The loss of Ball State University's all-time leading scorer could have a major effect on the women's soccer squad this season.
Dee Nocero, who graduated last spring, finished her career as the team record holder in goals scored (28) and career points (76) and was the top forward on the team, which went 10-3-7 last year. She finished with a team-high six goals and 16 points and was named to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team for the third year in a row, as well as the Academic All-MAC team for her junior and senior seasons.
Senior Lindsay Wiltshire, a forward and team captain this year, said that recovering from the loss of Nocero will be difficult but not impossible.
"She was a very strong player, and Dee's speed was amazing," Wiltshire said. "I think we could be better this year, though, with a possible new formation and with the way we're wanting to play."
To compensate for the loss of Nocero and fellow forward Kate Nadalin, the team's leader in assists last year, the Cardinals could try out a new formation that puts three players at forward instead of two.
Many players with little experience will be playing the forward position. Wiltshire is the only forward who played in all 20 games last year. Sophomore Sarah Leibel was closest to Wiltshire, playing in 11 games.
"We may be switching to putting three people at top just because we don't necessarily have that speed anymore," Wiltshire said.
Another returning player who has experience at scoring goals is junior midfielder Amy Holst. Wiltshire and Holst scored four goals each last season, and head coach Ron Rainey said both offer different techniques to scoring.
"Lindsay [Wiltshire] can strike a ball and is technically very clean," Rainey said. "Amy [Holst] is one of those players who if you add up the distance of all her shots, she might score six goals, and it might be only about 18 yards.
"I think we'll lean heavily on Lindsay [Wiltshire] and Amy [Holst] for leadership."
The defensive side of the team returns many top players from last year's team, which led the MAC in shutouts (9) and fewest goals allowed (16). Because the Cardinals were so successful on offense last year, the team's defense helped keep the ball out of the backfield and away from the opposing team's offense. Senior captain and defensive starter Krista Mitts said defense begins with offense.
"Our defense starts with our forwards," Mitts said. "If they are on the attack, it keeps the ball on the other side of the field, and that's great defense."
The forwards will be the youngest group on the team. Nine freshmen will be playing this year, and four of them are forwards. With so many new players on the squad, practice and early season nonconference games are the critical time for getting those players experience before MAC play begins. The leaders on the team will have to help the freshmen learn as quickly as possible.
"It's exciting because with nine people, there are going to be good girls in this group," Mitts said. "We're just waiting to see who is going to fill gaps on the team."
Because the players in some areas are young, Mitts said she feels this will be a good year to sneak up on other MAC teams in conference games and tournament play. The team is looking to capture its first MAC championship and advance to the NCAA tournament.
"Nobody is going to be expecting us because we have nine freshmen," Mitts said. "I think this would be a great year to take the title."
After four straight trips and only one win in the MAC tournament, the returning players' desire to win is stronger than ever.
"We had a disappointing loss in the tournament," Whiltshire said. "We need to focus on peaking at the right time and doing well in the postseason, and I think we will."
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