Bowling Green State University Athletics
2004 BGSU Women's Soccer Outlook
August 16, 2004 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 16, 2004
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Each season, the goal is to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Two years ago, the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team reached the semifinals of that tourney.
Last November, the Falcons took another step, reaching the championship match before seeing the season come to an end.
Now, with 19 returning letterwinners, including 10 starters back from that team, head coach Andy Richards is hoping the Brown and Orange can take that final step and bring home the program's first title.
Of those 19 letterwinners on the 2004 squad, 17 are either seniors or juniors, giving the Falcons perhaps the most veteran team in school history.
"Having 17 upperclassmen makes a big difference," said Richards, who enters his fifth season at the helm. Richards' teams have made three league tourney semifinal appearances in his first four seasons, twice reaching the final.
"Both of those classes came in and made a big impact. Now, they have experience, and there's no substitute for that. Often, teams with a good group of seniors -- especially if they are a positive, hard-working group with good role models -- can lead a team to success. We feel our senior class is just such a group, and can combine with the strong and talented junior group below them to be quite a force this season."
Additionally, the large contingent of returning players enabled Richards and assistant coach Ashlee Orr to have a productive spring season. Eric Golz joins the staff this fall as an assistant coach, and will work primarily with the Falcon goalkeepers.
"Most springs, we have had low numbers (of returnees), and have had to adapt practices accordingly," said Richards. "This year, we had pretty much the same team we will have in the fall, so we could work on some bigger concepts.
"We were able to work on some formations and styles, and that really benefited the kids. It can be difficult to learn during the season, because you have the pressure of having to prepare for your next opponent. It is easier to adapt your style of play during the spring, and we were able to make some strides."
While the Falcons will feel the losses of 2003 co-captains Kasey Freeman and Carrie Richards, the returning players combined to score nearly 96 percent of the team's points last fall. Leading the scoring corps was the powerful one-two punch of Kristy Coppes and Samantha Meister, each of whom scored 10 goals a year ago.
Those two players are far from the only BG offensive threats, however, as all of last year's Falcon forwards return. And, nearly the entire cast returns at each of the other positions.
GOALKEEPERS
Three goalies return to the Falcon squad, and the returnees combined to play over 99 percent of the minutes between the posts last year. Redshirt junior Ali Shingler played the bulk of the minutes, while fifth-year senior Jenifer Kernahan saw action in seven contests. Samantha Martinez, slowed by a preseason injury, did not see any playing time in her first fall on campus.
Shingler picked up seven of the Falcons' wins, and her four complete-match shutouts included a whitewashing of Central Michigan in the MAC Tournament's semifinal round.
"All three of our goalies faced some sort of personal hurdle last year," said Richards. "Ali had been in the shadows of Erika Flanders for some time, and had hardly been on the field in her first two years. It can be difficult to take over for someone who has set every school record, but Ali did a great job, and got better as the season went on.
"Now, it is up to Ali to set the standard, knowing that she is a better 'keeper than she was 12 months ago."
Kernahan had a 1-1 record in her first season of collegiate soccer, with the win coming in relief at Northern Illinois. A four-year softball letterwinner for the Falcons, she helped that team to the 2004 MAC Tournament title and an NCAA berth. Martinez, due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, was not cleared to play until midway through the season.
"Last fall, after a few years away from the game, Jenifer needed to get that collegiate soccer experience under her belt," said Richards. "As well as she played, she can only get better with that year of experience.
"Sam Martinez had that injury, then was behind everyone else in terms of fitness and experience. It was a frustrating year for her, because she dearly wanted to play, and was unable to.
"It's going to be a good battle to see who wins the job. I know all three are determined to play. Additionally, having Eric Golz as our full-time goalkeeping coach is going to benefit the program, and those three individuals in particular."
DEFENDERS
The loss of Freeman will be a big spot to fill, but there is no shortage of candidates to fill the void. A pair of newcomers will be vying with a number of returnees for playing time on the back line.
Senior Beth Rieman will be a leader for the Falcons, both on and off the field. The Falcons' 2004 captain, Rieman has played in 63 career matches, the most among BG returnees. She has started every one of those contests.
Another senior, Jenny Berlovan, returns on defense, as does classmate Kylene Newell. Juniors Keeley Dayton, Megan Rapp and Natalie Sampiller round out the returnees. Dayton made the move from forward to defender in the middle of the 2003 season.
"Keeley's move really changed the face of our defense," said Richards. "She added tremendous speed and the ability to be a man marker, and was a starter from there on out.
"Beth Rieman, of course, has provided steady play for three years for us, and Natalie stepped into our lineup at the sweeper position last year.
"Jenny has played an awful lot of minutes over her career, and will want to finish her career as a starter. Megan had an injury that kept her out of spring practice, but she has played some good soccer for us.
"Kylene Newell has been a great role player for us, and is really going to finish her career on a high for us."
Junior Molly Bremen and sophomore Lindsay Carter also could see some time at defender as well. Additionally, twins Danielle and Denise Cygan will challenge for playing time in their freshman season.
"We have an awful lot of options at defender," said Richards. "More than anything, however, we have great depth. We have a plethora of players who can see time in our defensive unit."
