Spartans Top Falcons, 3-0

Friday, September 3

Bowling Green, Ohio

4:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

MICHIGAN STATE

September 03, 2004 | Women's Soccer

Sept. 3, 2004

Final Stats

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - A timely offense and a solid defense proved to be a winning combination for Michigan State University, as the Spartans posted a 3-0 victory over the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team Friday afternoon (Sept. 3) at Cochrane Field.

With the non-conference win, the Spartans improve to 3-0-0 on the young season, while the Falcons fall to 1-2-0.

The first 15 minutes were played mostly in the midfield, with neither team mounting a serious threat. Seemingly out of nowhere, however, the Falcons had the first solid chance of the afternoon.

Junior Samantha Meister blasted a shot from approximately 25 yards out, that had MSU goalkeeper Erin Carlson beat, but sailed just over the crossbar with 18 minutes elapsed. Less than a minute later, the Spartans' Erin Konheim took a one-timer at the top of the box that hit the crossbar. Just over a minute after that try, however, the Spartans got on the board.

After a BGSU foul, State's Nina Mastracci took a free kick from about 25 yards. Her shot found the right side of the goal, and the Spartans had the lead at the 29:04 mark. MSU took that 1-0 lead into the half.

The sky was cloudy at kickoff, and a light rain started with just under 15 minutes gone in the opening half. But, the rain had stopped before halftime, and the sun was out for much of the second period.

In the second half, the Spartans doubled the lead at the 51:17 juncture. Maureen Pawlak unleashed a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. The blooper sailed over the head of Falcon 'keeper Jenifer Kernahan, with the senior able to get a hand on the ball, but unable to redirect it away from the net. Abby Shepherd drew an assist on the goal.

Midway through the second half, Falcon senior Kristy Coppes came oh-so-close to cutting into the visitors' lead. Junior Julie Trundle lofted a ball into the penalty area, and Coppes was able to get a foot on it. She lunged and poked the ball toward the goal, but right at Carlson, who made the save from point-blank range.

With just over 11 minutes left, Meister had another grade-A scoring chance, heading a Trundle corner kick goalward. But, the ball was blocked by an MSU defender on the goal line.

The Spartans put the game away on an Emma Harris goal with two-and-a-half minutes left. A pass by Adrienne Treado sent Harris in on a breakaway. Kernahan, forced to come off her line, dove at Harris' feet and saved the Spartan junior's shot. But, the rebound came directly to Harris, who slid it into the open net. Treado picked up the lone assist on the play.

Carlson picked up the win for the Green and White, making five saves on the day. Kernahan had six stops in her complete-match effort for the hosts.

Michigan State held a 16-12 advantage in shots, and a 9-6 edge in shots on goal. Harris was the most constant threat to the BG defense, with six total shots, including four on net, for the Spartans.

The Falcons look to rebound Sunday (Sept. 5), heading to Eastern Illinois University for the first road match of the season.

NOTES

For Kernahan, the start in goal was her first of the season and the third of her career ... it was her second career start against Michigan State ... the fifth-year senior is in her second year on the women's soccer team after a four-year career with the Falcon softball team.

Kernahan's two career complete-game efforts in goal each have come against the Spartans, as she played all 90 minutes in a 3-2 loss in East Lansing last Oct. 15 ... her top-two save totals as a collegian also have been against MSU, as she had 12 stops last year and six on Friday.

Junior Ashley Wentzel saw her first match action of the season, after missing each of last weekend's contests (Duquesne and Pittsburgh) due to injury.

The Falcons have been outscored, 5-0, over the last two matches, despite holding a 12-1 advantage in corner kicks during that stretch.

QUOTING COACH ANDY RICHARDS
"We are very disappointed with the result. Once again -- just as in the Pittsburgh game -- we played quality opposition, battled with them, had the lion's share of possession time, and were even or had the advantage in the statistical categories. But, we lost, because we let goals in and we did not finish our chances."

"Overall, I feel as if this team has the ability to beat average teams and compete with the better teams. But, we have been unable to unlock teams that are better organized than us, because we didn't have enough creativity, knowledge of the game or ability to pay attention to the little details."

"To be fair, we haven't had the best of luck. In the last two games, it seems that every time we make a mistake, the other team capitalizes on it, and when they make a mistake, they get away with it. Again, we are disappointed with this result, because we want to win every game. But, beginning with Sunday's game at Eastern Illinois, we have three more games to work things out and prepare for the MAC season."