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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Stingy Falcon Women Secure Tourney Berth
October 18, 2005 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 18, 2005
By MAUREEN FULTON, BLADE SPORTS WRITER -
Read the story on the Toledo Blade's site.
BOWLING GREEN - This year, the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team decided to leave the drama to someone else.
The Falcons will get to defend their 2004 conference tournament title after they wrapped up a Mid-American Conference tournament bid on Sunday with a 4-0 victory over the University at Buffalo.
They're sitting second in the conference standings, in the midst of a five-match winning streak, and haven't allowed a goal in more than two weeks.
"I don't think you can ask for anything better than that," BG coach Andy Richards said.
It's a different outlook from last season, when BGSU started 1-8-1 before qualifying for the conference tournament on the last day of the season and playing on the road throughout the tourney. That way obviously worked, with the Falcons earning the first NCAA berth in their nine-year history, but Richards said this season's team plays with more steadiness.
"There's been great determination from the team," Richards said. "At the beginning of the year we had a lot of split weekends, winning a game and then losing. That was frustrating because we never quite knew what kind of team we would have. The team has shown a greater level of consistency."
It shows up in the statistics. The defense has been rock solid, with Buffalo getting just one shot on goal on Sunday and senior goalkeeper Ali Shingler recording her fourth consecutive shutout. The offense has been potent, ranking second in the MAC in goals and first in assists. Senor midfielder Samantha Meister is tied for first in the league with 17 points.
With three games over the next two weeks to finish out the regular season, the Falcons (10-6-0, 6-2-0 MAC) will try to secure home-field advantage in the first round of the tourney, which begins Nov. 1.
BUCKEYE ICERS IN TOWN: On Thursday at 7:05 p.m. the hockey team will host No 2 Ohio State, the preseason favorite to win the Central Collegiate Hockey Association title. OSU (1-1-0) has won the past nine matchups against the Falcons (0-2-0).
It will be the second consecutive top-five-ranked team the Falcons have played. On Saturday BGSU lost to then-No. 5 Boston College 9-6. Down 6-2 in the second period, the Falcons tied the score at 6 early in the third before falling. BG sophomore Jonathan Matsumoto had his first career hat trick.
FRESHMAN HONORED: Redshirt freshman volleyball player Kendra Halm received MAC East player-of-the-week honors yesterday. Halm, a middle blocker, helped the team to a 2-1 record last week, leading the team in kills twice.
GRID NOTES: Senior safety Terrill Mayberry's play in the football team's game against Buffalo on Saturday, with two interceptions and a forced fumble, earned him MAC East player-of-the-week honors.
It's the third consecutive week a Falcon defensive player has won the award.
