Entering her junior season, Emily Rein has already established a place in the record books of Ball State University's soccer program.
After two seasons, the forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, is fifth in career goals and points scored with 16 and 37, respectively. Those marks put her on track to surpass former standout Dee Nocero, who had 30 career goals and 76 career points, for the first time in the program's eight-year history.
Though Rein could finish her career as one of the greatest soccer players to ever don a Cardinals' uniform, she said that is not where her focus is.
"I don't care where I stand at the end of four years," Rein said. "It's just going to be a name that nobody will really remember after a while."
Rein has not only built a quality reputation at Ball State, but also in the Mid-American Conference as she is one of the top scorers in the conference. Rein tied for the MAC lead in goals last year with nine and added four assists to finish second in the conference with 22 points.
"She's got a nose for the goal and that is a special quality that every team is looking for," Ball State coach Michelle Salmon said. "We are very fortunate that we have Emily on our team."
Rein's achievements earned her 2006 First Team All-MAC honors. She was one of four Cardinals, along with defender Sarah Maxwell and midfielders Vandi Ogden and Amy Holst, to receive the recognition. However, the Cardinals' lost those three players to graduation making Rein the only returning First Team member.
Salmon said one of the reasons for Rein's success was the solid players around her, which took pressure off the junior forward to produce the team's entire offense.
"Emily was able to get a ton of goals because she has a great supporting cast," Salmon said. "[But that's] not taking anything away from Emily."
Rein will still have a familiar cast around her, as 2006 starting forwards Sarah Leibel and Sarah Schumaker will be back. Rein said she expects playing with the same players will benefit her individual game.
"It is a lot easier to play with the same teammates as last year because they already understand each other's game," Rein said. "If I can't score, I know I can count on my [teammates] to. So I'll do what I can and hopefully goals result from that."
The Cardinals also brought in seven freshmen recruits, which Salmon said will lead to a deeper, more talented bench and more competition for playing time. Although the production Rein has posted appears to make her position safe, she said she likes the idea of having to constantly fight for a starting spot.
"Soccer is such a competitive nature, that's what's so great about it," Rein said. "It is competitive within the team and if it wasn't, I don't think we would be any good."
Rein said she is primarily concerned with working as hard as she can instead of worrying about her individual numbers. As long as the team wins, she said she does not care how many points she scores this season.
"I'm proud [of my accomplishments] but I'm honestly more proud of the team's accomplishments than my own because my accomplishments come from the hard work of my team," Rein said. "There's no way I could do that without my teammates."
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