David Distelhorst/ FOR THE POST Senior forward Summer Hardman slides by Ball State freshman midfielder Angie Walker in Ohio's 1-0 loss Saturday.

To truly appreciate what happened Saturday at Shafer Street Field, you had to have been there.

All talk going into the weekend was about the importance of playing well against Mid-American Conference opponents and of Ball State's string of 55 consecutive victories against the MAC. But once the game started, it was obvious there was more to it than that.

This game was more than Ohio versus Ball State. It was about the underdog looking the bully right in the eye and refusing to be intimidated. It was about pushing yourself when you have nothing left in 90-degree weather.

The Bobcats (4-4 overall, 1-1 in the MAC), which beat Central Michigan 2-1 Friday, played their best game of the season with 19 shots on goal compared with 16 for Ball State (4-4, 2-0), but they lost 1-0. Despite that, it looked as if Ohio was the team that had won the MAC 10 times in the last 15 years.

Receiving strong play from senior goalkeeper Kate Kowalczyk (11 saves), the Bobcat defense held the high-powered Cardinal offense scoreless after the first half.

As well as the Bobcats played though, the Cardinals matched them in every aspect. Ball State moved the ball around the field with great precision.

One particular Cardinal causing problems for the Bobcats was forward Sally Northcroft.

"Sally Northcroft is exceptional," Ohio head coach Mary Milne said. "She unleashed a couple rockets, and I haven't seen the new kids that Kent has, but I really think you're not gonna find many people that are gonna compare to a lot of things that Sally can create."

Their defense held off the Bobcat offense long enough for forward Jaime Sommer to score a penalty shot with 14:40 remaining in the game. The Cardinals wouldn't need any more scoring as they knocked off Ohio 1-0, continuing their dominance of the MAC.

"I think the kids did a good job, rising to the challenge," Milne said. "(Saturday) showed us a lot about ourselves. Our kids gave everything they had; they were team-oriented, and I think we played a good game."

The bottom line is that Ball State isn't accustomed to being challenged.

"We played, I think, the best we've played," senior Marianne Beshara said. "We played for ourselves, and I'm really proud of us. I'm as proud as I can be with the score 1-0."

On Friday, Ohio sophomore forward Jill Appleby scored two goals to lead the Bobcats to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Central Michigan.

Central (3-4, 0-1) jumped on top with a goal from Cheryl Eglin with 26:08 remaining in the second half. Appleby answered with a goal off an assist from Hardman with 17:28 remaining.

With 5:22 left in the game, Appleby put the game away with her fifth goal of the season.