Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, April 11
Muncie, Ind.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
6-3-0, 6-3-0
1
at
2
Ball State
6-2-1, 6-2-1
1
2
F
Eastern Mich.
0
1
1
Ball St.
1
1
2
Heartbreak in Muncie as Soccer Falls to Ball State, 2-1
4/11/2021 4:51:00 PM | Soccer
The Eagles' season comes to an end with the loss
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team saw its season come to a close as it fell to Ball State University, 2-1, April 11 at Briner Sports Complex. With the win, the Cardinals earned the Mid-American Conference West Division title.
Entering the 10th minute of play, the Eagles saw its first scoring opportunity of the contest, when redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill (Whitby, Ontario-Henry Street) crossed to sophomore Amanda Cripps (Bradford, Ontario-Trinity Catholic) in the box in front of the goalkeeper. However, Cripps' shot sailed just over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.
Ball State (6-2-1, 6-2-1 MAC) opened the scoring for the game in the 19th minute, finding the block deflection on its initial shot in the box to slip it over the line to take a 1-0 lead.
Not a minute later, Eastern attempted to equalize, being awarded a free kick a few yards outside the top of the box. However, junior Kylie Frantz's (Erie, Pa.-Villa Maria Academy) shot was sent straight to the Cardinals' goalkeeper for the save.
In her first action of the game, freshman Lexy Alston (Amherst, Ohio-Marion L. Steele) was able to get a shot off from the top of the box in the 32nd minute, however, the Ball State keeper was able to get in front of it to keep the game at 1-0.
Although the Cardinals threatened with a corner kick opportunity in the 38th minute, the Green and White was able to clear the ball away. Four minutes later, the Eagles earned a corner of their own, but were not able to convert on the opportunity and the game entered the halftime break with the Cardinals in the lead, 1-0.
While able to subside the set piece threats by the Cardinals in the first half, Ball State would convert on its first of the final 45 minutes, as BSU took a 2-0 lead in the 50th minute on a successful corner kick opportunity.
Frantz looked to start the comeback five minutes later, as the Erie, Pa. native launched a shot that ended up on the wrong side of the crossbar by inches. The junior also aided in setting up the next chance for EMU, finding redshirt junior Madeline Olson (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) inside the six-yard box in the 61st minute. Unaided by the slick turf, the ball sped just ahead of Olson for Ball State to make the save.
Looking to add to its lead in the 73rd minute, the Ball State entered the box, but were stopped in consecutive fashion by senior Chelsea Abbotts (Ottawa, Ontario-Mother Teresa) to foil the Cardinals' plans and keep their lead to two.
Finding a spark in the 82nd minute, McNeill ended the Eagles' scoring drought, sailing a shot from 20 yards out between the crossbar and extended arm of the BSU goalkeeper to cut the deficit to one, 2-1. With the goal, the Whitby, Ontario native secured her 67th career point, surpassing Katie Lewis (65 points) to end her career in the Green and White in fourth place on the all-time career points list.
With time winding down, the Eagles were unable to find the back of the net once more, falling to Ball State, 2-1.
Abbotts finished the day with five saves, while Eastern finished the game with advantage in shots, 13-10.
Due to circumstances onset by the COVID-19 pandemic, the MAC eliminated conference tournaments in several sports, including women's soccer. As a result, only the top team from each division make the championship game, and with the win, the Cardinals claimed the MAC West representative spot.
Eastern Michigan finished the season with an overall record of 6-3, sweeping the season series against Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, while adding wins over Western Michigan and Toledo.
To stay up to date with all things EMU soccer throughout the offseason, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMUSoccer.
Entering the 10th minute of play, the Eagles saw its first scoring opportunity of the contest, when redshirt senior Sabrina McNeill (Whitby, Ontario-Henry Street) crossed to sophomore Amanda Cripps (Bradford, Ontario-Trinity Catholic) in the box in front of the goalkeeper. However, Cripps' shot sailed just over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.
Ball State (6-2-1, 6-2-1 MAC) opened the scoring for the game in the 19th minute, finding the block deflection on its initial shot in the box to slip it over the line to take a 1-0 lead.
Not a minute later, Eastern attempted to equalize, being awarded a free kick a few yards outside the top of the box. However, junior Kylie Frantz's (Erie, Pa.-Villa Maria Academy) shot was sent straight to the Cardinals' goalkeeper for the save.
In her first action of the game, freshman Lexy Alston (Amherst, Ohio-Marion L. Steele) was able to get a shot off from the top of the box in the 32nd minute, however, the Ball State keeper was able to get in front of it to keep the game at 1-0.
Although the Cardinals threatened with a corner kick opportunity in the 38th minute, the Green and White was able to clear the ball away. Four minutes later, the Eagles earned a corner of their own, but were not able to convert on the opportunity and the game entered the halftime break with the Cardinals in the lead, 1-0.
While able to subside the set piece threats by the Cardinals in the first half, Ball State would convert on its first of the final 45 minutes, as BSU took a 2-0 lead in the 50th minute on a successful corner kick opportunity.
Frantz looked to start the comeback five minutes later, as the Erie, Pa. native launched a shot that ended up on the wrong side of the crossbar by inches. The junior also aided in setting up the next chance for EMU, finding redshirt junior Madeline Olson (Libertyville, Ill.-Libertyville) inside the six-yard box in the 61st minute. Unaided by the slick turf, the ball sped just ahead of Olson for Ball State to make the save.
Looking to add to its lead in the 73rd minute, the Ball State entered the box, but were stopped in consecutive fashion by senior Chelsea Abbotts (Ottawa, Ontario-Mother Teresa) to foil the Cardinals' plans and keep their lead to two.
Finding a spark in the 82nd minute, McNeill ended the Eagles' scoring drought, sailing a shot from 20 yards out between the crossbar and extended arm of the BSU goalkeeper to cut the deficit to one, 2-1. With the goal, the Whitby, Ontario native secured her 67th career point, surpassing Katie Lewis (65 points) to end her career in the Green and White in fourth place on the all-time career points list.
With time winding down, the Eagles were unable to find the back of the net once more, falling to Ball State, 2-1.
Abbotts finished the day with five saves, while Eastern finished the game with advantage in shots, 13-10.
Due to circumstances onset by the COVID-19 pandemic, the MAC eliminated conference tournaments in several sports, including women's soccer. As a result, only the top team from each division make the championship game, and with the win, the Cardinals claimed the MAC West representative spot.
Eastern Michigan finished the season with an overall record of 6-3, sweeping the season series against Central Michigan and Northern Illinois, while adding wins over Western Michigan and Toledo.
To stay up to date with all things EMU soccer throughout the offseason, continue to check EMUEagles.com, or follow the team on Twitter, @EMUSoccer.
Team Stats
EMU
BSU
Goals
1
2
Shots
13
10
Shots on Goal
5
7
Saves
5
4
Corners
6
3
Fouls
12
11
Scoring Plays
Jenna Dombrowski (2)
GOAL by BSU Dombrowski, Jenna.
18:04
Jenna Dombrowski (2)
Assisted By: Lexy Smith , Shelby Kean
GOAL by BSU Dombrowski, Jenna Assist by Smith, Lexy and Kean, Shelby.
49:15
Sabrina McNeill (7)
GOAL by EMU McNeill, Sabrina.
81:38
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
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