Despite the loss to Ball State Tuesday, Miami enters the last stage of their 2006 campaign with a 4-3 record in conference play. The team sqaures off against Central Michigan this weekend. (Michael Pickering)
The Miami University field hockey team fought hard, but it was not enough to keep the Ball State Cardinals from stealing the victory Tuesday evening at Miami Field Hockey Complex.
Ultimately the RedHawks fell to a 3-1 loss, as a trio of Ball State goals in the second half kept the Cardinals in the lead.
"The Cardinals played a solid game," said Head Coach Jill Reeves. "They created opportunities and capitalized. It was unfortunate on our end. We created opportunities and came up short."
Their contest against BSU marked their final home game of the season as the RedHawks prepare to play the next three games away before heading to the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Athens, Ohio.
The Red and White (7-10 overall, 4-3 MAC) dominated control of the ball throughout the scoreless first half, out shooting BSU 9-5. Goalkeeper Megan Stengel turned away six shots throughout the game, but saw her record drop to 4-9 for the season.
"It's hard to watch a team you know is not as strong as yours win with only four attacking plays," said Miami's lone goal-scorer Danielle Perrecone.
Despite the RedHawks many attempts, it was Ball State's Lindsay Quay who recorded the game's first point when she put the Cardinals on the board at the 41:56 mark, connecting off a rebound from teammate Tara Reed.
Reed then helped BSU jump to a 2-0 lead in the game's 55th minute. Making her way down the left side of the field, Reed found teammate Casey Hunsicker at the top of the circle. Hunsicker flicked the ball into the right corner of the cage over the outstretched arms of Stengel.
With just eight minutes remaining in the second half and Miami determined to get on the board, Perrecone stepped up. Taylor Florence initiated the play as she moved the ball across the circle to Perrecone, who one-timed a slap shot directly into the left side of the goal, the cage vibrating from its overwhelming force. Perrecone's goal marked a career high eight goals for the season.
"I was happy that we scored," Perrecone said. "We just needed that to happen three more times."
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Despite the team's frustration, they continued to play with the same momentum. However, Ball State quickly responded to the 'Hawks pace of play. Just two minutes after Perrecone's goal, BSU capitalized on a penalty corner. Quay took the first shot, as Carla Chiampi picked up a rebound and tapped the ball into the goal to finish off the game. "We need to be able to bring our best game for the full 70 minutes, and this is something I have told the girls before," Reeves said.
It was clear the RedHawks had trouble finishing against BSU, something that the team has constantly been working on.
"Its one skill that we have been practicing all week," Perrecone said. "But, it needs to be within you, it's not something that we can teach anymore."
Reeves put it more concisely.
"There is a win available for both teams," she said. "You need to go snatch it out of someone's hands. It's simply a matter of having that passion."
Ball State's victory over the 'Hawks moved the Cardinals into a first-place tie in the Mid-American Conference with Ohio University.
The RedHawks return to action when they face off against Central Michigan University Saturday. Miami beat the Chippewas 1-0 in the team's first meeting this season.
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