With its offense struggling to score goals, it seems Ball State's soccer team may go only as far as its defense takes them.
Sophomore Brigit Reder along with seniors Tina Vannatta and Danielle Rogers have started and played every minute this season. These three players and sophomore Skylar Chew make up the starting back line.
The defense's steady performance and experience carried the team to a 6-2 start this season. It has been rough sailing since then, however.
On the Cardinals' current four-match losing streak, opponents have scored eight goals — the same number Ball State allowed in its first seven matches.
"The last couple of games have been whole team losses," Vannatta said. "We are correcting our lapses all over the field, and those mistakes won't happen again."
A recent injury to senior defender/midfielder Kristina Anderson puts even more responsibility on the defense. Anderson broke her tibia in Sunday's game against Ohio and will miss significant time.
"She will still be supportive from the sideline," Vannatta said. "She is going to be missed, but we have underclassmen who can step up to the plate and fill her hole."
Sophomore Amanda Dreyfus and freshman Kelsey Shapiro are two players coach Craig Roberts is considering giving time in the defensive third. Roberts said he's looking to use his utility players like Rogers and Chew in the midfield, so the underclassmen will slide into their roles on the defense.
Dreyfus and Shapiro each have in-game experience, but inserting them into a prominent defensive role during Mid-American Conference play could be risky.
"I have trust in all my players," Roberts said. "They have their strengths and weaknesses, but they have both developed considerably."
Perhaps Anderson's biggest role was her ability to give defenders a rest. Heavy minutes and fatigue down the stretch could be a concern in MAC play, but Roberts is confident in his players' conditioning.
"Defensive positioning is more reading and reacting without so much running," Roberts said. "I'm not worried about their conditioning late in the season because the defensive unit isn't always running around like the midfielders do."
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