Soccer Preseason Camp: Cardinals Consistently Seeking Excellence

The Ball State soccer team reported for its first practice of the 2017 season Wednesday … The Cardinals will host an exhibition game Aug. 11 against Oakland before welcoming Fort Wayne for the Aug. 18 season opener.

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State soccer program has become a model of consistency.

The Cardinals are riding a streak of five straight winning seasons, including the past four with double-digit wins. But it's over the past two years that BSU has jumped into another stratosphere.

Just look at the numbers from the 2015 and 2016 campaigns …

Identical 14-3-3 records … 19 combined Mid-American Conference wins, tying the most by any team over a two-year period in league history … just one conference loss each season … and, most importantly, back-to-back MAC regular season championships.

So what is the key to such a sustained level of success? Well, like any program, it starts with having high quality players.

"I think the key is the recruits coming in," senior defender Sam Mattlin said. "They don't drop off one bit. The freshmen act like they've been with us forever. They're out there talking, out there playing well and mingling. I think it's definitely because of the recruiting process that we haven't skipped a beat."

Under head coach Craig Roberts, now entering his eighth season, Ball State has consistently featured impact freshmen and transfers. Last season was certainly no exception.

The 2016 team had a unique mix of seasoned veterans and high-quality newcomers. The freshman class included the team's top scorer (Sam Kambol), a defender who started every game for the league's best back line (Yela Ziswiler) and a pair of players who were cogs in the midfield down the stretch (Julia Elvbo and Peighton Cook). Paula Guerrero, another first-year collegiate player despite her sophomore standing, was among the team's best. Not bad for some rookies.

Elvbo, Kambol and Ziswiler were each named to the MAC All-Freshman Team a year ago. For Ziswiler, who came to Muncie all the way from Switzerland unsure of what to expect, the role she and her freshman teammates played was a bit of a pleasant surprise.

"When I came here, I didn't expect to play that much because I knew there were classes ahead of me. I was like, yeah we probably will not start or play that much," Ziswiler said. "I never had team chemistry like this. I came here and everyone was nice, they supported me in everything, and we had such a great season."

But if last year's freshmen were at all surprised at how much they played, their head coach really was not. After all, that's why he recruited them. And he's found the old adage of success breeding success to be true in terms of recruiting top-notch players who are ready to contribute.

"I think it's a testament to the individuals that have played before them who have made this an attractive place to come and play," Roberts said. "The players that come through here know they have an opportunity to enjoy their experience and compete for championships, and that's one of the reasons we're having quality players come through."

This year's incoming class arrives in even larger numbers, looking to help the Cardinals continue their run. Nine freshmen and three transfers suited up for Wednesday's season-opening practice. It may be too early to know how just yet, but if history holds true, that group will play a significant role in the success of this year's team.

They will join together with a group of veterans that has helped to build the program into what it is today and is eager to take it further. And though there will certainly be competition among the team for specific spots, the Cardinals have demonstrated an ability to remain united regardless of those position battles.

"We've definitely become closer as a family (during my career)," Mattlin said. "We're trying to include everyone the best we can and be the best family we can be. If you're family off the field, then you can play together on the field."

The Cardinals also know success is not given just because it has happened before. And it is true this team has some big shoes to fill after the departure of one of the winningest senior classes in program history. But there remains an expectation of excellence from the veterans to the newcomers, along with a readiness to get to work.

"We're aware of the fact we have had success for the last two to three years, but I think the girls always remain grounded," Roberts said. "We don't get too caught up with last year's performance. It's about what we do on a day-to-day basis and what we can implement in the weeks to come."

Ball State University Athletics

Soccer Preseason Camp: Cardinals Consistently Seeking Excellence

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Peighton Cook

Julia Elvbo

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Sam Kambol

Sam Mattlin

Yela Ziswiler

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