MUNCIE, Ind. – A pair of late goals propelled Ball St. to a 2-1 win over The University of Akron women’s soccer team Friday afternoon at BSU Soccer Field.

 

The loss drops the Zips to 5-5-1 and 2-2-1 in Mid-American Conference Play. Ball State improves to 9-4-1 and 4-1-0.

 

Senior Kara Cooper picked up the score for the Zips, while Jeny Wolbert made six saves in goal for Akron. Senior Jordan Clark fired two shots, one on goal.

 

Cooper started the scoring with her first career goal in an Akron uniform in the 22^nd minute. Cooper collected a cross from Jordan Clark at the top left of the penalty area and moved away from goal before cutting back towards the box. Cooper danced around a Ball St. defender to find herself one-on-one with BSU keeper Aubrey Buehler and finished low to Buehler’s left to give Akron the 1-0 lead.

 

The Cardinals pulled even on the 81^st minute when they scored on a free kick. Becca Sutton was able to head home her second score of the season after meeting a Brigit Reder flick on of a Paige Stroinski free kick.

 

Jasmine Moses got the game winner six minutes later when she beat Wolbert to a long cross.

 

“We knew this was going to be a long weekend and that we most likely wouldn’t have our legs since this our second weekend in a row on the road,” UA coach Chris Pfau said. “Add on that when you play a team that plays direct soccer it can also be very tough on your legs. In the second half we just let them serve too many balls into the box and it is hard to defend that for 45 minutes.”

 

The Zips will get the chance to rebound quickly when they play at defending regular season MAC champion Toledo on Sunday.

 

“We have to refocus quickly and get ready for Toledo,” Pfau said.

 

Kickoff at UT’s Scott Park is set for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

 

Zips Notebook: Kara Cooper’s goal was the first of her Akron career, but not the first of her collegiate career. Cooper scored nine career goals at Youngstown State before transferring to UA prior to the 2010 season … The Zips gave up more than one goal for just the second time this season.