Late Penalty Kick Spoils MAC Opener
MUNCIE, IN - The Mid-American Conference season began for the UB women's soccer team Friday at Ball State in a fashion the hard-luck Bulls (2-6-1, 0-1 MAC)have been all too familiar with this season. After Courtney Mann opened the scoring with her first collegiate goal, the Bulls conceded goals in the 76th and 80th minutes to the Cardinals (4-3-2, 1-0 MAC) and lost 2-1 in the first game of a critical conference slate.
Mann cracked the scoring column with a strike off a rebound in the 56th minute. An attempt from Natalie Jurisevic was denied by the goalie, but Mann would find paydirt with the carom and give the visiting Bulls a 1-0 lead. Ball State would knot it up after a shot from Maimee Morris hit the crossbar and found the boot of her teammate Michelle Blok, who knocked in the equalizer.
The eventual game-winner would come in the 80th minute, when a foul call in the UB box drew a penalty kick for the home side. It would be converted, giving the Cardinals the win.
After posting a record of 9-3 in one-goal games in 2011, the Bulls haven't been able to find the same luck this season and have suffered all six setbacks by a single goal with many coming late in matches.
Sunday brings an even more important match though, as the team opens up divisional play against Miami (OH). The Redhawks are rolling so far this season and at 7-2 with a 1-0 record in the MAC after winning 4-1 over Akron on Friday. First kick is scheduled for 1 pm.
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