Bowling Green State University Athletics
Soccer Team Kicked It Up a Notch Last Year
August 23, 2005 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 22, 2005
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - Andy Richards didn't need to go to Cedar Point last year to experience a gut-wrenching, antacid-required roller coaster ride.
Now in his sixth year as Bowling Green's women's soccer coach, Richards saw his team start the 2004 season 1-8-1. However, Bowling Green found the winning formula at the right time, putting together a strong run to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament and advance to the NCAAs for the first time since the program started in 1997. The Falcons finished 10-12-2 overall, losing to Ohio State 2-0 in the first-round of the NCAA tournament.
"I hope we don't have to do a turnaround season again," Richards said. "Obviously winning the MAC kind puts a target on your back. Everyone is going to want to knock us off. We beat some teams in big, emotional games last year and that means this year they're going to want to get us back."
With nine seniors returning, Richards hopes to avoid the same kind of roller coaster ride this fall. He says the Falcons will need to find the right formula to avoid the ups and downs.
"The strength of our team is that we have nine seniors returning, all of whom have contributed a lot in the past," Richards said. "All nine should be starting or playing a major role.
"We seem to be getting better as a team year by year and we're excited to see what they produce, but you never really know," he added. "If we could be a little bit more consistent, particularly in the early part of the year, that would give us greater confidence."
Leading the returnees is senior goalkeeper Ali Shingler, who finished last season with a 1.45 goals-against-average and a .787 save percentage. She played well in the NCAA game against Ohio State, making nine saves.
"Her performances in the postseason games were really crucial to our success," Richards said. "She really came to the forefront in those times."
This season Richards hopes that Katie Krapf, a junior college transfer, and Christy Zabek, a freshman, will push Shingler in practice.
"Last season Ali did a great job but wasn't necessarily pushed after Jen Kernahan had her ACL injury," Richards said.
Other key seniors returning include midfielders Leah Eggleton, Julie Trundle, Molly Bremen and Samantha Meister, forward Britt Anderson and co-captains Ashley Wentzel and Natalie Sampiller.
"They know this is their last go and they're good players as well. They can be a real leading force," Richards said about his seniors.
Richards says Meister is ready to play after missing the final five games last season with a broken ankle.
"I know she is very determined to make up for the disappointment of not playing in the MAC games and not playing in the NCAA game," Richards said about Meister, a first-team all-conference pick as a sophomore. "She's fit and raring to go."
The team lost seven seniors from last season, including Kristy Coppes, who led the team with 18 goals and scored 52 goals in her career.
Replacing Coppes' scoring is a major concern for Richards.
Meister and Anderson tied for second on the team with four goals each last season. Eggleton led the team with nine assists, Trundle had eight while Anderson and Bremen had six each.
"We've either got to get somebody to step up and take over that (scoring) role or we have to do it as a team. We've got to look for several people to score maybe six or seven goals each rather than one person scoring 18," Richards said.
The season and home opener is Aug. 26 against Oakland at 5 p.m. on Cochrane Field.
