SOCCER: Forward substitute scores to secure tie for ball State
Providing energy off the bench seems like a role sophomore forward Nicole Pembleton thrives in.
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Providing energy off the bench seems like a role sophomore forward Nicole Pembleton thrives in.
Fifth-year senior midfielder Sarah Orisich has withstood three coaching changes and three straight losing seasons in her career at Ball State.
After its loss to IUPUI on Friday, Ball State coach Craig Roberts said his frustration was at an all-time high with his team's lack of finishing.
After each game, coach Craig Roberts takes the Ball State soccer team behind the field hockey field to a small hill surrounded by pine trees to discuss performance in private.
Since Craig Roberts took over as coach before the 2010 season, the Ball State soccer team has emerged as one of the top teams in Indiana.
When forward Aubrey Hauenstein started the Ball State soccer team's preseason workouts, like many other freshmen, she didn't know what to expect.
Throughout Sunday's game against Xavier, Ball State coach Craig Roberts yelled from the sideline to stay wide and push up the field.
Throughout Sunday's game against Xavier, Ball State coach Craig Roberts yelled from the sideline to stay wide and push up the field.
After its loss to Marshall a week ago, the Ball State soccer team made it clear getting pushed around would never happen again.
After not having an exhibition match this preseason, the Ball State soccer team's performance in its first game made it feel like a warmup match.
Grass monsters tripping people randomly, pools of water so deep the ball wouldn't move - Sarah Orisich remembers it well.
The Ball State soccer team passed on its chance to play exhibition games in the preseason, choosing instead to drill and practice certain situations.
The Ball State soccer team's core of 21 returning letter winners and nine seniors have seen about everything the college game has to offer.
For the past two seasons, an inability to finish has derailed expectations for the Ball State soccer team. Missed opportunities on goal and frequent losses in the latter weeks of last season killed the Cardinals' momentum heading into the Mid-American Conference Tournament. As the team prepares to play the first game Friday at Marshall, the team is focused on not only maximizing, but also capitalizing on its chances during games. "We still have the challenge of finishing," coach Craig Roberts said. "But as long as we do, we'll be in good shape. I'm pretty comfortable with the progression we've made and how they adapted to the style [I want them to play]." Since he became coach after the 2009 season, Roberts has tried to implement a possession-heavy system that relies on connecting passes through the midfield to score goals. The transition has been slow, but the team showed glimpses during its 9-9-3 season in 2011. Roberts is now searching for consistency and his players understand where the openings are going to come from. "In the spring, we tried two different formations which weren't our typical 4-4-2," senior defender Brigit Reder said. "This year, you're going to see a lot more possession in our central midfield. Getting our outside backs more involved and going with a strong three-forward top [is the goal]. We want more possession in the midfield to combine and create from there." Roberts said the team showed significant progression in its movement both on and off the ball in the Cardinals' spring campaign. Ball State went 4-1-3, with its only loss coming against Big Ten Conference opponent Purdue. Reder said the improvement stemmed from the team's growing comfortability within the offense. "Things are starting to come together more in the sense that people are starting to understand their individual role," Reder said. "I think this spring, people were able to figure out, 'OK, this is the position I'm going to play and this how I'm going to contribute.' Once those responsibilities were defined for each position and person, I think that's when things started to click a little bit more." Reder said it was an understanding that took a while to form, but when it did, the team's potential grew exponentially. "That took a whole new level of communication between Craig [Roberts] and the team," Reder said. "Once we bridged that gap this spring, that was a huge step forward for our team in being successful." While the freshmen didn't join practice until Aug. 1, Roberts was confident they'd fit right in the mold. Roberts said the newcomers would provide depth and help fill the hole left by the departure of twins Ellie and Hannah Chadick, who decided to transfer closer to home earlier in July.
Ball State soccer coach Craig Roberts announced the hiring of Marci Klebanow as new assistant coach Friday.
Ball State soccer coach Craig Roberts announced the signing of four new recruits for the class of 2012 on Tuesday.
