Miami University
Ball State
Ball State Slips Past Miami, 6-5
10/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 5, 2011
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami and Ball State went back-and-forth Wednesday evening, but ultimately the Cardinals came away with a 6-5 victory. Olivia Miller scored two goals for the RedHawks, who fall to 4-10 overall and 2-3 in the Mid-American Conference. Ball State improves to 2-10 overall and 2-3 in the MAC.
The first 15 minutes of the game did not foreshadow the rest of the contest, as the teams played mostly in the midfield. The Cardinals struck first in the 17th minute, when they scored on their first shot of the game, which came on a penalty corner. Miami tied the score at one when Kaitlin Evans was able to score off the rebound of Emily Gruesser's penalty corner shot.
Ball State regained the lead when Tori Widrick converted a penalty stroke in the 32nd minute. The RedHawks answered back only a minute later as Miller put in the rebound of another Gruesser penalty corner shot. The teams went into the break tied at two goals apiece, with the Red and White holding a 10-6 shot advantage.
The Cardinals took a 4-2 lead off two goals early in the second half. Undeterred, Miami answered with two goals of its own to tie the score back up at four. In the 49th minute, Amanda Seeley found Gruesser in the front of the circle. Her long shot beat the goalkeeper to her right and pulled the RedHawks to within one. In the 52nd minute, Seeley shot the ball in herself off of a penalty corner.
The lead did not last long, as Ball State scored on its next penalty corner opportunity in the 55th minute. Running low on time, Miller scored for the second time in the game when she was able to beat the Cardinal goalkeeper from the right corner of the circle. The game appeared to be heading to overtime, but in the 69th minute, a foul in the circle awarded Ball State one final penalty corner attempt. Tarel Teach was able to tip in Sanne Hermans' shot to give the Cardinals the 6-5 win.
Miami outshot Ball State, 22-12 for the game. The RedHawks also had a 10-5 advantage in penalty corners. Gruesser led the way with nine shots, while Seeley and Miller each had three.
Miami returns to action Saturday when it hosts Missouri State at 11 a.m. for its annual Breast Cancer Awareness game. Due to the football game on Saturday, patrons will be charged to park for the RedHawks' field hockey game against Michigan. Fans are asked to park in the West Millett Lot or at the Pump House Lot off Bonham Road. There will be no parking available directly around the Miami Turf Field Complex or Yager Stadium Complex.
