Correction: a previous version of this article misidentified the Chripies as the ESPYs. It also stated that former Cardinal Lorina White was drafted into the National Women's Soccer League; White currently trains with the Orlando Pride but was not selected in the 2017 NWSL Draft.
It is not every day Ball State soccer has the opportunity to host a national team.
Today, it hosted the Puerto Rican national team during its multitude of matches in the United States. The Cardinals lost 5-1.
On Thursday, Puerto Rico went to Notre Dame and lost 12-0 and next week it will travel to New York to play St. Bonaventure on Monday.
Head coach Craig Roberts also works with the Puerto Rican national team as an assistant coach.
Puerto Rican National Team College Schedule
April 20: Notre Dame 12, Puerto Rico 0
April 22: Ball State 1, Puerto Rico 5
April 24: @ St. Bonaventure - score TBA
Roberts is not the only connection between Ball State and Puerto Rico.
Recent Chirpies Female Athlete of the Year winner, senior Lorina White, was playing center back for the Puerto Rican team.
Instead of wearing number 4 in the Cardinal white, red and black, she was in a number 9 uniform with red, white and blue.
The jersey was not the only change — White had two goals out of the five that were scored for the Puerto Rican team.
“She is an outstanding player and she obviously makes a difference for every team that she plays on,” Roberts said. “It was nice to see her have joy, but it’s not always good when you’re playing against her.”
White scored two goals back to back. Her first goal was off of a half volley inside the 18m box. Her second goal was minutes later, a header off of a corner kick.
Sophomore Sam Kambol scored the only goal for the Cardinals with an easy pass to the back of the net.
Kambol said White is a tremendous player and a stud on the soccer field.
“We were joking in practice throughout the week that we were going to beat her, but then she came in and scored one goal and then right away scored another," Kambol said. "I think she gained a lot of confidence for the rest of the game. She is an amazing player and I wish her nothing but the best moving forward.”
White is training with the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League, a team also home to United States women’s national team star Alex Morgan. Orlando is also signing FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta from Brazil.
The contest concluded the final game of the spring season.
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