With the aggressiveness and size of back line players like junior defenders Brigit Reder and Skylar Chew, Ball State is usually the team taking advantage of set pieces.
Coming off a 40-shot game, the Ball State soccer team's offense is bound to score more than one goal like they did on Sunday against Ohio.
The Ball State University athletics department now has one head coaching position left to fill after Wednesday's hiring of new Ball State soccer coach Craig Roberts.Director of Athletics Tom Collins said Wednesday afternoon that the field hockey position is still open, but couldn't say much beyond that."We're in the midst of that process right now," Collins said. "There's been some good interest."Ball State had three head coaching spots to fill after the coaches in women's tennis, soccer and field hockey were all fired within a one month period in October and November.Collins filled the tennis spot, formerly held by longtime coach Kathy Bull, with interim coach Amy Behrman Jan. 11. He said he's been happy so far with Behrman's performance, as the women's tennis team currently holds a 3-1 record."I think she's jumped in with both feet, and I think she's got a good rapport with the student-athletes," Collins said. "She's out there working hard with the student-athletes, trying to help them, develop them and putting them in a position where they can be successful, and I think so far, that's worked."Though Behrman officially has the title of interim coach, Collins said his staff is not going to re-evaluate the position until this season's completion.As for the hiring of Roberts, Collins said he was encouraged by a large number of qualified candidates for the job."I thought we had a very good pool of candidates and they all brought something a little bit different," he said. "I think that was great about the search process — you get to see some different people and hear some different ideas."Roberts comes from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a school that on Monday was selected to play the Ball State men's basketball team in the ESPNU BracketBusters game on Feb. 20 at Worthen Arena.Was there any connection between the UT Martin soccer and men's basketball programs that might've helped Roberts land the job at Ball State?That's a negative, according to Collins."It's purely coincidental," he said.
After nearly three months of searching for a new soccer coach, Ball State University announced Wednesday the hiring of Craig Roberts to take over the program. Roberts, who has coached at the University of Tennessee at Martin since 2006, fills the vacancy that has been open since former coach Michael Lovett was fired by Ball State in mid-November.He will just be the program's fourth head coach in its history."I wanted to come here because of the prestigious record Ball State has had over the years," Roberts said. "Ball State has been able to produce quality teams that contend for [Mid-American Conference] championships."Roberts led UT Martin to a combined record of 34-27-12 in four seasons. In the past three seasons, the Skyhawks were 19-3-1 on their home field. In his most recent season, UT Martin went 9-7-0 and won its first Ohio Valley Conference championship in program history.Roberts said he hopes he can bring similar success to the Cardinals."I'm going to bring dedication and commitment to the table," he said. "I want to strive to make Ball State a well respected program academically and athletically."Roberts said he will hold a team meeting Friday where he will meet the team in person for the first time.Sophomore defender Tina Vannatta said she's optimistic that Roberts can bring the program back to a contender in the MAC."He is a very demanding coach but we are really excited and ready for the new change," she said. "I really feel like he can turn this program around and get us back to the top of the MAC. He will be very good for this program."Vannatta said she believes Roberts is the right coach for the program because of his successes at other schools. She also believes his new tactics and focus on team chemistry will help build the team back up from two straight losing seasons.Before his coaching career, Roberts, a native of Kidderminster, England, played as a right and center defensive back for semi-professional and professional teams in England, such as Oxford United, the Kidderminster Harriers, Worcester City and the Wolverhampton Wanderers."I think my playing experiences enhances my ability to relate to my players," Roberts said. "I believe when you try to teach players it has to be based on your own personal experiences. My playing experience allows me to pass what I know onto my players."Ball State will play their spring season as planned, which Roberts believes will help for next season. He wants to introduce his new tactics in the spring and use them in a competitive environment. Roberts said because they will be getting a late start, the spring season will be tailored accordingly."The focus on goal will be improvements everyday, in practice and in games. We have to take one step at a time," Roberts said. "I would be delighted to have success in my first year and contend for a MAC championship, but my hope is that small steps lead to success."