IU stuns Ball State

After gaining a 3-1 first half advantage, it looked as though the IU field hockey team was on its way to winning its first game of the year. But when Ball State forward Heather Weinhold scored with just 16 seconds left in the half, the Hoosiers appeared to be deflated and searching for an emotional boost.\nIU freshman goalie Katie Kanara said the team got their motivation from head coach Amy Robertson's halftime speech.\n "She reminded us that she is sick of it and we're sick of people not thinking we are anybody," Kanara said. "She said to not be surprised with ourselves because we knew that we could play this well."\nHoosier freshman midfielder Kim Nash responded to Robertson's words. Nash netted her second goal of the match just 6:24 into the second half to give the Hoosiers a 4-2 advantage. Fellow freshman midfielder Kayla Bashore assisted on Nash's goal.\n Nash thought the goal boosted the team's confidence.\n"Our bodies were full of adrenaline," she said.\nBall State forward Allison Haynes scored her second goal nine minutes later, but the Cardinals couldn't get the ball past Kanara in the final 19 minutes of the game. Kanara recorded a career high 14 saves in the match. The Hoosiers held off a late barrage of attacks to earn their first victory of the year, 4-3. The win was IU's first Division I win in school history since the sport returned to varsity status last year.\nThe win moves IU to 1-6 on the year and drops Ball State to 4-3. The Cardinals were ranked No. 26 by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association coming into the game.\n Robertson thought the Hoosiers caught Ball State off guard.\n "I think this was the right time for us to play them," Robertson said. "They just beat Miami (OH) 7-0 and coming to play us, seeing that we had lost to Miami 2-1, I think they might have underestimated us. I think they might have been a little shocked when we took it down to there end early and then we never gave up defensively."\n Robertson also admitted that she was a bit surprised, but needed to convince the players that they were good enough to win.\n "I was really proud of the team and the way they handled the pressure," she said. "I felt kind of mentally exhausted (after the game). I had to sit there for a while and go, 'Oh my God, we won.' I told the team, don't be surprised when you win, don't feel bad about it because you earned it and you deserve it."\n Nash's first half goal came 8:13 into the match with an assist from freshman forward Ryan Woolsey. The goal came off the Hoosiers lone penalty corner in the first half. The Cardinals promptly responded as Haynes scored her first goal of the match five minutes later. Hoosier sophomore forward Jaime O'Pray found the back of the net 22:21 into the half and Woolsey added the Hoosiers final goal of the half at the 24:52 mark.\n Woolsey admitted she was a little hesitant before her ball went in the back of the net.\n "I was really excited, because it's always exciting to score," she said. "But I was a little apprehensive because I wasn't supposed to take that shot because it wasn't a high percentage shot. I was so relieved and excited when I saw it go in."\n The victory was extra special for assistant coach Gina Lucido who played her college field hockey at Ball State.\n "I am absolutely elated," Lucido said. "It really never crossed my mind, because I am here looking to build this program and all the goals we have. But I'm an IU girl now. I guess it was a little bittersweet because she (Ball State head coach Jen Halliday) is such a good friend and I respect her talent, but this was a great way for us to get our first win."\n After the game, the team was excited and relieved to earn this season's first victory. Woolsey summed up the team's emotions best.\n "It's awesome to finally win," she said.\n Lucido hopes the team's energy carries on to IU's match-up Sunday in Muncie, Ind. against Central Michigan.\n "We are going to take our momentum and continue it on an upward swing," Lucido said. "As a coaching staff we knew this was coming and that we could win and were capable of winning a lot of games, but know the girls put their money where their mouth is and they did it. Now we just need to keep doing it"