Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons in Cincinnati: Running Diary
August 22, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Aug. 22, 2008
Recap | Final Stats
WESTERN OHIO (BGSUFalcons.com) - The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team becomes the first of the Falcons' 18 sports to compete in an event that counts in 2008-09. Head coach Andy Richards and the Falcons head to the Queen City on Friday (Aug. 22) for a non-conference match at the University of Cincinnati. Mike Cihon of the BGSU athletic communications office hopped on the bus with the Falcons, and - internet access permitting - will try to file periodic updates during the team's trip ...
12:16 p.m. -- The bus pulls out from Perry Stadium West, and the first road trip is underway. The Falcons have been practicing for several weeks, and had an intra-squad scrimmage Sunday, but tonight will be BGSU's first test against unfamiliar competition.
Having worked in the BGSU athletics department for over a decade now, I know that most Falcon teams have a movie in the DVD player before the trip even begins, and today is no exception. Richards always gives his team a chance to vote on the movie they'd like to see, by holding up each DVD case and judging by the amount of applause received.
On a bus featuring four males and twenty-some females, the overwhelming choice is 'Sydney White,' starring (according to the DVD case) America's sweetheart, Amanda Bynes. As a male who is rapidly approaching middle age, I can't say 'Sydney White' would have been my first choice, but I don't think the makers of the movie had middle-aged males as their target audience.
12:33 p.m. -- As on most bus trips, some student-athletes are watching the film, and others are trying to catch a few minutes rest. Even with kickoff more than six hours away, team members seem to be focusing on the task at hand tonight. Richards, too, is preparing for tonight's game, but in a slightly different way. Knowing that he has a big day ahead of him, the coach eats a burrito that is roughly the size of his head. Gotta keep your strength up, coach.
12:54 p.m. -- While the team members are quietly reading, sleeping or watching the movie, the coaching staff begins the trip with a rousing game of euchre. The stellar team of assistant coach Tiffany Hansen and yours truly earns a hard-fought win over Richards (who has polished off the burrito) and assistant Scott Gloden. For you statistics buffs, I believe the final was 10-7, but I can say without hesitation that the game was not as close as the score indicated. Also, can it be a coincidence that the team featuring two BGSU graduates (or in Hansen's case, soon-to-be graduate) defeated two non-BGSU grads? I think not.
1:55 p.m. -- After the first few entries, you might be thinking this writer will be poking fun at Coach Richards for the entire trip. While that is always an enjoyable part of any women's soccer trip, I must give the coach credit where credit is due. Richards is preparing for tonight's game, and is currently scribbling out possible lineups and substitution patterns for tonight's match (at least that's how it appears to this untrained eye). With 10 freshmen on the 2008 roster, and with many players capable of playing several positions on the field, the coaches have a myriad of lineup options.
While the team is focused on the UC match only, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that BGSU's home opener is nine days away. The Falcons have a tough non-conference slate of opponents ahead of them, including the home-opening foe, Michigan State. BG will host the Spartans on Sunday, Aug. 31, in a 1:00 p.m. start at Cochrane Field.
For fans looking to read up on the 2008 Falcons, the bios have been updated here at BGSUFalcons.com. Simply go to the roster page and click on the name of your favorite Falcon(s). Additionally, we hope to have a PDF version of the `08 media guide available within the next week or so.
5:22 p.m. -- After a lengthy stop at TGI Fridays for the pre-game meal, and an unplanned bus tour of Cincinnati, the Falcons step off the bus at Gettler Stadium. The team briefly inspects the field before heading into the lockerroom. The ball will travel much more quickly on the turf here at Gettler Stadium than it typically would on the grass surface at Cochrane Field. Richards gives the Falcons a quick talk about the field before the players head into the team room.
6:17 p.m. -- The Bearcats are warming up on the field, and the Falcons are filing back out of the team room and onto the pitch. I mentioned in this week's game notes that Bearcat head coach Michelle Salmon came to UC after two successful years at Ball State. Her final game with the Cardinals came against the Falcons in last year's MAC Tournament semifinals; now, her regular-season debut with UC comes against BGSU as well.
