Like a page taken directly from "The Wizard of Oz," the Ball State University soccer team firmly believes that there's no place like home.
After four road matches to kick off the regular season, today marks the home opener for the Cardinals.
"We're excited," said coach Michelle Salmon of her team's first home game. "We've been on the road the last two weeks. So any time you get the chance to play at home after two long road trips you're excited about it."
The Cardinals were 1-1-2 on their season-opening road trip, which is a good record considering the extreme circumstances they endured. In nine days, Ball State traveled to Fort Wayne, Illinois and Arizona. Salmon said the miles her team logged will only make the club better down the road.
"One of the things that we wanted to do with the schedule this year is that we wanted to go out on the road," Salmon said. "We wanted to get the experience of being on the road early in the season. I think that further down the road this season it's going to be a positive for us."
That isn't to say the Ball State players aren't happy to be in familiar confines again. Senior defender Sarah Maxwell said things are much easier on a team playing at home compared to one that's on the road.
"I think that we can mentally be prepared all day," Maxwell said. "We're here on the campus all day. [Today's] game is something that we've had a couple of games to prepare for. We just start off the day going to classes like normal, and once classes are done we're in the zone preparing for the game to start."
This will be the final home opener of Maxwell's career. While some athletes might be focusing on that fact, Maxwell said all her emotions are upbeat.
"There is no sadness at all," Maxwell said with a smile. "I'm just really excited for the game. I'm really excited to get back to the way Ball State plays soccer."
Moving from a seasoned veteran to an unproven rookie, this will be freshman Gilly Belfort's first home opener. Behind injured forward Megan Ridley, Belfort has seen the field more than any other first-year player. Aside from the regular jitters that accompany a player before the home opener, Belfort said she just wanted to perform well.
"I just want to play really hard and make an impact," Belfort said. "I want to show the home crowd that I'm a good player, and just make a good impression."
That mindset has led to one of the Cardinals' most decided advantages against their opposition this season: the quality of bench play.
Ball State, a team with talented reserves, has relied on their bench this season and the trend will continue in today's match.
"I just have to be ready at all times," Belfort said. "When I go in [the game] I'm trying to keep the tempo of the game that the starters have established."
Being her first home opener as the caretaker of the Ball State soccer program, Michelle Salmon is anticipating her first chance to play in front of the home crowd.
"I think when the students come out and see us play they'll be very excited and very happy with what they see," Salmon said. "Not only is our team an awesome team in the term of great soccer players, but they're just really good people. When you're following good people, it's easier to get behind them and support them. If we get the fan base out there that I'm hoping we get, I think things will be very positive for this program."
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