Bulls Snap Scoreless Streak, Tie Ball State

Friday, October 15

7 pm

6-8-1

Ball State

7-6-2

DET

Buffalo

Bulls Snap Scoreless Streak, Tie Ball State

10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY - Two goals in the first half stopped the team's scoreless streak, but Ball State scored two goals in the second to force a double-overtime tie Friday evening at UB Stadium, 2-2.

Sophomore Natasha Arana helped the Bulls strike first in the game, scoring her team-leading third goal of the season in the 29th minute. Junior defender Angela Nicholas put a free kick on the Ball State goalie, who knocked the high kick down but bobbled it when trying to maintain control. Arana collected the loose ball and tucked it into the right corner for the goal. This came just minutes after a Megan Abman score was nullified due to an offsides penalty.

After the first goal was scored from right in the box, the Bulls went long-distance with its next score. Sophomore Shannon Algoe took a free kick from 45 yards away with the hopes of putting a good ball in the box. Instead, her kick kept sailing all the way over the Cardinal goalie's outstretched hand to put Buffalo up 2-0 in the 43rd minute. The goal was the defender's second of the season.

"Having been in a bit of a goal scoring drought, its good to see the kids come out, battle so hard and create those goal-scoring chances," head coach Michael Thomas said. "We've had the chances to score and its nice for the team to be rewarded and mentally know that if they do the right thing, good things will happen."

Ball State came out aggressive in the second half and scored twice in six minutes early in the second half to pull the score even at two apiece. The Cardinals took 21 shots in the game, but were held back by freshman goalie Ainsley Wheldon's 11 saves.

"We could've folded up when they got that second goal and things could have gotten out of hand, but things were very even after that and I thought we had the best chance in the overtime periods," Thomas said.

With her 11 saves, Wheldon is now just four stops away from cracking the all-time single season list for saves in a season.

The Bulls now move to 1-12-2 on the season and 0-5-2 in MAC play. The team welcomes conference leader Toledo to UB Stadium Sunday at noon in the fourth of the team's five-game home stand.