Bowling Green State University
BALL STATE
Falcons Lose Heartbreaker, 3-2, at Ball State
October 19, 2007 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 19, 2007
MUNCIE, Ind. - League-leading Ball State University scored late in the second overtime period to hand the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team a 3-2 defeat Friday afternoon (Oct. 19). The Mid-American Conference match was held at the Ball State Soccer Field.
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 9-4-1 overall and 6-0-1 in MAC action. The Falcons, the first team to score against BSU in seven conference matches, fall to 5-9-1 and 2-5-0, respectively.
"Today's result was a very cruel one," said Falcon head coach Andy Richards. "The team did a remarkable job of competing. We were a good match for Ball State, and at times were better than them today.
"Unfortunately, despite all of our best efforts, we couldn't get the result we wanted. It really is a cruel outcome, because the team did everything we asked and more."
Sophomores Samantha Bland and Stacey Lucas scored the Falcons' goals on the day, with Lucas adding an assist on Bland's marker. Redshirt freshman Alexa Arsenault made a career-high 11 saves.
For the Cardinals, Emily Rein scored two goals, including the game winner with just 1:43 left in the second OT period. Rein also had an assist on Katelyn Alexander's goal.
The Falcons struck first on the afternoon, breaking BSU's lengthy shutout streak. A pass by Lucas found Bland alone behind the Cards' defense. Bland, all alone, neatly placed her shot past BSU goalkeeper Rachael Murphy to give the Brown and Orange a 1-0 lead at the 9:48 mark.
The goal was the first allowed by the Cardinals in MAC play this season. BSU had not been scored upon since a Sept. 16 game vs. Indiana. Bland's goal snapped BSU's shutout streak at 664:28, the longest in program history and the second longest all-time by a MAC team.
BSU nearly scored the equalizer less than a minute later, as Alexander's free kick was thwarted by a Falcon defender who cleared the ball off of the end line.
Falcon senior Racheal Ross nearly gave the Brown and Orange a two-goal lead in the 37th minute, but Murphy was able to make a diving save on the shot from 10 yards out. BGSU took the 1-0 lead into the half.
The Cardinals, the defending MAC regular-season champions and the preseason pick to win the '07 title in the coaches poll, got goals from Alexander and Rein less than five minutes apart to take a 2-1 lead just 8:25 into the second half.
The Falcons, however, would respond, as Lucas tied the score just eight minutes after BSU's second goal. Lucas got behind the defense after a BSU miscue and streaked in all alone. She made no mistake on her breakaway, placing her shot past the sprawling Murphy and into the lower corner to tie the game at the 61:06 mark.
Neither team could score over the remainder of the second half or the first overtime. In that initial OT period, Arsenault made four saves, including a stop on a shot by a wide-open Sarah Leibel in the 93rd minute.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Kobe got BG's lone shot of the overtime sessions, in the final minute of the first OT, but Murphy was able to make the save at close range.
In the second overtime, Leibel rifled a shot that Arsenault was able to knock down in the 107th minute. But, Rein was able to notch the game winner just over a minute later.
Ball State was credited with 23 shots to the Falcons' seven, and the Cards had a 15-4 advantage in shots on goal. Murphy had two stops in the match.
"With four games remaining, we still have an opportunity to make the postseason tournament," said Richards. "Hopefully, we will get on the right end of a result in the very near future.
"The important thing is that we need to continue to play with the same heart and composure as we did today. I am very proud of the team, and could not have asked for more from any of them today."
The Falcons conclude a four-game road swing with a Sunday (Oct. 21) match at Miami University.
FALCON NOTES
* Sophomore Stacey Lucas now has five goals and 12 points on the season ... no Falcon had more than three goals or 10 points during all of last year.
* Believe it or not, Friday's match marks BGSU's first-ever road overtime loss ... the Falcons are now 6-1-8 in road matches all-time ... BG is 14-14-17 all-time in OT matches (6-11-8 in home OT matches and 2-2-1 in neutral-site overtime affairs).
