MUNCIE, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team soared over Ball State on Thursday as the Huskies earned a 3-1 win over the Cardinals.
"I thought we started well," NIU head coach
Michael O'Neill said. "We controlled play early and deservedly went up early. Ball State responded well after that goal, but our defensive mindset was one of the best that I've seen. The back line was very good as a unit, including Jordyn (Saddler) who came on for Lea (Gruennagel). They had possession but we kept their chances limited."
The game marked the 85
th contest played by
Abby Zipse (Batavia, Ill./ Batavia) which marked a record for the Huskies. Zipse eclipsed the previous mark of 84 games played by NIU Hall of Famer Debbie Huston from 1994-1998. Zipse also scored her second goal in as many games.
"That goal last week against EMU was relief," O'Neill said. "She has been thinking about getting that first goal this season, especially with her playing higher up the field this year. I knew as a coach once she scored one there would probably be more around the corner. She didn't hesitate today with that shot, what a strike and what a finish."
The Huskies opened the scoring in the 18
th minute as
Aubrey Robertson (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) headed a corner kick from
Lea Gruennagel (Homburg, Germany/Saginaw Valley State) into the back corner of the net.
NIU (9-4-4, 3-3-3 MAC) then extended its lead in the 47
th minute as
Tyra King (Menifee, Calif./Matea Valley) got the ball past the Cardinals keeper from the top left-hand side of the box. King's goal was set up by
Kelsi McLaughlin (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) who stole the ball and found King just outside the box.
Zipse pushed NIU ahead 3-0 in the 69
th minute. McLaughlin had possession near the top of the box but a Cardinal defender was able to knock the ball away. As the ball rolled out of the box, Zipse ran up and ripped the ball into the top right corner of the goal.
Ary Purifoy (Machesney Park, Ill./Oklahoma State) earned the win after she made five saves and allowed one goal with nine minutes left in the game. The loss went to the Cardinals goalkeeper Grace Konopatzki who made five saves and allowed three goals.
Both teams had 12 shots in the game, NIU recorded eight on net while Ball State (7-7-2, 2-5-2 MAC) had six.
The teams went back-and-forth in the opening 15 minutes of the match as Purifoy made a couple of saves and the Huskies put pressure on the Cardinals net.
NIU forced a corner in the 16
th minute which Gruenngel took and led to Robertson's opening goal.
The Huskies and Cardinals both had six shots and three shots on goal in the first half.
In the second half, the Huskies wasted no time, as McLaughlin made the most of a dangerous Ball State pass, stealing the ball near midfield before finding King near the box for the second goal of the game.
Zipse pushed that lead to 3-0 from outside of the box with her rocket into the top of the net.
Ball State pulled one back in the 81
st minute with a goal from Jordyn Jeffers.
NIU will be back in action for Senior Day against Toledo on Sunday, October 27. The Huskies and Rockets will kick off at 1 p.m. and Senior Day ceremonies are set to begin at 11:55 a.m.
"It's going to be an emotional day," O'Neill said. "We will be celebrating seven seniors, great players and great human beings. There will be some tears and smiles, and we will reminisce. But there is nothing more we want than to get three points and keep pushing toward the MAC tournament."
-- NIU --
