Top Stories of 2019-20: Soccer Enjoys A Record-Breaking Season
June 30, 2020 | Soccer
While the 2019-20 year of competition may have been cut short by COVID-19, there were still plenty of accomplishments to celebrate in Ball State Athletics.
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Through much discussion, BallStateSports.com has identified the top storylines of the year. We will unveil each of them one-by-one in the coming days.
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The stories will be revealed in chronological order, starting with the fall season.Â
Rife Leads Cardinals To Record-Breaking Debut Season
Getting to Ball State's campus just before the start of the 2019 season to take over as head coach didn't deter Josh Rife. The new head coach was officially announced June 28 and officially completed his coaching staff on August 5. Just 18 days later, the Cardinals routed Eastern Illinois 6-0 to start a record-breaking season.
Ball State soccer went 15-5 on the year, including a 9-2 mark at home and 9-2 in conference play. The 15 wins tied the program record set by the 2005 Cardinals, who went 15-3-2.
The 2019 Cardinals started the year 5-0 and allowed just one goal in the season's first five matches. BSU captured wins over Marquette, Illinois State and Loyola early and won at perennial conference contender Bowling Green in late October. The Cardinals won five road wins against league competition and placed second in the league in the regular season standings. Rife's side scored twice as many goals as it allowed (34-17) as four players (Nicky Potts, Tristan Stuteville, Sam Kambol and Emily Simmons) earned all-conference honors.
The future is bright for the Cardinals as the 2020 squad is set to return 19 players (including four of the team's top five scorers)Â who saw action during the record-breaking 2019 season.
Other Top Stories from 2019-20
June 28 Â– Men's Golfers Make Opening Statement at Golfweek Event
June 29 – Football Wins Pair Of Rivalry Trophies
Â
Through much discussion, BallStateSports.com has identified the top storylines of the year. We will unveil each of them one-by-one in the coming days.
Â
The stories will be revealed in chronological order, starting with the fall season.Â
Rife Leads Cardinals To Record-Breaking Debut Season
Getting to Ball State's campus just before the start of the 2019 season to take over as head coach didn't deter Josh Rife. The new head coach was officially announced June 28 and officially completed his coaching staff on August 5. Just 18 days later, the Cardinals routed Eastern Illinois 6-0 to start a record-breaking season.
Ball State soccer went 15-5 on the year, including a 9-2 mark at home and 9-2 in conference play. The 15 wins tied the program record set by the 2005 Cardinals, who went 15-3-2.
The 2019 Cardinals started the year 5-0 and allowed just one goal in the season's first five matches. BSU captured wins over Marquette, Illinois State and Loyola early and won at perennial conference contender Bowling Green in late October. The Cardinals won five road wins against league competition and placed second in the league in the regular season standings. Rife's side scored twice as many goals as it allowed (34-17) as four players (Nicky Potts, Tristan Stuteville, Sam Kambol and Emily Simmons) earned all-conference honors.
The future is bright for the Cardinals as the 2020 squad is set to return 19 players (including four of the team's top five scorers)Â who saw action during the record-breaking 2019 season.
Other Top Stories from 2019-20
June 28 Â– Men's Golfers Make Opening Statement at Golfweek Event
June 29 – Football Wins Pair Of Rivalry Trophies
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