Although the Ball State soccer team has won the past two Mid-American Conference regular-season championships, it's still looking for its first appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Entering this season under first-year coach Michael Lovett, taking the next step and making the NCAA tournament is one of the Cardinals' main goals.
"You don't want to lower standards; that's for sure," Lovett said. "Our team goal is to make the NCAA Tournament."
The former Virginia Tech assistant replaces Michelle Salmon, who became the third coach in MAC history to win back-to-back MAC coach of the year awards last season. Salmon left for Cincinnati after guiding Ball State to its first two regular season MAC championships in program history.
Although the team is going through the coaching change, senior Annie Aiello said she thinks it will help.
"I think it will affect things in a positive way," she said. "When Michelle came, we took a step in a positive way."
The Cardinals are the only team in conference history to win back-to-back regular season titles, but they have not won a tournament championship. Last year Ball State was eliminated from the MAC tournament by Bowling Green State University in the semifinals on penalty kicks.
Ball State has 15 returning players from last year's team, including eight who started at least 16 of the team's 20 games.
Although Lovett said his lineup could change, most of the Cardinals' personnel will remain the same.
"I expect most of the returning starters to be in the starting lineup," he said.
In the goal, the Cardinals return senior Rachael Murphy. Last year Murphy started 19 games and limited opponents to 10 goals during the season, a 0.53 goals-against average per game. Her 62 saves and 0.861 save percentage earned her a spot on the all-MAC second team.
The goalkeeper also recorded a 664-minute streak without allowing a goal and recorded 10 shutouts.
Murphy's goals against average and shutouts were both best in the MAC last year.
Her shutout streak, which included seven full games, was also a Ball State record.
One of the reasons attributed to the Cardinals' defensive success last year was the play of the defenders. While Ball State led the MAC in goals-against average, it was 10th in the conference in saves because of the limited number of shots allowed on goal.
Leading the backs for the Cardinals is senior Jen Vilkoski, who was part of the all-MAC second team last year.
Vilkoski will also be joined in the backfield by sophomores Meg Mellott and Kristina Anderson.
"They got a chance to work with each other in the spring and worked well together," Lovett said about the Cardinals' backfield.
Although Lovett said he is defensive minded, he plans on having Ball State attack the goal more, getting more shots and getting more set plays on offense.
Offensively, the Cardinals return their top four scorers from last year.
Senior forwards Emily Rein and Sarah Schumacker both return after leading the team with 17 and 12 points, respectively. Rein had six goals and five assists, both of which were team bests, while Schumacker had five goals and two assists.
Both forwards started every game last year, and Rein also earned second team all-MAC honors.
Schumacker will have a new role this year, however, as Lovett said he plans to use her as a utility player. The coach said he wants to use her speed and athleticism at several positions.
Rein will also play a different role at times this year. She will play as the center midfielder depending on formations, Lovett said.
Other players, such as Megan Ridley, will also take on a new role this year.
While she is listed as a midfielder, Lovett said Ridley will also see time as a holding forward.
"I'm very interested in these changes," Ridley said. "It's going to be interesting to see players playing in different positions."
The third and fourth leading scorers from last year, midfielders Katelyn Alexander and Aiello, will also be seniors this season.
Alexander had three goals and five assists en route to second team all-MAC honors. Aiello earned first team all-MAC honors and Third Team All-Great Lakes Region honors from Soccerbuzz with five goals last year.
With the team returning so many players and trying to defend its back-to-back championships, Aiello said it will be a fun challenge.
"It will be a little more pressure," she said. "We're going to be the target of other teams."
With the team trying to go for another championship, Lovett said it is making sacrifices such as the new positions and extra conditioning. He said one of the best parts of his new team is its selfless attitude.
"They will to go the extra mile," Lovett said. "They will do the little things it takes. They will make sacrifices."
While some bad luck and bad timing hurt the team the past couple years, Ridley said, the team is ready to take the next step and make the NCAA tournament.
"It's really big; we're setting records and breaking records, and this is the final piece of the puzzle," she said. "We're too good to be sitting at home while another team takes our spot."
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