Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, March 21
St. Joe's Sports Dome
1:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3-2-0, 3-2-0
1
vs
2
Ball State
3-1-1, 3-1-1
1
2
F
Ball St.
0
2
2
Eastern Mich.
1
0
1
Eagles Fall to Cardinals, 2-1
3/21/2021 4:06:00 PM | Soccer
McNeill scored her fifth goal in three games
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University soccer team fell to visiting Ball State University, 2-1, March 21, inside the St. Joe's Sports Dome.
Redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill (Whitby, Ontario-Henry Street) tallied her fifth goal of the season and 25th of her career, moving her solely into fourth-place on the program's all-time goals scored list. She needs eight to tie Angela Vultaggio, who sits in third with 33 career goals.
Though Ball State (3-1-1, 3-1-1 MAC) was applying most of the pressure throughout the first half, tallying eight shots to EMU's two, the Eagles (3-2, 3-2 MAC) were able to make the most of their limited opportunities.
As she has all season, McNeill was able to spark the offense, burying the Eagles' first shot of the game past the keeper on a pass from sophomore Amanda Cripps (Bradford, Ontario-Trinity Catholic) to give the Green and White a 1-0 lead with just under 17 minutes left in the first half.
Even with the relentless attack from the Cardinals, the EMU defense and senior goalkeeper Chelsea Abbotts (Ottawa, Ontario-Mother Teresa) were able to keep them out of the back of the net. Abbotts had three saves in the first half, helping Eastern carry its 1-0 lead into the break.
Ball State continued to apply pressure to open the second half, and eventually found the back of the net on a free kick to tie the game at 1-1 with less than 40 minutes remaining in the match. The Cardinals stayed on the offensive, finding the back of the net for the game-winner in the 63rd minute, taking the 2-1 lead.
With time winding down, however, the Eagles were able to find some offensive flow and put some shots on frame. On a corner kick with just over nine minutes left, senior Haley Tausend's (Barrington, Illinois-Barrington) header right in front of the goal was saved by the Cardinals' keeper. Minutes later, Cripps got a look on net from the top of the box, but it was also sent away by the keeper. The Eagles would get another corner with under three minutes left to play, but the Cardinals' defense was able to neutralize the threat.
McNeill put one last shot on frame with just under a minute to go, and while first bobbled by the keeper, it was eventually brought in for the save. In the end, the Cardinals would outlast the Eagles, 2-1.
The Cardinals finished the day with the advantage in shots (20-9) and shots on goal (8-6). Abbotts finished the game with six saves, while BSU's goalkeeper ended with five.
The Eagles will stay in Ypsilanti for their next contest, set for Sunday, March 28, for a rematch with Western Michigan. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
To stay up to date on all things EMU soccer, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMUSoccer.
Redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill (Whitby, Ontario-Henry Street) tallied her fifth goal of the season and 25th of her career, moving her solely into fourth-place on the program's all-time goals scored list. She needs eight to tie Angela Vultaggio, who sits in third with 33 career goals.
Though Ball State (3-1-1, 3-1-1 MAC) was applying most of the pressure throughout the first half, tallying eight shots to EMU's two, the Eagles (3-2, 3-2 MAC) were able to make the most of their limited opportunities.
As she has all season, McNeill was able to spark the offense, burying the Eagles' first shot of the game past the keeper on a pass from sophomore Amanda Cripps (Bradford, Ontario-Trinity Catholic) to give the Green and White a 1-0 lead with just under 17 minutes left in the first half.
Even with the relentless attack from the Cardinals, the EMU defense and senior goalkeeper Chelsea Abbotts (Ottawa, Ontario-Mother Teresa) were able to keep them out of the back of the net. Abbotts had three saves in the first half, helping Eastern carry its 1-0 lead into the break.
Ball State continued to apply pressure to open the second half, and eventually found the back of the net on a free kick to tie the game at 1-1 with less than 40 minutes remaining in the match. The Cardinals stayed on the offensive, finding the back of the net for the game-winner in the 63rd minute, taking the 2-1 lead.
With time winding down, however, the Eagles were able to find some offensive flow and put some shots on frame. On a corner kick with just over nine minutes left, senior Haley Tausend's (Barrington, Illinois-Barrington) header right in front of the goal was saved by the Cardinals' keeper. Minutes later, Cripps got a look on net from the top of the box, but it was also sent away by the keeper. The Eagles would get another corner with under three minutes left to play, but the Cardinals' defense was able to neutralize the threat.
McNeill put one last shot on frame with just under a minute to go, and while first bobbled by the keeper, it was eventually brought in for the save. In the end, the Cardinals would outlast the Eagles, 2-1.
The Cardinals finished the day with the advantage in shots (20-9) and shots on goal (8-6). Abbotts finished the game with six saves, while BSU's goalkeeper ended with five.
The Eagles will stay in Ypsilanti for their next contest, set for Sunday, March 28, for a rematch with Western Michigan. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
To stay up to date on all things EMU soccer, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMUSoccer.
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Team Stats
BSU
EMU
Goals
2
1
Shots
20
9
Shots on Goal
8
6
Saves
5
6
Corners
5
4
Fouls
10
12
Scoring Plays
Sabrina McNeill (5)
Assisted By: Amanda Cripps
GOAL by EMU McNeill, Sabrina Assist by Cripps, Amanda.
28:15
Nicky Potts (1)
GOAL by BSU Potts, Nicky.
51:05
Mac Henson (1)
Assisted By: Tatiana Mason
GOAL by BSU Henson, Mac Assist by Mason, Tatiana.
62:58
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
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