With the season opener less than three days away, the Ball State University field hockey team still doesn't know who will be its starting goalie.
The Cardinals will replace last year's goalkeeper, Caroline Lehman, who posted a 2.35 goals-against average in Mid-American Conference games in 2006, third in the league, and played all but 34 minutes during the season. Lehman also recorded three shutouts, including one against Kent State University in the MAC Tournament semi-finals, which propelled the Cardinals to last year's MAC title game. Also, she was twice named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week.
However, coach AnnettePayne said Lehman, who was a freshman last season, won't be the goalkeeper this year.
"She is no longer with us," Payne said.
Payne gave no further comment regarding Lehman's absence from the team.
Lehman's departure leaves sophomore Tiffany Shifflett and freshman Christina Niccum competing for the starting goaltender position.
Shifflett said she considers herself lucky to even be competing for the spot.
"I'm just happy to be able to play at all," Shifflett said. "Last season I had four concussions."
Shifflett was first team all-league five times at Hampton Roads Academy in Newport News, Va., saving 85.3 percent of shots on goal for her high school career. Her team won two conference championships and was state runner-up in 2002. Last season Shifflett allowed one goal in 34 minutes in net.
Niccum attended Royal High School in Simi Valley, Calif., which did not even have a field hockey program. Niccum did play in a club, and led her team to a championship.
Despite having such different field hockey experiences to this point, Niccum said she and Shifflett are close friends.
"She's a great person," Niccum said. "We hang out a lot."
Niccum also said Shifflett has helped her make the transition from being a California native to attending a school in the Midwest.
Shifflett was also complimentary of her opposition.
"Christina and I have a good bond," Shifflett said. "When I'm not in net, I'm her biggest fan."
Neither goalie knows who will start this Saturday's season opener at Villanova University.
"It's really up in the air," Shifflett said. "We both have different strengths and weaknesses. It comes down to how we play practice to practice."
No matter which goalie steps on the field Saturday afternoon at Villanova, both maintained that they will support the other.
"Whoever gets to play, it's great," Niccum says. "Whoever doesn't will be the world's greatest cheerleader."
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