The word individualism may not be in the vocabulary of Ball State University field hockey player Lindsay Quay.
Despite being a two-time All-Mid-American Conference first team player, and having led the Cardinals in scoring for the past two years, Quay has only goal this season: for her team to win a championship.
"I'm more of a team-originated person and I just want to see the team do well this season," Quay said. "We just have to believe in ourselves because we have the skills and determination and I want my teammates to know that they are full of talent."
Coming into her senior season, Quay has started every single game since her freshman year, and over the four year period has led the Cardinals with 27 goals and 64 points.
Entering this weekend, Quay continues to lead the Cardinals offensively by scoring a team-high four goals in five games She is also leading the conference in shots per game.
"Day in and day out we have ask her to come out and challenge her teammates and she has done that," coach Annette Payne said. "She has been doing a great job for us and comes ready to play every day."
In addition, Quay continues to move up the Ball State all-time scoring list. She needs only more six goals to tie June Lehner for 10th place.
However, for Quay the focus is on the overall team success, and thus these statistics seem to be completely irrelevant to her.
"It's not a big deal to me, I'd just rather see my team win than worry about individual achievements," Quay said. "If I think about it I'm just going to put pressure on myself and I already put enough pressure on myself during the game."
With Quay and the other leaders on the team spearheading this team first charge, the philosophy has seemed to trickle down to every player on the team.
In the Cardinals' first five games, five players have scored at least one goal and eight players have one point or more.
"All of my teammates are team players and that's what makes this year's team so strong," Quay said. "No one cares about what they do individually and are just concerned that they are doing their part on the field to propel this team to greater success."
Although Quay may not be interested in the individual accomplishments, one thing which she is striving for is to win the Cardinals their first MAC title since 1999.
During the past three seasons, Ball State has not finished higher than fourth place and has not made it out of the first round of the MAC Tournament, which includes a double-overtime loss to Miami (OH) University last year in the opening round.
"I would like to win the MAC," Quay said. "We've been there the past few seasons and last year was a heartbreaker. I just want to see this team go as far as their talent can take them and this talent runs deep so I know that we can go far."
For Payne, if the Cardinals are able to be successful in the MAC it will be at least partly because of the team's work ethic and senior leadership, which players like Quay have provided this season.
"Lindsay realizes that she has a big job in front of her and is feeling some of that pressure of being a senior," Payne said. "She understands that in order for us to win the MAC her teammates have to realize that it is a daily commitment and Lindsay knows this and that's why it's her job to get this point across."
Before Ball State can begin its pursuit of a MAC title, the Cardinals will play two of its finally three non-conference games this weekend in Ann Harbor, Mich. The first game will be Friday against Michigan University, with the second game Saturday afternoon against Louisville University.
The Cardinals enter this weekend's games after going 1-4 on five game home-stand to open the season.
Ball State's lone win so far this season was a 2-0 victory against Saint Louis University last Saturday, with Quay scoring the game-winning goal early in the second half.
"We've had our ups and downs but there are bumps on this road," Quay said. "I think though that we are stronger than ever and we keep bouncing back."
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