MIDFIELDERS
The Falcons lose Carrie Richards, who scored five points while splitting time on the right side of the midfield a year ago. But, as on defense, there are a number of players ready to man the midfield.
Carter and junior Ashley Wentzel are vying for the right midfield spot, while junior Julie Trundle is the incumbent on the left side.
"Ashley made great strides as a player last year, and gained confidence in her skills," said the head coach. "And, Lindsay had a tremendous spring. Those two will have a great battle for the starting spot, but there is no doubt in my mind that they both will get some pretty good minutes this year.
"Julie Trundle is a special player. She has done some great things for this program, and has scored some great goals. She has the ability to get forward in the attack as well as help out on defense."
There are no fewer than six players who could see time in the central midfield, including senior Nikki Pucillo, juniors Britt Anderson, Bremen and Leah Eggleton and freshmen Janie Babich and Rachael Ross.
Anderson scored nine points for the second consecutive season, while Eggleton battled injuries throughout the season, and was playing some of her finest soccer at tournament time. Pucillo and Bremen each saw their share of time on the pitch as well, and will be looking for increased minutes.
"We experienced a great deal of success when we switched Britt to midfield and moved Sam Meister to forward," said Richards. "Britt is such an unselfish player; I think she would rather have an assist than a goal sometimes. She is that kind of a personality.
"When Leah was injured, it was a big loss. She's very offensive-minded, but she does her defensive work. We never seemed to quite get the same style of play (when she was injured), and we're a better team when she is healthy.
"Having said that, we have a number of talented players, like Nikki and Molly, who can fill utility-type roles for us. They can play their part and contribute to the team, whether as a starter or coming off the bench.
"Nikki has been a perennial contributor to the midfield in her first three years, and we look forward to the benefit of her experience this year. Likewise, Molly has seen a great deal of playing time in her first two seasons, and also gives us a veteran influence.
"They all will play their role. The midfield is where most of the work is done in the game. You need to change people and give them a rest here and there, and they all will share the workload."
FORWARDS
Up front, the Falcons return the entire group that saw action last fall, and the team adds a pair of newcomers. BGSU was the lone MAC squad with two 10-goal scorers in 2003, and both players -- Coppes and Meister -- return.
Coppes, the leading scorer in school history, has scored at least 10 goals in each of her three seasons. Meister led the team in scoring a year ago en route to All-MAC First-Team honors.
But, the `ten-goal twins' are not the only scoring threats for the Brown and Orange. Senior Katie Piening has 22 career points and provides another veteran striker. Freshmen Gina Rossi and Tiernay Tilford also look to make a splash up front in their inaugural collegiate go-around.
"Coppes and Meister have been goal-scoring machines for us," said Richards. "Both have earned MAC Freshman-of-the-Year honors, both scored 10 goals last year, and having them both back is very promising. At the end of the day, that is what wins games.
"That is a pretty potent force for us, and is dangerous for other teams. They can't just man-mark one player and hope to put us out of the game; they have to take care of two strikers.
"But, that is not to discount Katie Piening. She had a good year last fall, and in the spring put herself in contention for a starting spot."
SCHEDULE/FINAL THOUGHTS
The Falcons have had some early starts to the MAC season in recent years. This fall, however, BG does not open the league slate until Sept. 17, the latest date in the history of the program (the 1998 team's MAC opener also fell on Sept. 17). The Falcons will play six matches before hosting Ohio to open the MAC schedule, and Richards and his staff welcome the chance to fine-tune the Falcons in non-conference play.
"It is the same story in the MAC -- it seems the teams get better every year, and every game is a battle," said Richards. "We deliberately set up a six-game `mini-season', which will give us a chance to take a look at everyone.
"Assuming fitness is good and we're clear of injuries, everyone should get a shot to play within those first six games. We really want to win those matches, but it also provides a chance for each player to try to become a starter or a significant contributor."
The Falcons open with a home tournament, facing Duquesne and Pittsburgh, and the Brown and Orange also will welcome Michigan State to town. BG then travels to Eastern Illinois before heading to Navy for a pair of matches.
Then, 12 of the next 13 contests are against MAC schools, with only a trip to Cleveland State interrupting the league slate. BG also steps outside of conference action by traveling to Wright State to end the regular season. The MAC Tournament begins on Nov. 2, and Richards' hopes the team's depth and experience will pay dividends when the weather turns chilly.
"We have a great deal of depth now," said the head coach. "For the first time, every player on the roster has been recruited by the current coaching staff.
"When you have depth, you have flexibility, and we have a number of players on this squad who can play at numerous positions and help the team. We are also a maturing team, and we have tremendous leadership from our upperclassmen.
"We have overcome some adversity, and it feels to me that everything is falling into place for a successful season. We have talked about losing the championship game last year, and how we feel that will be a motivating factor for us this year.
"I feel a sense of determination by our players. We have always competed well -- I don't think anyone ever takes us lightly. I like to think that we are a threat to pretty much everyone we play.
"And, it is important for us to start to develop that attitude. We should have a lot of confidence in ourselves. Not an arrogance, but a confidence. We have great depth, great talent and great experience, and we have to see ourselves as a program that is not an underdog any more.
"It just feels to me that there are a lot of factors working in our favor. Hopefully, all of these things will come together and produce a fun and successful season."
