Bowling Green State University Athletics
Flanders Posts Second-Straight Shutout, 3-0 Over MU
October 04, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 4, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Sophomore Kristy Coppes scored a pair of goals, and senior goalkeeper Erika Flanders earned her second consecutive shutout as the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team downed visiting Marshall University, 3-0, Friday afternoon (Oct. 4). The Mid-American Conference match was held at a rainy Cochrane Field.
With the win, the Falcons improve to 6-4-1 overall and 4-2-0 in MAC play, and BGSU has won three consecutive matches. MU drops to 4-4-1 and 1-2-1, respectively.
On a windy afternoon in Bowling Green, Coppes got the Falcons on the board in a first half that was played in a driving rain. After a Marshall foul, freshman Natalie Sampiller played a long free kick into the penalty box. Coppes received the pass and rifled a shot past Thundering Herd goalie Sarah Barber at the 37:10 mark.
Coppes doubled the BGSU lead with just over 20 minutes left in the match. Freshman Samantha Meister won a battle with several MU players to keep possession of the ball, and found Coppes on the right side of the box. Coppes placed her shot high into the top left corner of the net at 69:59.
Senior Jill Conover closed the scoring with an unassisted goal with 2:29 left in the match. Barber's southbound punt was met by a strong northerly wind, which blew the ball back nearly to the MU 18-yard line. Conover ran past the MU defenders, settled the ball, then put it past the diving Barber and into the open net.
The Herd held a slight advantage in shot attempts, 14-12, and Marshall held a 7-5 edge in shots on goal. But, Flanders was equal to every MU threat, making seven saves. Her last save came on a header by the Herd's Ellerie Karl with just 16 seconds left in the contest.
Barber made two saves in a losing effort.
"I told our team at halftime that we needed to test our mental strength," said Falcon head coach Andy Richards. "We kind of squeaked out a win at Akron last weekend (Sept. 27), but against Kent State (Sept. 29), I thought we really played well and deserved to win.
"At halftime today, up a goal, I asked them if they had the physical and mental capability to increase our lead and win in impressive fashion. We managed to do that, and I'm satisfied on many fronts.
"Most of all, I'm pleased with the manner in which we got the win. So many people played well today; we didn't make as many substitutions today (as usual) because there wasn't as much of a need. People were playing so well that I couldn't justify bringing them off.
"Kristy got two goals, and she really could have had three or four. But, what pleased me today was her all-around game. She put a lot of pressure on defenders, acted as a target when she needed to ... she just worked very hard, and it was a great performance. And, it wasn't just Kristy. The whole team, I thought, did some great things today.
"Erika did a great job. (Marshall) had a very good chance in the early going, and Erika did a great job to make the save. If we're one-nil down after four or five minutes, it's a totally different game. But, she made the great save to start on the road toward the shutout.
"As I said, there were so many good performances today. Britt Anderson and Kristy did a great job up front. I thought Jenny Berlovan had an excellent game. Natalie Sampiller continued to perform well, and Nikki Pucillo and Kasey Freeman did well. It was great for Sam (Meister) to come back and play well. She got an assist and added a different dimension in the midfield.
"There's an important point to be made there. We are a team, and it seems like different people have been stepping up each game. We have to understand that, as a team, we all have to share the limelight. Some people didn't get to play at all today, and others didn't play many minutes. But, on another day, they will be the ones getting the playing time and the limelight.
"I think our players understand that. Even though they might not be happy on an individual level, they have to understand that it is for the good of the team. If we get the success at the end of the season that I hope we get, we'll enjoy it as a team.
"I feel that our team is coming together pretty well here, and now we look forward to playing a very good team on Sunday."
The Falcons will remain home for that Sunday (Oct. 6) match, vs. Ohio University. The contest is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. at Cochrane Field.
NOTES
