Ball State University Athletics
Soccer Prepares For 2008 Season Under Michael Lovett
August 11, 2008 | Soccer
The Ball State soccer program reported to campus this past weekend to begin their preseason workouts in anticipation for the upcoming 2008 season. The Cardinals have stamped out a spot at the top of the Mid-American Conference the past two seasons as the Cardinals became the first team in conference history to win back-to-back outright regular season titles. The Cardinals posted a 13-5-2 record in 2007 and have posted a 26-9-5 record over the past two seasons. First-year head coach Michael Lovett believes his team is hungry to take the program to the next level ? the NCAA Tournament.
“The goal of our program is to make the NCAA Tournament,” Lovett said. “In order to do that, we need to win our conference tournament. We have won the conference's regular season title the past two years, which is a great accomplishment, but we are ready to take the next step to try to prove ourselves among the nation's elite teams.”
Ball State returns a wealth of experience as 15 letterwinners from last season's team return to the field this year. The Cardinals will rely heavily on one of the top senior classes in program history. This year's seven seniors have recorded a 41-12-7 record during their careers in Muncie.
“I have come into a fortunate situation with seven very talented seniors,” Lovett said. “They know nothing less than winning. In their first three years they have won no less than 13 games each season and that is a great accomplishment. They are so hungry to get to the next level and they want to leave their alma mater as the first class to go to the NCAA Tournament.”
The Cardinals boasted one of the country's top defenses last season as they allowed just 13 goals against, which is the lowest total in program history for a single season. Ball State allowed just five goals against in MAC play, tying the fewest goals ever allowed by a MAC team in a 10-plus game season.
“Our style is going to be defense oriented, attack minded soccer,” Lovett said. “If you are not getting scored on, you are not going to lose many games. At the same time, you have to score goals. Our team is focused on doing whatever it takes to find the back of the net. We are concerned more about how the team does than any individual glory.”
The Cardinals will be led up front by senior forward Emily Rein who was a second team All-Mid-American Conference selection last year. She enters the 2008 season third all-time in career points and goals scored in Ball State history. She led the team in scoring last year with 17 points on the strength of six goals and five assists.
Also returning for the Cardinals is senior Sarah Schumacker who was second on the team in scoring at 12 points and sophomore Jacki Eft who started the final two games of the season in place of out-going senior Sarah Leibel.
“Emily and Jacki are going to be key for us this year in getting the attack going,” Lovett said. “They were very good in the spring and molded to the new system I brought in very well. Schumacker and Bailey Decker are also going to be able to contribute at the forward position this season.”
Ball State will once again be strong in the midfield position as they have a wealth of experience there, starting with the central midfielders. Seniors Annie Aiello and Katelyn Alexander return in the central midfield as anchors of the team. Aiello, a first team All-MAC selection, finished tied for second on the team with five goals last season, all from the penalty spot. Second team All-MAC recipient Alexander was tied for the team lead with five assists.
“One of the keys to a strong team is to have a strong central midfield and I believe we have one of the best in the conference,” Lovett said. “We have a defending and attacking central midfielder in Annie and Katelyn. They are two inter-changeable parts as each can play either position. They have a green light to be creative and have a great chemistry together.”
On the outside midfield positions, Lovett and the Cardinals will look to a few familiar faces on the team. Schumacker and junior Megan Ridley enter the season with the inside track to the outside positions and both players bring speed and athletic ability to the field. Also, incoming freshmen Christine Concannon and Sarah Orisich will give the Cardinals much needed depth and versatility in the midfield.
“On the outside, Megan is going to be huge for us and Sarah [Schumacker] will probably play more midfield than forward,” Lovett said. “They give us an added dimension on the outside, with their speed and athletic ability. Christine will help contribute in that area as well, while Sarah [Orisich] will give us depth technically. Also, Patti Hoeg is in the mix and will give us added depth.”
While the Cardinals had the best defense in the MAC last season, Ball State will have to replace two senior members on last year's defense in second team All-MAC member Angie Heyer as well as Lindsay Martin.
“Losing Angie and Lindsay is tough,” Lovett said. “Each year you have losses but you can't replace a player with a player. We hope someone can step in and maintain their level, while forming their own identity. “
The Cardinals will still have their anchor on defense with the return of second team All-MAC selection Jen Vilkoski. Vilkoski started 19 games last season in the middle and was the last line of defense for the Cardinals. Also returning to the back line is sophomore Kristina Anderson who played all 11 MAC games on defense and was named to the MAC's All-Freshman team.
Returning from injury this season is redshirt sophomore Caitlin O'Hara. O'Hara suffered a preseason knee injury last year, but was a starter in the exhibition game. Also in the mix on defense is a pair of sophomores in Meg Mellott and Cortney Coombs, who will both move from the midfield to the defense this fall.
“I think Caitlin, Kristina, Cortney and Meg [Mellott] have stepped up this spring and will be crucial to our success this year,” Lovett said. “We already have an anchor in the back with Jen and we will look to build on that and develop chemistry throughout the back line.”
The Cardinals are strong in net as they return second team All-MAC goalkeeper Rachael Murphy. Murphy posted a MAC-best 10 shutouts on the season, including a school-record seven straight shutouts last fall. She finished the year with a 0.53 goals against average and enters her senior season just one shutout shy of the BSU career shutout record.
Junior goalkeeper Amy Cleeter returns after turning in a strong season as Murphy's backup last year. Also in the mix this season is freshman goalkeeper Alexa Gilbert, who will provide the Cardinals with depth and insurance in net.
“As a former goalkeeper, I feel it is necessary to have depth in the goalkeeping position,” Lovett said. “Rachael has been trained very well and has performed at a high level here at Ball State the past couple of years. I look for her to have a really strong senior year. Amy has really come on in the spring and has proven her worth as a goalkeeper while Alexa coming in as a freshman is so athletic and strong.”
The Cardinals welcome in eight freshmen to this year's team in Alexa Gilbert, Abby Milillo, Alison Ramsey, Adriana Hernandez, Sarah Orisich, Christine Concannon, Jackie Arroyo and Amy Ponder.
“One thing our newcomers bring is depth,” Lovett said. “We always want to bring in quality over quantity. We have brought in eight players that will give us quality depth throughout the lineup ? the type of depth championship teams need throughout the season.”
The 2008 Ball State soccer team will be tested throughout the 19-game schedule as the Cardinals have a tough non-conference slate to go with the always difficult MAC schedule.
“Our administration is for a tough non-conference schedule and this team is up to that challenge,” Lovett said. “Going to play teams like Oklahoma, Air Force and Colorado College while hosting teams like Dayton and SMU will make us ready for the postseason. We don't want to be happy just going on those trips and playing those teams. We want to go and beat those teams, not just compete. We have to believe we can win all of our games on our schedule.”
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