6:29 p.m. -- The coaches have exchanged lineups, and BGSU's starting 11, in no particular order: Alexa Arsenault, Colleen Kordan, Jackie Tamerlano, Kaitlyn Kobe, Gina Rossi, Susan Hunter, Samantha Bland, Brianne Eisenhard, Leah Johnson, Katie Stephenson and Meagan Moran. Once kickoff rolls around, the statistics should be available both here at BGSUFalcons.com and at UC's official web site, GoBearcats.com. It looks as if UC will also have an internet broadcast, which hopefully will be available by clicking here at game time.
6:42 p.m. -- Quick weather update: it is a nice evening here in the Queen City. It is sunny, slightly hazy, and relatively humid, which is not surprising for a late August evening. There is a festive atmosphere here at Gettler Stadium, which is nestled in among UC's other athletics facilities. In the distance beyond the field, a high-school football doubleheader is taking place at Nippert Stadium, the Bearcats' football facility. Occasionally, a roar can be heard eminating from the first football game of the DH, and from the press box, one can see part of the scoreboard and video board. Also nearby are UC's basketball, baseball and tennis facilities.
Gettler Stadium is bordered on one side by a parking garage; to reach the press box, one must enter the first level of the parking garage, take the stairs to the second level, and enter the press box through the garage. It's nicer than it sounds ...
Back at halftime with an update.
7:49 p.m. -- Not a great first half for the Falcons, as UC has a 3-1 lead at the intermission. As might be expected in an opening game, play was a little sloppy for both teams. The first two goals, just 15 seconds apart, were equally wacky. The Bearcats struck first on a ball that was meant to be a cross, but went in the far corner of the net due to a miscommunication between BG defenders.
Immediately after the ensuing kickoff, though, Gina Rossi took the ball down the left side of the field and fired a ball toward goal. UC 'keeper Andrea Kaminski got her hands on it, but could not hold on, and the ball bounded into the net.
UC then notched a pair of more conventional goals, just two-and-a-half minutes apart, to take a 3-1 lead into the break.
For the Falcons, Leah Johnson has played well in her debut, and several other freshmen have come off the bench to see their first collegiate playing time. Alyssa Zuccaro, Megan Amann and Kelsey Kovacs all have made their respective BG debuts, while juniors Stacey Lucas and Jen Czapka also saw first-half action. Several Falcons have played well, and Johnson in particular showed no signs of being nervous in her collegiate debut. Her first shot in a BG uniform very nearly became her first goal as a Falcon. She took a pass from Jackie Tamerlano and fired a hard strike, forcing Kaminski to make a leaping deflection. Still, the ball almost went in, ringing off the crossbar.
With just under 10 minutes until the second-half kickoff, the BG coaching staff has wrapped up their brief discussion, and Richards will now address the team. The Falcons stayed on the field to meet, while the 'Cats headed to their lockerroom. Back after the match with a few final thoughts ...
10:03 p.m. -- The game is over, the players have showered and had a quick visit with their families, and the bus is pulling out of the UC athletic complex. BGSU battled hard in the second half, but fell by that 3-1 score.
Despite a 15-0 shot disparity in the second half, the Falcons defended very well. Alexa Arsenault made a number of saves in the half (a career-high 12 for the game), and a number of newcomers got some valuable time on the pitch. In all, 20 different players saw action in the match.
Several former Falcon greats were in attendance at the game, including Jenny Berlovan, Leslie Buse, Kasey Freeman, Stephanie Heller and Beth Rieman. What do these five have in common? All led their BGSU teams to either a MAC Championship or the title game of the MAC Tournament as seniors. Also, all five played on teams that struggled in August, but were playing their best soccer in November. Richards and Company want to win August games in 2008, to be sure, but the Falcons will learn from the UC game and look to make some adjustment prior to next Friday's game at Oakland.
Despite the loss, I've enjoyed my day with the women's soccer team. I wish I could travel with all of BGSU's 18 sports, and write more diaries like this -- hopefully, there will be more chances to hit the road with the Brown and Orange and offer some more of my brilliant (??) thoughts. Time now, though, to post the game stats here on the web, and to write a brief recap ... Roll Along!
1:05 a.m. (Saturday) -- The bus pulls back into the parking lot at Perry Stadium, and the student-athletes -- many of whom tried to catch a few winks during the trip home -- wearily file off the bus. They will be back at Stadium West before they know it, as practice begins in 10 hours. The 2008-09 season is truly underway.
