MUNCIE, Ind. ? Fresh off of its first ever Mid-American Conference regular season championship, the Ball State soccer team has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the MAC regular season and the MAC Tournament by league coaches, as announced on Monday afternoon. This is the first time in program history that the Cardinals have been picked as preseason favorite and the first time BSU has been picked higher than fifth (2005) in the preseason rankings.
“This is a tremendous achievement for our program and our university,” second-year head coach Michelle Salmon said. “For our team to have the respect from my colleagues shows how far our program has grown since its inception eight years ago.”
Ball State is returning 17 letterwinners and eight starters from a 13-4-3 team last year. The Cardinals led the MAC in almost every offensive category last season and return all three starting forwards from a team that scored 39 goals in 20 games. Ball State also finished third in the conference in fewest goals allowed at 22.
“We are excited about the upcoming season and the possibilities that lie ahead, but as I have told the team, it doesn't matter where you start but where you finish at the end of the year,” Salmon said.
Junior forward Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills), a First Team All-MAC selection, highlights the returnees as she finished tied for the team lead in 2006 with nine goals and led the team in scoring with 22 points. Senior forward Sarah Leibel (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) and junior forward Sarah Schumacker (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield) each tallied four goals last season to finish tied for third in goals scored.
The Cardinals led the MAC last season with 35 assists and had six players dish out at least four assists apiece. Senior Lindsay Martin (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West), junior Annie Aiello (Granger, Ind./Penn) and Schumacker each finished tied for eighth in the conference with five assists.
Ball State also returns junior goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville), who was one of just three goalkeepers in the MAC to play every second in goal. Murphy also finished tied for second in the conference with seven shutouts and fourth with a 1.05 goals against average.
The Cardinals will open up the 2007 season with an exhibition game on Saturday, Aug. 18 as they host IUPUI at the BSU Soccer Field at 5 p.m.
2007 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Ball State
2. Bowling Green
3. Ohio
4. Miami
5. Kent State
6. Northern Illinois
7. Central Michigan
T8. Eastern Michigan
T8. Toledo
10. Buffalo
11. Akron
12. Western Michigan
Tournament Champion: Ball State
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