Ball State soccer falls to UMass in MACtion additional time heartbreaker

Ball State soccer bought its midweek MACtion slate began with a brutal street loss.

Ball State (3-6, 2-3 MAC) suffered a 31-30 additional time defeat on the street at UMass (5-4, 2-3 MAC), placing their season on the ropes so far as qualifying for a bowl recreation. The Cardinals ended a two-game successful streak and at the moment are 1-12 on the street underneath head coach Mike Uremovich. The Minutemen, in the meantime, snapped a four-game dropping streak and earned their first house win over an FBS opponent in 20 video games.

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Ball State executed a two-minute drill to tie the sport late in regulation and power additional time at 24-24. The Cardinals bought the ball first and scored shortly, however kicker Brody Boehm despatched the additional level large left. UMass scored even faster, and kicker Derek Morris transformed on his additional level to present the Minutemen the victory.

Extra: Ball State soccer coach Mike Uremovich blasts 24-team CFP, US Congress

With six losses on the 12 months, Ball State can’t afford one other loss over its closing three video games to be able to attain the six wins required for bowl eligibility. The Cardinals haven’t made a bowl recreation since 2021 and haven’t received one since 2020.

Listed here are three takeaways from Ball State soccer’s street loss to UMass on MACtion.

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Reemergence of penalties hurts Ball State

Ball State has been one of the penalized groups within the MAC this season with 64 whole flags on the 12 months coming into MACtion, however the Cardinals appeared to have cleaned issues up in that division throughout their current two-game successful streak with six penalties towards Bowling Inexperienced and 7 towards Sacramento State.

The yellow flags reappeared on Wednesday night time, because the Cardinals have been flagged 10 occasions for 95 yards. Probably the most damning rash of penalties got here on UMass’ first landing drive, through which the Minutemen drove 80 yards for a landing and bought 45 of these yards by way of penalties towards the Ball State protection.

The offense did not fare a lot better with the flags, because the Cardinals constantly discovered themselves behind the sticks dealing with third-and-long eventualities. Ball State averaged 9.3 yards to go on third downs, on which they went 6-for-14.

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Protection wins turnover battle however nonetheless leaky

UMass entered this matchup with the perfect turnover margin within the MAC at +7, but it surely was Ball State who received the turnover battle with two key pressured fumbles. Linebacker Mikeah Webster was concerned in each, as he recovered a ball that was stripped by defensive again Gabe Aramboles within the second quarter, then punched out a ball that was recovered by defensive finish Ben Marsh within the third quarter. The Cardinals have been unable to capitalize on the primary turnover, however scored a landing two performs after the second.

Nevertheless, the Cardinals’ protection nonetheless proved prone to giving up explosive performs by means of the air, which UMass quarterback Pop Watson took benefit of on the Minutemen’s scoring drives. He threw a 64-yard landing simply earlier than halftime, then made throws of 46 and 41 yards on back-to-back performs to arrange a 1-yard speeding landing for himself within the third quarter.

Jalen Bonds rising as lead operating again

Second-year operating again Jalen Bonds had the best recreation of his younger Ball State profession, being employed as a workhorse again with 17 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns, plus a team-high 5 receptions for 19 receiving yards. Bonds missed time earlier this season with some accidents however was very efficient towards the Minutemen, averaging a powerful 7.8 yards per carry and ending with the primary 100-yard speeding recreation of his profession.

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Fourth-year operating again TJ Horton was curiously quiet on this one. Ball State’s speeding chief and the MAC’s speeding touchdowns chief coming into the sport, Horton solely noticed 4 carries for 11 yards and two receptions for 17 yards. He did have a pleasant kick return that the offense was unable to capitalize on, however his total lack of touches was odd contemplating his manufacturing this 12 months and no damage designation coming into this recreation.

Contact Cade Hampton by way of e mail at cbhampton@usatodayco.com or on X, previously often called Twitter, @CadeHamp10.

This text initially appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State soccer falls to UMass in MACtion additional time heartbreaker