The women’s soccer team’s preseason came to a close Saturday after a 3-1 loss in an exhibition game against the University of Dayton.
Although the Cardinals suffered the defeat, head coach Ron Rainey said it was a positive performance by his team.
“At the beginning of the year, you have to have a base of work ethic out on the field, and that was there for everybody on the field today,” Rainey said. “I think we ran well out of our formation, and we created some good scoring chances.”
The game, which was played in three 30-minute rounds, started out with strong defensive play from both teams. Neither team scored during the first round of play. Dayton’s Reba Sedlacek, the 2004 Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year, scored the first of her two goals in the second round. The Cardinals tied the game when junior Sarah Maxwell scored a goal, but the team was unable to find the goal again. Dayton, who went 20-2 last season, out-shot Ball State during the game 11-8.
“We definitely have to work on moving off the ball on the attack,” Rainey said.
The Cardinals have nine freshmen who are fighting for playing time this year. Freshman defender Jen Vilkoski and freshman forward Emily Rein started the exhibition game, and Rainey said many freshmen will receive plenty of playing time during the year.
“Our freshman class is a good class, and what we’ll have this year is a lot of people playing 40 to 50 minutes a game,” Rainey said. “I think that’s going to keep our playing level high throughout the season.”
Sophomore forward Sarah Leibel was the only Cardinal to shoot twice at the goal. Rainey said he will challenge Leibel to work on finishing her scoring moves.
“Sarah Leibel did some good running at people, and her challenge is to keep seeing a play a step earlier so when she makes runs she can get to some balls, and her next touch is a shot on goal,” Rainey said.
Junior goalkeeper Alison Becker and sophomore goalkeeper Rachael Murphy split time in front of the goal. Both players collected two saves each.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
