Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Kent State
Second-Half Goals Lift Falcons to Win, 2-0, over Kent State
October 14, 2005 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 14, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Seniors Samantha Meister and Ashley Wentzel scored goals just 85 seconds apart, lifting the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team to a 2-0 win over Kenet State University Friday afternoon (Oct. 14). The Mid-American Conference match was held at Cochrane Field.
With the win, the Falcons improve to 9-6-0 overall and 5-2-0 in MAC play. BGSU has won four consecutive matches, setting a new school record, and also increased the team's home winning streak to a school-record five matches. The Falcons' last three wins all have been by shutout, another school record.
The Golden Flashes fall to 6-7-2 overall and 3-3-1 in league play.
Senior goalkeeper Ali Shingler made six saves in recording her third-straight shutout.
There were precious few scoring chances for either team in a scoreless first half. The best chance of the first 44-plus minutes came on a shot from Kent State's Jen Frey with about 12 minutes elapsed. Frey took a pass on the left side of the penalty box and cut to her right before unleashing a hard shot. But, the shot was right at Shingler.
BGSU had just one shot on goal before the half's final minute. With just under a minute left before the intermission, freshman Corbie Yee lifted a cross toward senior Julie Trundle. Trundle, on the left side of the goal about eight yards out, headed the ball toward the far post. The shot eluded KSU goalie Kristen Nelson, but one of the Flashes' defenders threw herself at the ball, and got enough of a foot on the ball to send it off the crossbar.
Kent State had a chance early in the second half, after the Falcons were called for a foul approximately 18-and-a-half yards out. But, Catharine Marosszeky's free kick was directly into the BGSU defensive wall.
With approximately 10 minutes gone in the second half, a cross by junior Lindsay Carter sailed just over the heads of both Trundle and Meister. Less than a minute later, the Falcons had another flurry.
Senior Leah Eggleton took a shot that Nelson saved, but the rebound went directly to Yee. The freshman blasted a shot that hit KSU defender Heather Gilbert square in the face. Gilbert was forced to leave the game and did not return, but her block kept the contest scoreless.
Kent had a scoring threat just two minutes later. Danie Irwin took a pass from Lisa Kurz, and rifled a shot off the bar. Less than 20 seconds later, Kurz had a good chance, but saw her shot go high.
Finally, the Falcons broke the scoreless draw at the 70:47 mark. Meister and freshman Kristin McDonald worked deep in the KSU end of the field. Meister took a McDonald pass, cut the ball back to her right to free herself from a pair of KSU defenders, and took a dribble to her right, toward the center of the field. Meister hit a well-placed shot that found the lower left corner of the net.
A minute-and-a-half later, the Falcons struck again. Senior Britt Anderson, on the right side of the 18-yard box, played a ball back to Wentzel. Wentzel lofted a ball toward the far post, where Meister, Nelson and several KSU defenders all converged. But, the ball eluded everyone, nestling in the upper left corner of the goal.
That was more than enough scoring for Shingler and the BG defense, but the Falcons had a few more chances. With approximately 11 minutes remaining, Yee's volley off an Anderson pass was struck well, but sailed high. Then, with 2:13 left in the match, Carter took a shot at point-blank range, off a Yee cross. Nelson, about a foot away from Carter, made the save in self-defense.
The Flashes had no fewer than four shot attempts in the final minute of the match, but could not get a ball past Shingler, and the Falcons had the win.
On the afternoon, KSU held a 15-12 advantage in shot attempts, but the Falcons had a slim 7-6 margin in shots on goal. Nelson made three saves, while the KSU defense was credited with a pair of 'team saves.'
"As a team, we identified how important it was to get a victory today," said Falcon head coach Andy Richards. "Not just because it means three points, not just because it was a home game, but because they are the reigning MAC co-champions and it is such a tight race. Had they beaten us today, they would have gotten level on points with us, and would have made things very tight.
"But, by getting the victory, we have produced some separation between us and some other teams. It was a vital win for us, and well deserved.
"Kent, to their credit, made things very difficult for us. They cleared a couple of balls off the line, and also hit the crossbar when the game was still scoreless, and things could have been very different. But, I felt that the team that scored first would go on to win the game, and we were fortunate to get that goal.
"It was a great finish from Samantha Meister after 'Kristin Mac' had set her up. And, to score again within two minutes was fantastic, and it was great to see Ashley Wentzel score her second goal in two games. She is known for her right foot, but she has scored with her head and with her left foot, so we'll see what comes next.
"Again, we are very happy with the performance, and we seem to be clicking as a team right now. It is important to note the importance of assistant coach Eric Golz. He works with the defense, and his influence is having a tangible effect. Congratulations to Eric and the defensive corps for getting their third consecutive shutout, and we now turn our attention to Sunday's match."
The Falcons conclude the home portion of the regular-season schedule with that Sunday (Oct. 16) match, taking on the University at Buffalo. Kickoff will be at 1:00 p.m., with 'Senior Day' festivities preceding the match.
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