Bowling Green State University Athletics
Women's Soccer Downs Detroit, 2-1
August 26, 2001 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 26, 2001
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Jill Conover and Kristy Coppes had a goal apiece as the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team posted a 2-1 exhibition victory over the University of Detroit Mercy Sunday afternoon (Aug. 26). The match was held at BGSU's Cochrane Field.
The contest marked the lone exhibition of the season for coach Andy Richards and the Falcons. BGSU opens the regular season with a pair of road matches.
Conover got the Falcons on the scoreboard first. The junior, less than a minute after creating a scoring chance, stole an errant Detroit pass at the top of the penalty box. She went in alone and fired the ball past UDM goalkeeper Alisson Dube into the lower right corner of the net. The unassisted goal came at the 27:41 mark.
The Titans equalized midway through the second half, as Judith Atwood scored on a long shot over the head of BGSU junior 'keeper Erika Flanders. Stacey Westbrook drew the lone assist on the play at 69:05.
Coppes, a freshman, scored the match-winning goal at 78:26. Fellow freshman Jessica Sadler started the play with a long forward pass to Conover. Conover's pass found Coppes, who used a nifty move to deke Dube before rolling the ball into the empty net.
The Titans, who outshot the Falcons by a 20-11 margin on the day, had several more chances, but Flanders was up to the task. Flanders made 11 saves to earn the win.
Dube had five stops in net for the visitors, who held a 12-7 advantage in shots on goal.
Overall, Richards was pleased with his team's effort.
"We played well," said the second-year head coach. "There are still a lot of things that we need to work on, but we did play well.
"We basically had two goals for this game: to try to keep it a tight contest, and to beat a team that we have never beaten in the history of the program. We met both of those goals.
"If we (the coaches) set two goals and (the team) achieves them each match, I have to be happy."
Detroit had beaten the Falcons in each of three previous series meetings, all coming in regular-season play, and the Titans scored six goals in each of those three matches.
"We basically had five new faces in the starting lineup," said Richards. In addition to three freshmen -- Nikki Pucillo, Beth Rieman and Coppes -- in the starting 11, senior Michelle Hoyng and junior Heidi Williams also drew starts. Hoyng played for the Falcons as a freshman in 1998, but was not a member of the team in either 1999 or 2000. Williams played in a total of four contests over her first two years with the Brown and Orange.
"I was pleased with the newcomers," said Richards. "We used a total of six freshmen in the match, as well as players like Heidi Williams who haven't got a great deal of game experience.
"I'm pleased with the whole team. Obviously, freshmen are freshmen, but we just see them all as players. That having been said, the transition from high school and club ball to NCAA Division I is a big one. I thought they all equipped themselves well.
"We have to give them the opportunity to immerse themselves, to get some quality touches and to feel comfortable out there.
"Our freshman group features some really strong kids who are making an impact for us, straight away.
"Heidi Williams stepped in very well. Possession is her strong point, and she was solid in that area. She was a big plus for us today.
"Erika was solid in net, and Beth Wechsler is just a rock back there. It takes a great player to beat Beth.
"Our starting strikers got off the mark very early, and each got a goal. It doesn't count in the statistics, obviously, but it certainly is good for their confidence. Jill Conover is always involved in the game in some way, and if you don't watch her every second, she is going to take advantage.
"We have some work to do, but we did play well today."
The Falcons begin the regular season with a Friday (Aug. 31) road match at Wisconsin-Green Bay. That contest is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. Central Time (8:00 p.m. BG time). Following the UWGB match, BGSU will play a Sunday morning (Sept. 2) contest at Michigan State, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The Falcons' home opener is set for Sept. 7 vs. Samford.
