Bowling Green State University Athletics
Samantha Bland Earns All-Rookie Honors
December 12, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Dec. 12, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University women's soccer freshman Samantha Bland has been named to the Women's College Soccer All-Rookie Team by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Bland was named to the third team by the soccer web site.
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Bland was the only Mid-American Conference player named to the team.
Bland, a native of Hilliard, Ohio (Darby H.S.), helped solidify a BGSU defensive corps that posted a school-record 10 shutouts in 2006. She saw action in 16 of BGSU's 20 games, making 13 starts, and helped the Falcons set a school record for lowest goals-against average in MAC games (0.91).
BG surrendered a school record-low 26 goals in this season's 20 games, foro a 1.30 GAA (second-lowest in school history), and the Brown and Orange gave up only 10 goals -- also a school record-low total -- in the 11 MAC matches.
At the other end of the field, Bland had three points on a goal and an assist. The goal was a last-minute game winner, as her header gave the Falcons a 1-0 home win over Eastern Michigan (Oct. 22). Her assist also came on a winning goal, in the second overtime of the Falcons' next game for a 1-0 victory over Toledo in the final regular-season match (Oct. 26).
The Falcons finished the 2006 season with an overall record of 10-10-0. BGSU, with 12 newcomers on the 24-woman roster, went 7-4-0 in MAC regular-season action to tie for third place in the league. Head coach Andy Richards and the Falcons had just one senior on that '06 squad.
