternoon and Kent State Sunday afternoon to wrap up their four-game home stand.

 

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