After setting the Mid-American Conference record for most ties in a season and losing in a tiebreaker in the MAC tournament, women's soccer coach Ron Rainey hopes he will never see a tied game again.
"It was just one of those strange things where a lot of games ended in ties," Rainey said. "We had situations last year where we were up a goal, and we weren't able to convert."
The Cardinals finished the 2004 season at fifth place in the MAC with a 10-3-7 record. They made the MAC tournament for the fourth straight year, but they fell to Western Michigan 4-3 on penalty kicks.
The team returns eight starters from last year's squad. Only three starters were lost to graduation; however, two of them were the team's top offensive scoring threats. All-MAC First Team selection Dee Nocero, Ball State's all-time leading scorer in points and goals, and Kate Nadalin, the 2004 team leader in assists, will leave large holes in the Cardinals' offense. Players who haven't had the chance to play will now be asked to step in and contribute, Rainey said.
"We have to ask ourselves: Is our program going to sustain itself? And we have to say, 'This is how Ball State attacks,'" Rainey said. "I think we have the personalities and players to step in, and we have young players who want the opportunity."
Senior Lindsay Wiltshire and junior Amy Holst will be asked to carry the offensive load for the Cardinals. They finished as the team's fourth and third, respectively, in points last season.
On defense, Ball State returns a core group of solid players that led the MAC in fewest goals allowed (16). Top players include senior Krista Mitts and junior Sarah Maxwell. Also returning is sophomore Betsy Wilcek, who was named to the All-MAC Freshman Team.
Junior Alison Becker returns as the team's goal keeper. She finished last season top in the MAC in shutouts (9) and goals against average (.74).
The team brings in a large freshman recruiting class. Nine freshmen will join the team, and Rainey expects some of them to get consistent playing time.
"There's going to be some players where Eileen [Narcotta] and I will say she's going to do some nice things for us," Rainey said. "I think it's a solid class."
The Cardinals will play a road-heavy MAC schedule this year. For the first time, the team will play seven road games and only four home games in conference play.
"We have to become road warriors as we go through the league," Rainey said.
In each of the past two seasons, Ball State has upset a top Big 10 program. Last season, the Cards beat Indiana at Bloomington, and in 2003, they defeated Purdue -- both times with a 1-0 final score. This year, however, the Cardinals didn't schedule any Big 10 schools, but Rainey said the teams they play in their nonconference schedule are similar teams to their conference opponents.
Competition in the MAC continues to get stronger every year for Ball State because it is becoming a top program. The team will have to continue to get better and play harder in order to stay near the top of the conference, Rainey said.
"I think games get a little bit harder every year because our program has got to the point where playing Ball State in 2005 is a lot different than when teams prepared for us in 1999," Rainey said. "Our players have to understand that they have to be at their best against each opponent to get the win."
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