Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
BALL STATE
Falcons Down Ball State, 2-0, For MAC Road Win
October 03, 2003 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 3, 2003
MUNCIE, Ind. - An early goal and a late goal added up to a 2-0 win for the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team at Ball State University Friday afternoon (Oct. 3). The Mid-American Conference match was held at a rainy Ball State Soccer Field.
With the victory, the Falcons improve to 4-6-1 overall and 2-2-1 in MAC play. BSU, picked to win the MAC Tournament in the preseason coaches poll, falls to 5-4-2 and 3-2-1, respectively.
Junior Kristy Coppes got the Falcons on the board with a goal with just 7:19 elapsed. She played a ball into the penalty area from the left side, which seemed to confuse BSU goalkeeper Megan Swafford. Swafford went to the ground in an attempt to stop the wet, spinning ball, which bounced over her and found the back of the net.
The hosts had a quality scoring chance later in the first half, as Rachel Reed's shot seemed ticketed for the far post. But, redshirt sophomore Ali Shingler was able to dive and deflect the ball just wide of the right post.
In the second half, with the Falcons still ahead by a single goal, BSU's Lindsay Wiltshire uncorked a shot from the right side of the box. Shingler, however, was in perfect position, blocking the ball with her chest and holding on for the save.
With less than five minutes remaining in the second half, the Falcons picked up some important insurance. Sophomore Keeley Dayton stepped in between two BSU players near midfield, and with one touch, poked the ball ahead to classmate Ashley Wentzel. The speedy Wentzel carried the ball down the right side of the field and into the penalty area. With several Falcons and Cardinals heading toward the goal, Wentzel slid a pass to the trailing Meister, who was charging unguarded down the center of the penalty area. BSU 'keeper Alison Becker had no chance for a save, as Meister's one-time shot found the lower right corner of the net.
Shingler made six saves to pick up her second shutout of the season.
The Falcons will look to keep the road momentum going Sunday (Oct. 5), with a contest at defending league champion Miami University. That match is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Miami Soccer Field.
NOTES
QUOTING BGSU COACH ANDY RICHARDS
"Any MAC win is worth its weight in gold. It's another three points, and it hopefully boosts us up in the standings a little bit."
"We knew coming in that this would be a very tough game. Ball State has made great strides every year for the last couple years. We thought it would be a tough game, and they didn't disappoint us. Not to take any credit away from BG; we won the game and deserved a good result today. But, Ball State put us under a lot of pressure when it was one-nil, and even at two-nil, they were fighting to the end."
"It was a very creditable performance. Coming in here two years ago, we lost, 3-0, to end our season (2001). It was the first time Ball State had qualified for the MAC Tournament, and we were done, and it was miserable. To come back here (and win) today takes away some of the pain of that memory."
(On the Coppes goal):
"We preach a lot about putting the ball into the danger area, and it's exactly what Kristy did. It was an intended cross, I'm certain, but it took a little deflection, which put some spin on the ball, and then when it bounced, it bounced over the 'keeper and in, and that's a little bit of luck. But, we created that luck by putting the ball into the danger area. It wasn't the most clinical goal Kristy has ever scored, but it was the game winner, and we'll take goals any way they can come right now."
"There were a lot of good things about (BG's second goal). We knew Ball State was a good counterattacking team, and they did that against us many times. They were pushing forward with only a few minutes to go, trying to get the equalizer, and (BG) got a classic counterattack goal. Ashley got the ball to the right, played the ball nicely back to the edge of the 18. And, it was a wonderful finish with great quality from Sammy. To strike a ball that hard and that low; it was just what we needed."
"Looking at the stats, we scored within the first seven or eight minutes, and then we got another goal with only a few minutes to go. It's the perfect way to start and finish a game."
"Ali Shingler did a great job today. She made an unbelievable save in the first half to keep us in the lead. If it gets to 1-1, it's a totally different game. She was very vocal today, she came out and punched a ball away when she needed to. And, she saved one ball by blocking it with her chest and holding on; she was in the perfect position to make that save. Ali made good decisions today, and deserved to get her first MAC shutout."
"It's easy, on a day like this, to single out people who deserve credit. Kristy and Sammy got goals, Ashley made the nice cross for an assist, and Ali got the shutout, but this was a great team win. Everyone did a good job, because the conditions did not make this the easiest game to play. But, we worked very hard in practice this week, and I am very proud of how this team responded after the Toledo game. This was a good win today. It gives us a great deal of confidence going into the Miami game, and half of our weekend goals have been achieved."
