Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MIAMI (OH)
Falcons Get Defensive in 2-0 Win Over Miami
October 08, 2004 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 8, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Even a novice to the game of soccer knows that, if you don't let the other team take a shot on goal, chances for a shutout are good. The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team never let visiting Miami University get untracked offensively Friday afternoon (Oct. 8), and the result was a 2-0 Falcon win in Mid-American Conference action at Cochrane Field.
The win moved the Falcons to 4-8-1 overall and 2-3-1 in MAC play. BGSU, after going winless in the month of September, now has a 3-0 record since the beginning of October. Miami dropped to 6-5-1 and 4-2-1, respectively.
Freshman Gina Rossi and senior Kristy Coppes each scored goals for the Brown and Orange, while the BG defense held the RedHawks to just one shot attempt on the afternoon.
The Falcons controlled the play for much of the match, and had the ball in the Miami end of the field for nearly the entire first 10 minutes of the match, but could not get off a shot. In fact, neither team took a single shot attempt for the first 22-plus minutes. But, BGSU's first attempt was a successful one.
Midway through the half, sophomore Lindsay Carter took a corner kick from the left side, and hit a high ball that Miami goalkeeper Megan Ortner was able to deflect. Junior Leah Eggleton tracked down the ball, and played a cross from the right side.
Eggleton's crossing ball reached the doorstep, where Rossi and Ortner both attempted to make a play. The ball dropped right on the goal line, as Rossi tried to poke it into the net. After a scramble, Rossi was able to wheel and fire home the Falcons' first goal. The goal -- and the first shot by either team -- came at the 22:07 mark.
With just under seven minutes left in the half, junior Britt Anderson took a bouncing pass just inside the 18-yard box, and her volley was unquestionably the hardest shot of the day. Anderson blistered a shot, but Ortner was positioned well. The ball caromed off the Miami 'keeper and high into the air, but Ortner was able to outjump a Falcon forward to catch the rebound.
The RedHawks were held without a shot attempt for the entire first half. Miami's first, and only, shot of the day came three-and-a-half minutes into the second stanza, when Ashley Swinehart turned and fired a shot over the Falcon goal from 20 yards out.
Five minutes later, the Falcons doubled the lead. A Miami player slipped and lost possession of the ball at midfield, as Falcon junior Molly Bremen was closing in. Bremen took a few dribbles, then slid a forward pass to a charging Coppes on the left side of the 18-yard box. Coppes made one touch to push the ball past a sliding Ortner, who was forced to come out and try to stop the breakaway. Then, Coppes put the ball in the net just before Ortner and a lunging RedHawk defender could recover. The goal came at the 53:34 mark.
The BG defense did not allow another Miami shot, helping redshirt junior get the shutout win without being forced to make a save. Shingler did break up several Miami crossing attempts, including a Katie Gray corner kick with 28 minutes left, when Shingler punched the ball out of danger.
Shingler corralled a long throw-in by Swinehart with 2:01 left, which proved to be the final Miami chance of the day.
The Falcons outshot Miami by a 10-1 count, including a 4-0 margin in shots on goal. Ortner made two saves in her complete-match effort for the visitors.
The Falcons had a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks in the match.
BG will conclude a two-match weekend homestand with Sunday's (Oct. 10) contest vs. Ball State University, beginning at noon.
NOTES APLENTY
QUOTING BGSU COACH Andy Richards
"Today's performance was perhaps the most efficient and clinical performance that I have seen from Bowling Green in many seasons, certainly this season. What was great was that we did to Miami what so many other teams did to us earlier in the year. We played good, smart soccer, defended well and took our opportunities when they came."
"Of course, our two strikers will get the plaudits -- and deservedly so -- for getting their goals. But, really, the game was won by the stability we showed on defense, and by the midfield players, who totally controlled the game. The defense, both as individuals and collectively, was very strong today, and that gave us a good base, and we took our chances."
"There was a nice symmetry about the win today, with a goal in each half and another shutout for Ali Shingler and her fellow defenders. This was a great win against a very good Miami team. I am sure that Miami will feel that they didn't perform as well as they could have today. But, still, they are Miami, a very well-respected MAC foe."
"We still have a long way to go if we want to go to the (MAC) tournament, but this was a good win, and there were some very encouraging signs. We played smart soccer, looked in control of the game and didn't overreact to what Miami was trying to do. We look forward to playing Ball State on Sunday, and we will give 100 percent to try to keep this run going."
