Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
XAVIER
Falcons Work Overtime to Top Xavier, 1-0
September 01, 2006 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 1, 2006
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - Freshman Kayleigh Zajaros scored her first collegiate goal midway through the second overtime, giving the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team a 1-0 win over Xavier University Friday afternoon (Sept. 1). The non-conference match was held at BGSU's Cochrane Field.
With the win, the Falcons improve to 1-2-0 on the young season, while dropping the Musketeers to 0-3-0.
Junior Tiffany Hansen made 10 saves in earning her first shutout as a Falcon and the third complete-game shutout of her collegiate career.
Lindsay Carter, the Falcons' lone senior, and junior Danielle Cygan picked up the assists on Zajaros' winner, which came at the 105:38 mark. The shot was BGSU's first shot on goal of the match.
The Musketeers outshot the Brown and Orange by a 19-6 margin, including an 11-1 advantage in shots on goal. XU also held a sizable lead in the corner kicks department as well, 8-2.
The visitors had a golden opportunity for a 'Golden Goal' early in the second OT period. After an XU player went down in the 18-yard box, the Falcons were called for a foul and a penalty kick was awarded just 47 seconds into the period. Xavier's Amber Silvis, however, saw her try sail over the crossbar.
On a day that seemed windy even by Bowling Green standards, the game started slowly. The teams combined for just four total shots (two apiece) in the opening half. The Falcons' first good chance did not come until nearly 30 minutes were gone. Cygan, who drew the start at forward, dribbled down the middle of the pitch and took a shot from about 15 yards out that rolled just wide of the net.
With under nine minutes left before halftime, a Xavier crossing ball was deflected out of the penalty area by a Falcon defender. The ball went directly to XU's Karin Martini, who ran onto it and fired. The shot, however, was right at Hansen.
In the second half, the Musketeers had 12 shot attempts to the Falcons' one. Five of those shots came in a span of just over 10 minutes late in the half.
That span, which also saw XU take four corners, began with a Brittney Green shot that was blocked by the BG defense. Less than a minute later, Allison Osbourne headed a corner kick on goal from point-blank range, but Hansen made the stop.
One minute later, Osbourne threatened again, deflecting a cross on net, but Hansen again was equal to the task. Melissa Zimmerman took a shot that was saved by Hansen with 10:42 left in regulation.
Hansen and the BG defense remained under fire over the next few minutes, as the BG goalie punched away a cross and broke up another XU scoring chance.
With just over two minutes left, Angie Scarlato just missed on a rolling shot that was headed toward the far post. Half a minute later, the Falcons threatened, as Carter sent Rossi in behind the last line of the XU defense. Rossi, on the left side of the net, sent a shot toward the far post that just missed with 1:27 on the clock. That was the final scoring chance of regulation for either team.
The Musketeers had four shots, including three on goal, in the first 10-minute overtime period. Sara Doutt brought the ball into the BG 18-yard box on the right side of the field, and cut to her left. But, Falcon freshman Colleen Kordan blocked Doutt's shot attempt, and Hansen pounced on the rebound.
Midway through the period, Cygan beat her defender down the left side of the field, brought the ball along the end line and sent a cross into the area. Freshman Stacey Lucas connected on a one-timer, but the shot went over the bar.
In the second OT, the foul leading to the penalty-kick attempt came in the opening minute, but the high kick meant the game continued. With just over four minutes elapsed in the period, Cygan's pass found Carter, who slid the ball to Zajaros in traffic in the center of the field. Zajaros fired, striking the ball with the outside of her right foot, and the low shot spun past XU goalkeeper Kelly Farrell to give the home side the victory.
Hansen, as mentioned, made 10 saves in the complete-match shutout, with eight of those coming after halftime. Farrell was not credited with a save in the contest.
"Exactly one week ago, we were 0-0 going into a game at Marquette, and we did not know a whole lot about our team," said Falcon head coach Andy Richards. "Seven days later, we have learned a great deal about our team, as we have had three very tough games against three very good teams.
"Today, we did a much better job of defending correctly and with some vigor. We did a better job of connecting with our passes in the midfield, and we were much more creative up top. And, the end result was that we got a well-deserved victory.
"I was very impressed with the way this young team played throughout the 90 minutes of regulation and the overtimes. Defensively, they thoroughly deserved the shutout that they got, and it was wonderful to see Kayleigh Zajaros score her first collegiate goal.
"We were a little fortunate at times, obviously, with the missed penalty kick from Xavier. But, I thought we deserved the victory, and I was delighted to see everyone put a lot of heart and effort into it. There are still a lot of things that we must work on, but we have made great strides into the last week. We will enjoy this win, and we will get back to work to prepare for Sunday's match."
The Falcons will continue a three-match homestand on Sunday (Sept. 3), facing Western Illinois University in a noon kickoff. WIU is off to a 3-0-0 start for the first time in program history, after a 1-0 win at Eastern Michigan Friday.
NOTES
* Friday's match increased several school-record streaks for the Falcons ... the win extended BGSU's home unbeaten streak to 10 matches ... BG is 8-0-2 in that time, since a loss to Wright State on Aug. 28, 2005.
* BGSU increased the program's school-record shutout streak as well ... the Falcons have posted nine consecutive shutouts at Cochrane Field ... BG's defense has not allowed a goal at home in a span of 920:22, since late in the first half of the Eastern Illinois match of Sept. 11, 2005.
* The Falcons are now 12-11-16 in overtime matches in the history of the program ... even after Friday's win, BG is just 5-9-8 in home contests that have gone to OT ... but, the Falcons are unbeaten in the last six overtime contests at Cochrane ... overall, BGSU is undefeated in the last eight overtime matches, having gone 3-0-5 since an OT loss to Ohio State on Oct. 31, 2003.
* Four freshmen were in the starting lineup on Friday, as Samantha Bland, Faith Juillerat, Stacey Lucas and Kayleigh Zajaros were on the field when the opening whistle blew.
* Friday's match was the first between the Falcons and Xavier in women's soccer ... XU marked the third consecutive first-time opponent for the Brown and Orange to begin the season ... those are the only three 'unfamiliar' foes on the 19-match regular-season schedule.
* The Falcons are now 5-5-0 in home openers in program history.
