Box Score (.pdf)
MUNCIE, Ind.- WKU controlled possession for most of the game, taking 25 shots, and posted a 3-0 win over Xavier in the Ball State Tournament at the Briner Sports Complex on the Ball State University campus.
"I really liked the way we played today," said head coach Jason Neidell. "Our girls came out and had two goals for the game today. One was to win the possession battle and the other was to win 50/50 battle. I thought we did a terrific job possessing the ball today. It was hot out here today, playing on the turf, and by possessing the ball like we did today, we wore them down."
It was a happy homecoming for sophomore Allie Auscherman (Carmel, Ind.) as she scored the game-winning goal in the 30th minute for the Lady Toppers. Auscherman is one of five players from the Hoosier State on the 2012 roster.
Auscherman, streaking towards the goal from the left side, received a pass from Amanda Buechel (Cincinnati, Ohio) via Chrissy Tchoula (Noblesville, Ind.) to score the game's opening goal in the 29th minute. The play was setup by a beautiful cross from Kelsey Burnette (Bowling Green, Ky.). It marked Auscherman's second career goal and first since Oct. 23, 2011 when she scored the game winner in a 1-0 win over South Alabama in the 80th minute.
The goal came after the Lady Toppers had already taken eight early shots, but had gotten just one on goal in the game's first 29 minutes. The high number of shots would become a trend throughout the game for the Lady Toppers as they ended the game with 25 shots, including 13 on goal.
Senior Ali Stakhle (Naperville, Ill.) scored in the 50th minute on a penalty kick after Buechel was taken down in the box trying to make a move towards the goal.
Freshman Lauren Moats (Nixa, Mo.) added her second goal of the season in the 83rd minute when she got loose on the right wing and dribbled in, finally finding the bottom right corner of the net.
Playing against a team from her hometown, freshman Nikki Hall (Cincinnati, Ohio) played the first complete game of her career in goal for the Lady Toppers, posting one save in the shutout as the Lady Toppers defense contributed its second shutout of the season.
The win marked the 130th for Neidell as coach of the Lady Toppers.
WKU returns to the field on Sunday when if faces off against in-state rival Northern Kentucky at 12:00 ET/1:00pm CT in the team's final game in the Ball State Tournament. It marks the first meeting between the teams as NKU is in its first season as a member of NCAA Division I.
WKU returns home on Sept. 9 when the Lady Toppers host Vanderbilt at 1:00pm. Single game tickets are available through the WKU Ticket Office by calling 270-745-5222 or 1-800-5-BIG-RED. Tickets can also be ordered online at www.wkusports.com. In addition, a game ticket package with nine vouchers that can be used for any game during the 2012 season are available for just $25 through the ticket office.
For complete coverage of WKU Soccer, visit the official website of WKU Athletics at www.wkusports.com.
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