Bowling Green State University Athletics
Women's Soccer Begins Preseason Workouts
August 13, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 13, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team begins preseason workouts Tuesday (Aug. 13). The Falcons of head coach Andy Richards and assistant coach Ashlee Orr begin with a team meeting and the issuing of equipment on Tuesday afternoon, and the Falcons' first practice is set for Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 14).
BGSU will begin two-a-day practices on Thursday, but will take a brief break from that schedule this weekend. Richards will take his team to Medina, where the Falcons will complete a ropes course in addition to continuing with practices. Beginning Monday (Aug. 19), the Brown and Orange will practice twice each day for the bulk of the next week, before classes begin on Aug. 26.
The Falcons have 12 letterwinners, including eight starters, back from the 2001 squad. In addition, Richards and Orr welcome 11 freshmen to the 2002 team.
"Ashlee and I are extremely happy to be back in season again, and very excited to work with the current squad," said Richards, entering his third year at the Falcon helm. "We have an exceedingly strong set of returning players who also possess tremendous team camaraderie and excellent leadership from the upperclassmen.
"In addition, the eleven freshmen entering the program will add depth and quality to a group that is hungry for success. The coaching staff and players alike are eager to get pre-season started and work towards our opening game."
That opening match is Sunday, Sept. 1, against Michigan State. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at BGSU's Cochrane Field.
Prior to the MSU match, the Falcons will hold an alumnae match on Friday, Aug. 30. That contest will begin at 6:00 p.m. Richards added that the team will have at least one intrasquad scrimmage prior to the alumnae contest.
Heading the group of returnees are the four seniors, including Jill Conover, Erika Flanders, Tracy Gleixner and Susan Wallace. Conover and Gleixner are at the top of the school's career scoring lists, while Flanders, who will captain the 2002 squad, holds virtually every BGSU goalkeeping record in existence.
Wallace scored arguably the biggest goal in BGSU annals, the match-winning tally vs. Western Michigan in the semifinal round of the 2000 Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Kasey Freeman, who started every match a year ago, and Carrie Richards comprise the two-person junior class. Among the eight sophomores on the squad are Kristy Coppes, the 2001 MAC Newcomer of the Year, as well as Katie Piening, Beth Rieman, Nikki Pucillo and Jenny Berlovan. All five players started at least 12 matches a year ago.
Kylene Newell, Jessica Sadler and Ali Shingler round out the sophomore class.
The regular season concludes Nov. 1, with the MAC Tournament slated to begin four days later.
