2008 Woodie Awards
SOCCER: Cardinals strive for MAC Tournament title
Team attempts get regroup after bitter ending to last season
Kyle Shaner
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.
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.
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