Bowling Green State University Athletics
Michigan State Spoils Falcons' Opener, 4-0
September 01, 2002 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 1, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Michigan State University scored twice in each half to post a 4-0 victory over the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team Sunday afternoon (Sept. 1). The match, the season opener for both teams, was held at BGSU's Cochrane Field.
The Spartans got on the board early, scoring at the 6:10 mark off a corner kick. Michelle Perun took the kick for MSU, and BGSU senior goalie Erika Flanders punched the cross straight into the air. The spinning ball hit the ground and bounced into the goal to give MSU the lead for good. Tiffany Laskowski was credited with the goal.
The lead doubled when Emma Harris scored at 17:39. The Spartans came in on a two-on-none break, and Erin Konheim slide a pass across the box to Harris. Flanders had been forced to commit, and Harris put the ball into the right side of the net.
Flanders made a number of point-blank saved in the first half, keeping the score at 2-0 heading into the break.
In the second half, Perun blasted a ball into the left side of the net at 61:38, giving the visitors a three-goal lead. Abby Shepherd completed the scoring just under seven minutes later.
The Spartans held a whopping 22-2 advantage in shots, inlcuding a 15-2 margin in shots on goal. Stacy Heller (72:59, 2 saves) and Erin Carlson (17:01, 0 saves) combined on the shutout.
Flanders made 10 saves in goal for the ninth double-digit save match of her career. BGSU freshman defender Megan Rapp made a nifty play in the first half when she cleared a Spartan shot off the goal line.
"Understandably, we are very disappointed in today's performance," said BGSU head coach Andy Richards. "We realize we played against an exceptional Michigan State team, who come from a good conference and caused us a lot of problems. But, we're disappointed that we made a lot of team mistakes, compounded by individual mistakes, that produced four goals for them.
"The disappointment is that we didn't play anywhere near the potential we know we have. But, attribute that to early-season nerves, a young team -- we had eight freshmen on the field at one time -- and the fact that we just had a bad day against a good team that had a very good day.
"We're very disappointed, but determined to make up for it, and we're glad we have some games coming up soon to try to make things right."
The Falcons will return to action with a Wednesday (Sept. 4) home contest vs. Detroit. That match is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. at Cochrane Field.
NOTES:
