Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, September 25
Muncie, Ind.
5 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3-5-1 (0-1MAC)
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at
2
Ball State
5-2-2 (1-0MAC)
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Eastern Michigan
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Ball State
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Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
EMU Soccer Drops MAC Opener, 2-1, at Ball State
9/25/2015 7:18:00 PM | Soccer
Senior Hallee Kansman recorded her first goal of the season in the loss
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team opened Mid-American Conference play on the road, Friday, Sept. 25, with a bout against preseason favorite Ball State (5-2-2; 1-0-0 MAC). Playing through early adversity, the Eagles (3-4-1; 0-1-0 MAC) battled back from a one goal deficit to tie the game before a late goal by the Cardinals downed the Green and White, 2-1. Senior Hallee Kansman (Farmington Hills, Mich.-North Farmington) notched her first goal of the season while freshman Kaylin Williams (Kansas City, Mo.-Winnetonka) collected three saves.
Ball State pressured the Eagles from the first touch of the match, pushing the ball down field and towards goal. The Eagles cleared the first attempt towards the midfield stripe before the Cardinals' Gabby Veldman chased down a ball near the edge of the 18. Quick off her line, senior Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) rushed towards the edge of the box, disrupting Veldman. Hitting the turf of the collision, Ball State fired a loose ball at goal where Kansman made the save from the goal line.
Shaken up on the play, McCabe was forced to leave the match in the fourth minute, making way for Williams.
Struggling to complete passes across the turf, the Eagles first two opportunities came from the corner flag. In the 28th minute, junior Madison Hirsch stepped to the flag for the set piece. Delivering a cross to the near post, Hirsch's ball was flicked on by redshirt freshman Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson). The header of Nason was cleared from the goal line but played out to the edge of the box where it was collected by junior Rachel Washburn (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland) for a one-timer that flew high of goal.
Keeping the pressure on, the Green and White garnered another corner in the 31st minute. This time, Hirsch connected with junior Ellie Tillar (Cincinnati, Ohio-Turpin). Tillar headed a ball towards goal, out of reach for the Ball State keeper but a Cardinals' defender kept the ball from finding the back of the net.
Stepping in between the pipes, Williams collected two saves in 34 minutes of play before a failed clear attempt gave the Cardinals a second chance opportunity. After several clears failed to make it past the midfield line, Ball State's Chelsy Swackhamer dribbled towards goal before crossing over and ripping a shot to the far post past a diving Williams.
EMU buried the equalizer in the 40th minute, capitalizing on its third corner of the half. Elevating above the defense, Kansman headed Washburn's service into the back of the net to even the score at one.
Physicality picked up in the second half as the teams combined for 12 fouls compared to just six in the first half, keeping either team from getting together an opportunity in the first 29 minutes of the final frame.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, a set piece play by Ball State led to their demise. Lauren Hall stood at the flag for a Cardinals' corner, sending a high soaring cross into the box. With plenty of congestion in front of goal, Williams could not track the header from Leah Mattingly. Mattingly's goal put the Cardinals' in front with 15 minutes left in the match.
Unable to record a shot on goal in the second half, EMU dropped its conference opener, 2-1, to Ball State. The loss marks the first time Eastern Michigan has lost its MAC opener since the 2011 season, breaking a streak of three consecutive conference-opening victories.
The Eagles close out the weekend, Sunday, Sept. 27, at Scicluna Field against MAC East Division favorite, Miami. The match is set to start at 1 p.m.
Ball State pressured the Eagles from the first touch of the match, pushing the ball down field and towards goal. The Eagles cleared the first attempt towards the midfield stripe before the Cardinals' Gabby Veldman chased down a ball near the edge of the 18. Quick off her line, senior Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) rushed towards the edge of the box, disrupting Veldman. Hitting the turf of the collision, Ball State fired a loose ball at goal where Kansman made the save from the goal line.
Shaken up on the play, McCabe was forced to leave the match in the fourth minute, making way for Williams.
Struggling to complete passes across the turf, the Eagles first two opportunities came from the corner flag. In the 28th minute, junior Madison Hirsch stepped to the flag for the set piece. Delivering a cross to the near post, Hirsch's ball was flicked on by redshirt freshman Kristin Nason (Brooklin, Ontario-Donald A. Wilson). The header of Nason was cleared from the goal line but played out to the edge of the box where it was collected by junior Rachel Washburn (Hartland, Mich.-Hartland) for a one-timer that flew high of goal.
Keeping the pressure on, the Green and White garnered another corner in the 31st minute. This time, Hirsch connected with junior Ellie Tillar (Cincinnati, Ohio-Turpin). Tillar headed a ball towards goal, out of reach for the Ball State keeper but a Cardinals' defender kept the ball from finding the back of the net.
Stepping in between the pipes, Williams collected two saves in 34 minutes of play before a failed clear attempt gave the Cardinals a second chance opportunity. After several clears failed to make it past the midfield line, Ball State's Chelsy Swackhamer dribbled towards goal before crossing over and ripping a shot to the far post past a diving Williams.
EMU buried the equalizer in the 40th minute, capitalizing on its third corner of the half. Elevating above the defense, Kansman headed Washburn's service into the back of the net to even the score at one.
Physicality picked up in the second half as the teams combined for 12 fouls compared to just six in the first half, keeping either team from getting together an opportunity in the first 29 minutes of the final frame.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, a set piece play by Ball State led to their demise. Lauren Hall stood at the flag for a Cardinals' corner, sending a high soaring cross into the box. With plenty of congestion in front of goal, Williams could not track the header from Leah Mattingly. Mattingly's goal put the Cardinals' in front with 15 minutes left in the match.
Unable to record a shot on goal in the second half, EMU dropped its conference opener, 2-1, to Ball State. The loss marks the first time Eastern Michigan has lost its MAC opener since the 2011 season, breaking a streak of three consecutive conference-opening victories.
The Eagles close out the weekend, Sunday, Sept. 27, at Scicluna Field against MAC East Division favorite, Miami. The match is set to start at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU
BSU
Goals
1
2
Shots
7
16
Shots on Goal
3
6
Saves
4
2
Corners
4
9
Fouls
13
5
Scoring Plays
SWACKHAMER, Chelsy (3)
Assisted By: OYER, Madison
beat keeper from right side to far post
37:48
KANSMAN, HALLEE (1)
Assisted By: WASHBURN, RACHEL
scored on header off corner kick
39:46
MATTINGLY, Leah (1)
Assisted By: HALL, Lauren
header off a corner kick
75:00
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F/D
/ SoccerMF/F
/ SoccerD
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
MF
/ SoccerD
/ Soccer
GK
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