The Eastern Michigan University soccer team came from behind to defeat Ball State University, 2-1 in overtime, Sunday. With the win, the Eagles improved to 6-2-1.
Junior goalkeeper Megan McCabe recorded seven saves in the game after allowing an early goal.
“She [McCabe] was big time today,” EMU coach Scott Hall said. “She made a big save at Miami, too that kept us in the game as it was 1-0 at the time. She makes them [saves] look a little easier. Some people call her average. I’ve heard a lot of coaches call her average, and she is better than average. Her positioning is very good. I can’t say enough about her.”
BSU jumped out to an early lead in the 7th minute after Gabby Veldman crossed the ball and Jasmine Moses placed the ball into the back of the net off of an initial deflection.
Both teams missed a number of offensive opportunities early in the first half.
Senior forward Bianca Rossi tied the game with some fancy footwork in the 35th minute when redshirt senior midfielder Chelsea Oddan fed her the ball and Rossi did the rest.
The score was tied 1-1 after 45 minutes of play.
Hall and his team made some adjustments during the break.
“We changed our formation, and changed the way we played because they were cutting through our mid-field like butter,” he said. “We need to push their players out wide. We dropped Chelsie Oddan back with Molli Krick and I thought they played great together.”
The second half started out rough for the EMU defense, as it allowed three scoring chances in a row right off the bat. BSU’s first chance was killed by a handball. Their second scoring chance was grabbed in the air by McCabe and the third was sent over the net.
EMU’s first scoring chance of the second half was sent wide of the net. The goal kick by BSU turns into another scoring chance for the Cardinals, as they send a long ball for their forward. McCabe left her 18 to come out and break the opportunity up.
Late in the half, still tied 1-1, BSU had an opportunity to steal the game only to have it sail wide of the net, forcing overtime.
EMU seemed to start the overtime period on the defensive, as BSU gained an early opportunity to end the game, but McCabe made a diving save to keep overtime going.
In the 94th minute, Rossi scored her second goal of the afternoon, sending the Cardinals home.
After the game, Rossi talked about scoring both goals.
“It felt amazing,” she said. “It’s a great feeling. Scoring the tying goal was unbelievable and scoring the winning goal was unimaginable. It was a very good feeling.”
Looking ahead
The Eagles will be traveling to Akron, Ohio in advance of the football team, to take on the Akron University Zips, Friday.
The Zips are 4-5-1 and are coming off a 3-0 loss at Kent State University, Sunday.
Four Akron players are tied for the team lead in goals – Karina Atkinson, Lani Smith, Amy Dean and Sarah Sivic – with two goals each.
The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
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