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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Friday, August 19
Chicago, Ill.
7:00 PM CT
Bowling Green State University
at
Loyola (Ill.)
The 2011 seniors are (left to right) Brittany Hopkins, Courtney Beinlich, Alyssa Zuccaro and Megan Amann (Michael Nemeth/BGSU Photo Services)
Women's Soccer Season Starts this Weekend
August 16, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Falcons head to Illinois for a pair of matches
The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team begins the 15th season in program history this weekend. The Falcons of head coach Andy Richards head to the state of Illinois for a pair of matches, beginning with Friday's (Aug. 19) contest vs. Loyola (Ill.). Kickoff for that match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. locally (8:00 p.m. Eastern) at Loyola Soccer Park. Then, the Brown and Orange will head to Normal, Ill., for a Sunday (Aug. 21) meeting with Illinois State, with start time scheduled for 1:00 p.m. locally (2:00 p.m. Eastern).
FALCONS at LOYOLA
Friday, August 19, 2011 • 7:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. ET)
VENUE: Loyola Soccer Park; Chicago, Ill.
FINAL 2010 RECORDS:
• BGSU 4-12-4, 2-6-3 Mid-American Conference
• Loyola 7-12-1, 4-3-1 Horizon League
SERIES*: First Meeting
COACHES:
• BGSU: Andy Richards (Sheffield City Polytechnic [England], '89), 102-108-26 in 12th year at BGSU and overall; 55-55-15 in MAC matches
• Loyola: Barry Bimbi (Saint Francis [Pa.], '94), first season at Loyola and overall
LIVE STATS: Available through loyolaramblers.com and right here at BGSUFalcons.com
FALCONS at ILLINOIS STATE
Sunday, August 21, 2011 • 2:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. ET)
VENUE: Adelaide Street Field; Normal, