DEKALB, Ill. – Melissa Diceman scored the lone goal in the 84th minute to give Ball State a 1-0 win over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Thursday afternoon (April 8) at the NIU Soccer Complex. 

"It was a hard-fought battle from start-to-finish on both sides," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "I was proud of our group today, the way they came out, the way we made in-game adjustments, battled for each other and stuck to the game plan. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way today."

The first time either goalkeeper was called into action came in the 19th minute as Diceman had a pair of chances for the Cardinals. After an initial shot was blocked, her second attempt was touched away by NIU junior goalkeeper Julia Lentz (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) as the match remained scoreless.

Just past the half-hour mark, Lentz made another stop, catching on a long-distance shot from Shelby Kean as NIU and Ball State went into halftime still looking for an opening goal. 

After halftime, Diceman had another opportunity just before the hour mark with a shot from a tight angle that was fought off by Lentz. 

Eight minutes later, NIU created a chance as freshman Kierah Meier (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) came down the right side and forced a save from Ball State goalkeeper Maitane Bravo in the 66th minute. 

As the game entered the final 10 minutes of regulation, Ball State forced another save from Lentz as Sammi Corcoran fired a rising shot from well outside the box that was tipped over the crossbar by the NIU goalkeeper. 

Minutes later, the Cardinals finally broke the deadlock as Tatiana Mason's corner was headed on by Grace Alsop toward the back post inside the six-yard box. Diceman was first to pounce on the second ball and score from close range to give Ball State a 1-0 lead with just six minutes to play. 

The Huskies had one more outstanding opportunity to pull level off a corner kick in the 88th minute as senior Amanda Czerniak (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) flicked a header at goal from the near post, but her header cannoned back off the crossbar as Ball State held on for the 1-0 victory. 

NIU will close the season on Sunday afternoon, April 11, when it travels to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., to face Central Michigan. Kickoff against the Chippewas is scheduled for 12 p.m.