.png&type=webp)
Bowling Green State University Athletics
Women's Soccer Prepares For 2001 Season
August 22, 2001 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 22, 2001
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - Despite finishing seventh in the Mid-American Conference during the regular season, Bowling Green's women's soccer team jelled at the end of the year and advanced to the MAC tournament championship game before losing.
Second-year head coach Andy Richards is hoping to blend seven incoming freshmen with the returning Falcons to better last season's accomplishments.
"We return quite a strong crew," Richards said. "We are looking for them (the freshmen) to come in and made a contribution. We expect everybody to play their part, whatever year they are in."
The Falcons were 10-10-1 overall and 5-5-1 in the MAC last season. Seeded seventh for the MAC tournament, the Falcons won at Eastern Michigan and then beat Western Michigan in the semifinals at Buffalo.
In the title game, the Falcons played without leading-scorer Jill Conover, out with a broken leg, and senior Ashley Enser, tied for third on the team in total points, who was sidelined with a concussion. Still, BG took Miami to double overtime before losing 1-0. Goalkeeper Erika Flanders made 10 saves to keep the Falcons in the game.
"We were delighted with that. Our preseason goal had just been to get to the post-season tournament," Richards said. "To get to the final ... we were pretty close to beating Miami. In the end, they probably deserved to win it. But still we were in sudden-death overtime.
"It was a good reflection of all the hard work we had put in," he continued. "The reason that we finished so well was because we just hit form at the right time."
Richards is hoping the success from last season will carry over into this fall.
"It's a good way to pick up for this season. It was heart-breaking to lose in double overtime. That will be a motivating factor for us this year," Richards said. "It was a great season finale and it's helped us in so many different ways.
"This year we have to match that or better it."
Seven seniors are gone from last season's team and Richards hopes the current group of underclassmen can replace their leadership. Beth Wechsler, a first-team All-Ohio selection last season, Mandy Smith and Leslie Hepfinger are BG's captains this year.
"We're going to miss those seniors ... leadership is going to be a big issue for us this year," Richards said. "The year that we have invested in our returning players will prove profitable this fall. They know what is expected of them now. They know the type of soccer we want to play. They understand how we are going to practice and how we are going to prepare. Those parts of our program will be better this year.
"We have all learned from our mistakes last year, particularly in preparation between games," he continued. "Our daily goals are to find leadership within the team and to make sure we have mental strength."
Conover finished the season with 21 points, including a team-high six goals. Richards said Conover is running and playing soccer again, but is still not 100 percent.
Also sidelined are Tracy Gleixner, the second-leading scorer last season with 13 points, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the spring, Susan Wallace who is hampered by a foot problem, and Adrienne Grassle.
Included in the seven incoming freshmen are two strikers.
"We are pretty excited about those girls coming in and giving us a bit more variety up front," Richards said. "With the injuries we have, we need one or perhaps both of those girls to come in and contribute straight away."
One plus is the return of Flanders, who finished 10-9-1 overall and had a 1.37 goals-against average. In the last 10 games of the season, Flanders allowed only 10 goals.
"She had a fantastic season, especially the second half of the season, she really came on," Richards said. "Having a goalkeeper of that quality just inspires everyone in front of her, especially the defense. It gives you a base to work from."
Still, Richards wants a team effort.
"We can't produce anything unless everybody plays and everybody practices hard. Everybody is a key player," Richards said.
The Falcons open the season on the road with games at Wisconsin-Green Bay and Michigan State. The first home game is Sept. 7 with Samford. The Falcons host MAC foe and arch-rival Toledo on Sept. 9.
"We have some tough games and the MAC is always competitive, so those games are always a battle," Richards said.
