With uncertainty at the goalkeeper position due to injury, coach Michelle Salmon said, the Ball State University women's soccer team took all three goalkeepers on this weekend's road trip.
Starting goalkeeper Rachael Murphy is questionable for today's game at Eastern Illinois University and Sunday's game at Indiana University after being kicked in the head Sept. 7, Salmon said.
If Murphy cannot play, sophomore Amy Cleeter will start in goal, Salmon said. Freshman Ashley Williamson also traveled with the team.
"We are traveling with all three of our goalkeepers for obvious reasons," Salmon said.
Though Cleeter made her first collegiate start Sunday, the Cardinals have complete confidence in her, junior Annie Aiello said.
"It's just part of the game and that happens," Aiello said. "[Cleeter] did fine and we were just as confident in her [as Murphy]."
The Cardinals are coming off a road trip to Florida in which they went 1-1 last weekend.
"Our past three games have been good," Aiello said. "So we're trying to build off them."
The Cardinals lost two of their previous three games, but neither loss was by more than one goal.
Ball State lost to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro 1-0 Sunday and to Butler University 2-1 Sept. 2. The Cardinals defeated Florida Atlantic 2-1 Sept. 9.
Salmon said she wants Ball State to be more efficient on set pieces. The Cardinals have been effective at creating opportunities on offense but they have to take advantage of the opportunities, she said.
This season, Ball State has more than doubled its opponents in shots on goal with a 58-29 advantage. The Cardinals have also taken 31 corner kicks compared to 16 from their opponents.
"We need to focus on what we do which is create opportunities and score," Salmon said. "If we do that, we'll get the results that we want."
The key to playing a good game is to score goals, keep the score close, and keep a fast pace, Aiello said.
Individually, Aiello said she wants to try to keep the tempo of the game going. Her goals will vary depending on whether she is playing midfield or defense, she said.
Aiello and junior Katelyn Alexander were named to the Florida Atlantic Kickoff Classic All-Tournament team for their play last weekend.
The Cardinals will use the same strategy they have all season, Salmon said. They will take it one game at a time and control the controllable parts of the game.
"We've been playing great soccer," Salmon said. "So I expect another weekend of Ball State soccer."
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