After having a losing record, graduating seven seniors and hiring a new coach last season, the Ball State University soccer team expects to have a young, yet much improved team. The team has its share of youth, with 10 freshmen on the roster. It also has a pair of goalkeepers vieing for the starting position after losing All-MAC goalie Rachel Murphy to graduation. This season is the second year that coach Michael Lovett is at the helm of the Cardinals team.
Even after an exhibition match win over Xavier University, there are still many questions in the Ball State camp for the upcoming season.
Freshmen The Ball State University soccer team underwent a makeover this year from last year, losing seven seniors but adding 10 freshmen to the roster. Skylar Chew, Amanda Dreyfus, Nicole Wood, Brigit Reder, Maggie Brown, Coco Cammon, Lindsey Dorroh, Alyssa Ables, Samantha Kieres and Paige Stroinski are the newcomers to the Cardinals this season. All of them saw playing time in the exhibition match against Xavier University on August 17.
"They have the chance to make an impact right away," Lovett said. "We lost seven seniors from last year and they will be able to fill those and contribute."
Wood came in to play the entire second half at goalkeeper and Stroinski scored the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute of the contest to give Ball State the 2-1 victory.
Year two Coach Michael Lovett enters his second season at Ball State University. Last season, his Cardinals finished 9-10-1 overall and were ousted in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament by Central Michigan University. This season, Lovett has a deep but young team. Ten freshmen that have yet to play their first official game of their collegiate careers will be led by the team's three seniors; Megan Ridley, Amy Cleeter and Patti Hoeg. His players have noticed a change in Lovett's attitude this preseason compared to last year.
"Coach Lovett is more laid back this preseason and more confident," Ridley said. "He knows what to expect this season and has his feet under him now."
With the young team, the future is bright for the Cardinals who will have a deep core for seasons to come.
Goalkeepers The Cardinals currently have two goalkeepers on their roster, senior Amy Cleeter and freshman Nicole Wood. Last season, Cleeter played only one game at goalkeeper while now graduated Rachel Murphy started the rest of the season. Wood has yet to play her first official collegiate soccer game and lacks the experience that Cleeter has. Cleeter recorded a scoreless first half in the exhibition match against Xavier and Wood came in after half time and allowed one goal in the 2-1 victory. Lovett has yet to announce who will be the starter or what his plans will be for the two goalkeepers.
The players said they believe whoever works the hardest to earn the spot should be named the starter.
"I think whoever gets to be starter is because they worked the hardest," Ridley said. "We are all anxious to see what happens."
Xavier University The Cardinals' 2-1 victory in the exhibition match against Xavier University was given high praise by the team and Lovett.
"The match was a positive result, everyone got to play," Lovett said. "We got to build our chemistry and got to make personnel changes."
Lovett also said he was able to see the strengths and weaknesses of the team and got to put the team in different formations. The team performed well and a goal from Paige Stroinski showed promise for the freshman this season. Everyone got to play in the game and everyone contributed in some way in the match, Lovett said.
Season Outlook In Lovett's second season as the head coach he will lead a deep and young team. Junior Cortney Coombs said she expects the team to be able to compete for the Mid-American Conference championship and hopefully get into the NCAA tournament. The team is nearly split in half with 10 freshmen and 15 sophomores, juniors and seniors combined. The freshmen will come in right away to fill the holes left from the seven seniors that left from last season which will give the team their depth which could help them in conference play, Ridley said.
The three seniors have also been guiding the freshmen on and off the field to improve the team chemistry.
"Communication is the key," Ridley said. "If we want to be close as a team we have to talk and show the freshmen what Ball State soccer is about."
The team knows that every game in the MAC is a must-win game if they want to compete for the conference championship and hope to reach the NCAA tournament.
"I want us to play hard this season and leave it all out on the field," Amy Cleeter said. "I think if we all play our hardest we can do really well."
The team officially opens their season Aug. 28 against Miami, Florida and on Aug. 30 against Florida Atlantic University. The Cardinals hopes to sweep both teams in their opening weekend and have confidence for the Boilermaker Cup Challenge at Purdue University. The Cardinals start conference play Sept. 25 at Kent State University and their first home conference match is Oct. 2 against Bowling Green State University.
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