Illinois is not a team that eases into the flow of a game.
They jump on opponents from the opening kick with aggressive, yet skilled play that suffocates defenses and yields goals. Through two games this season, the Fighting Illini have scored 10 goals.
Matching Illinois' intensity to start Friday's game is something Ball State coach Craig Roberts preached to his players all week.
"With our team, we are looking for consistency in both halves," Roberts said. "It comes down to experience. We have a lot of ability and talent, but we need to get into a groove quickly. Our players can't take time to feel out the game like they did in high school. There is a higher expectation in Division I soccer."
This is especially true when going up against some of the best competition in all of Division I soccer. After two opening weekend wins against Gonzaga and Toledo, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America ranked Illinois the 19th best team in the nation.
Fighting Illini players have also received other individual accolades. Sophomore midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo was named to Soccer America's Team of the Week for her play over the weekend. She has also won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week this year. DiBernardo leads Illinois in goals with four this season.
Illinois' prolific goal scoring is due mostly to its style of play. Roberts said Ball State plans to match that with some tactics of their own.
"We've got two options to play, but we're still tweaking our formation," Roberts said. "This is the first true soccer team we've played in the sense with their technical ability, they like to play the ball on the ground. They are more direct than other teams. We will match up with their ball-to-feet style and play that way."
In Ball State's loss against Western Kentucky, shot opportunities were created, but the team failed to put them in the back of the net. Redshirt junior midfielder Sarah Orisich said whatever formation the team comes out in, they will have to convert their chances.
"I think we'll probably come out in a 3-4-3(three defenders, four midfielders, three forwards) or a 4-4-2, which we've done in the past," Orisich said. "I think the 3-4-3 will give us a lot more opportunities to go forward and get some shots. So, that may be something we might have to do to give their back line more pressure."
Pressure is something that will be on Ball State from the opening whistle Friday. It is the Cardinals first home game of the season and first regular season game ever played on the new Briner Sports Complex field turf.
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