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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Falcons, Chippewas Battle To 2-2 Draw
September 12, 2003 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 12, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - In a match marked by numerous shifts in momentum, perhaps it was only fitting that Friday's (Sept. 12) women's soccer match between Bowling Green State University and Central Michigan University ended in a draw. The Falcons and Chippewas battled to a 2-2 deadlock in Mid-American Conference action at BGSU's Cochrane Field.
The tie moves the Falcons' record to 0-4-1 overall and 0-1-1 in MAC play, while CMU is now 1-1-2 and 0-0-1, respectively.
Senior co-captain Carrie Richards had her first career three-point match, scoring BGSU's first goal and assisting on the second. Sophomore Samantha Meister had the Falcons' other goal in the match.
The Chippewas got goals from Stacy Downing and Rachel Snyder, with Snyder's coming with under nine minutes left in regulation.
CMU dominated the play in the first 10-plus minutes of the match, as the Falcons rarely could clear the ball out of their own half of the field. But, BGSU capitalized on the first chance of the contest. Junior Beth Rieman's through-ball found Richards streaking down the right side of the field. Richards took the ball into the penalty box and unloaded a shot. CMU goalkeeper Kari Alexander got a piece of the shot, but the ball deflected past her and into the net.
Rieman and sophomore Leah Eggleton drew assists on the goal, which came at 10:50 on the Falcons' first shot of the afternoon.
The Falcons had the better of the play for most of the remaining 34-plus minutes of the half, but could not increase the lead before the intermission. The Brown and Orange did, however, hang onto that one-goal lead until under 30 minutes remained in the second half.
CMU's Downing tied the contest with just under 30 minutes remaining in regulation. A corner kick by Jacqui Lorenzo found an open Jill Adams in the center of the box. Adams' shot short-hopped, hit the crossbar and deflected to Downing, who put her follow-up shot past BGSU's Ali Shingler to tie the contest.
Once again, however, the Falcons battled back. Just two minutes later, sophomore Ashley Wentzel just missed on a point-blank shot after a nifty pass from classmate Samantha Meister. Three minutes after that chance, however, the Falcons found the net, with Meister again involved.
Carrie Richards played a ball into the penalty box, where junior Nikki Pucillo stood with her back to the goal. With several defenders around her and with Alexander coming out of her net, Pucillo kicked the ball up and over her own head, finding Meister charging down the middle with a head full of steam. Meister's header bounded into the open net, giving the Brown and Orange the lead with 24 minutes remaining. Pucillo and Richards drew assists on the play.
But, the visitors battled back, getting the tying goal from Snyder with just 8:54 left in the second half. Downing and Carrie Van Dyck assisted on the goal.
Neither team could find the back of the net again over the rest of regulation and the two 10-minute overtime periods, although both BG and CMU had several good chances.
The Falcons held a narrow 15-13 advantage in total shot attempts, including a 10-8 margin in shots on goal. Shingler made six saves for the Brown and Orange, while Alexander made eight stops for the Chippewas. The visitors did have an 11-3 advantage in corner kicks.
BGSU steps outside of MAC play for the next two contests, hosting Cincinnati in Sunday (Sept. 14) action at Cochrane Field before heading to Detroit three days later. The BGSU-UC match will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Cochrane Field.
NOTES
QUOTING HEAD COACH ANDY RICHARDS
"It was a very keenly fought game today, and probably the best performance we've had so far this season. I'm happy with our effort. But, I thought we had the better of the opportunities and should have won the game, maybe even in regulation."
"It was another heartbreaker, in a way. I feel we're having all the character-building matches here at the beginning of the season. We did well to come back from two goals down against Eastern Illinois, but then let them go on and win. Then, we played well against Eastern Michigan, but the game turned on one little play. Today, we're happy to get a point (in the MAC standings), of course, but it feels like we've lost the game, because I feel like we were the better team."
"There were a lot of positives, though. We worked very hard, and we never gave up. On the first goal, Carrie Richards did a wonderful job of getting inside the 18(-yard box) and taking the shot. Carrie is doing a great job in her senior year. Not only is she doing a fine job as a team leader, but she is currently our leading scorer, too."
"On our second goal, Nikki (Pucillo) did a wonderful job to keep the ball in the danger area, popping it over her head, and Sam (Meister) had the most simple of finishes, and put it away."
"We didn't have a very good start to the game, but suddenly we scored on our first real chance. That is a great lesson for us -- put the ball in the danger area and good things will happen."
"I feel we're getting a little better each game. We played well against Eastern Illinois, against Eastern Michigan, and we should have won today. Central Michigan might feel differently, but I felt we were the better team today."
"Our kids put forth a great effort today. We just can't quite get that lucky bounce or that lucky break. I feel like, as soon as we get a win, we could get several wins in a row.
"Once we get healthy and once we learn some of these character-building lessons, we'll be on our way."
