Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Hand Out Awards At Banquet
February 23, 2004 | Women's Soccer
Feb. 23, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Sophomores Keeley Dayton, Samantha Meister and Julie Trundle each earned most valuable player awards as the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team held its annual banquet Saturday evening (Feb. 21). Head coach Andy Richards guided the 2003 version of the Falcons to a berth in the championship match of the Mid-American Conference Tournament in November.
Junior Beth Rieman was named the winner of the "Fighting Falcon" award, while sophomore Leah Eggleton earned the team's "Hustle" award and sophomore Ashley Wentzel was named the Falcons' most improved player.
The "Fighting Falcon" award winner is selected by the BGSU coaching staff, while the other five awards are the result of voting by the team members.
Dayton (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) was named the team's Most Valuable Player on defense. She started 22 of the Falcons' 23 contests in 2003, picking up four assists along the way. Dayton earned assists against Akron, Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan, with the latter coming in the MAC Tournament's championship match. Dayton, listed as a forward/midfielder in the 2003 team's preseason information, assumed a defensive role midway through the season.
For the second consecutive season, Trundle (Medina, Ohio/Medina) was named the Falcons' MVP in the midfield. She saw action in 21 matches, starting 19, having missed several matches to to injury. Still, Trundle finished third on the team in scoring. She scored three goals, vs. Buffalo, Marshall and Miami, with the latter coming with six minutes left in the match and capping a 3-2 comeback win. Trundle led the Falcons with seven assists en route to her 13 points on the year.
Meister (Cincinnati, Ohio/Northwest) was named the Falcons' MVP on offense. One of only three Falcons to start all 23 matches, she led the team in scoring, with 26 points, and tied for the team lead with 10 goals. Meister, who was named to both the All-MAC First Team and the Academic All-MAC Teams, became the first player in school history to be named to the Soccer Buzz All-Great Lakes Region Team, earning second-team honors. Her season highlights included scoring a MAC-record four goals in a 4-3 win over Northern Illinois, and the OT winner in another 4-3 contest, at Marshall in a match the Falcons had to win to qualify for the league tourney.
Rieman (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) was the recipient of the "Fighting Falcon" Award. The award is given to a team member who, through words and actions, most accurately reflects the program's philosophy of 'Today I gave all that I have, for everything I left behind is gone forever.' Rieman, one of three players to start all 23 matches in 2003, has played in 63 career contests, the most among 2004 returnees. She had assists in the Central Michigan and Michigan State matches. Rieman has been named captain of the 2004 team.
Eggleton (Fairfield, Ohio/Fairfield) earned the "Hustle" Award, given to the player who shows a consistent enthusiasm for the game and a tremendous work ethic, both at practice and during games. Eggleton played in only 17 matches in 2003, due to injury, and she made 14 starts. She still finished fifth on the team in scoring, with her eight points including goals vs. Ohio State and in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinal win at Eastern Michigan. Eggleton also added four assists on the year.
Wentzel (Mason, Ohio/Mason) picked up the Most Improved Player Award. Wentzel saw action in all 23 matches, starting 17, and totalled a goal and five assists. The goal came with just 44 seconds left in a win over Akron, and proved to be the winner in a 2-1 Falcon triumph. She had a pair of assists in a 4-3 win at Marshall, and also had helpers vs. Arizona State, Ball State and Buffalo.
In addition to handing out the aforementioned awards, the Falcons also recognized the 2003 team's two senior co-captains, Kasey Freeman and Carrie Richards.
The Falcons posted an overall record of 8-12-3, including a 5-5-2 mark in MAC play. BGSU, seeded eighth for the league tournament, advanced all the way to the championship match for the second time in four years.
BGSU WOMEN'S SOCCER - 2003 AWARDS
