Since Michael Lovett was hired as the Ball State University soccer coach in March, he said he has never seen his team with an attitude like it had Friday.
"We just played very scared [Friday], which was unfortunate because I think we are a very good team," the first-year coach said of his team's 3-0 loss against Central Michigan University.
Lovett said he got the sense the Cardinals (4-5, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) were allowing the Chippewas (6-2, 1-0 MAC) to take control of the game about three minutes after the MAC opener began.
Then almost eight minutes into the game, Central Michigan scored the first goal and things continued to unravel for Ball State.
"From then on we were just a step behind and didn't want to be physical and were not our normal selves," Lovett said.
Ball State had more shots than Central Michigan with 15 compared to the Chippewas' 14, and the teams had the same number of corner kicks. Central Michigan had one more save with six compared to the Cardinals' five.
Despite the similarities in the statistics, Central Michigan was the better team Friday as it outperformed, outcoached and outplayed Ball State, Lovett said.
"It was the entire team," he said. "There were a few individuals who did well for us, but this is not golf - this is a team sport."
None of the Ball State players was available for comment after the game.
The worst feeling from the loss was that Ball State did not play competitively, Lovett said. He also said he did not know why the team played scared and timid in the conference opener.
"This is the MAC. It's not time for rebuilding. It's not time for regrouping," Lovett said.
With the loss to begin conference play, Lovett said, Ball State - the two-time defending regular season MAC champion -¡- now faces an uphill battle. The team is not in a hole, though, he said.
"It's not panic time by any means," Lovett said.
The Cardinals get a chance Sunday to rebound from their first conference loss of the season when they play at Eastern Michigan University (6-2-2, 1-0 MAC).
The Eagles began MAC play Friday with a 5-0 win against Miami University. They also are in the midst of a four-game winning streak.
Lovett said he knows Ball State can play well against the tough Eastern Michigan team to get back on track, but at the same time any team in the conference has the ability to "bite" the Cardinals like Central Michigan did.
5 things to take away1. First-year coach Michael Lovett said he has never seen Ball State with the timid attitude it played with Friday.
2. Friday was the first time Ball State has lost a MAC opener since 2000.
3. Friday's loss was the Cardinals' worst in two years. Ball State also lost to Central Michigan 3-0 in 2006.
4. Ball State is 2-8-1 all-time against Central Michigan.
5. The Cardinals now have five losses this season. They have not lost more than five games in a season since 2003.
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