Early August tends to pose questions for college soccer programs. This year Ball State has more than its fair share.
Seeing a double-digit roster overturn, coach Craig Roberts is still mixing and matching, trying to find his optimum lineup with only three days until the Cardinals’ first match.
“There are still several [starting] spots to be won,” Roberts said. “We still have some time before our first game, and we will see how things fall into place.”
The intrateam competition is stiff. The freshmen and transfers have been able to make an immediate impact.
“The freshmen showed up in shape and ready to go,” junior forward Nicole Pembleton said. “You can’t tell who is new, which is good.”
Last Friday’s exhibition match against Butler was supposed to answer some of those questions. Even in a loss, Roberts said that there were more positives to take from the match.
“Obviously the result isn’t what we wanted, but I saw really good things from a lot of players.” Roberts said.
A few fresh faces validated their practice performances against real opponents. In Ball State’s 2-3 loss, the Cardinals’ goals came from sophomore midfielder Erin Greeley in her second appearance and from freshman forward Kelsey Wendlandt.
“I think that will be a common trend this season,” Roberts said. “We have a lot of good players, so the headlines for this team will be frequently changing.”
As a whole Roberts thinks his team is athletically superior to where they were a year ago. Last season, as leading goal-scorer, Pembleton won nearly every sprint drill. Now Roberts said five players have been beating her consistently.
Even the goalkeeper position is still up for grabs. Senior Layne Schramm and freshman Brooke Dennis are contending for the spot between the pipes.
Both played a half in the exhibition match against Butler. Schramm in the first allowed one goal and had three saves; Dennis in the second allowed two goals and had two saves.
Roberts said that he likes certain aspects of each keepers’ game — Schramm’s experience and Brooke’s athleticism — and both are apt goalkeepers.
Even with all the intrateam competition, Roberts said that he is impressed with the team’s chemistry in the infant stages of the season.
“The girls are really coming together,” Roberts said. “The chemistry is good, there is a real flow in their game.”
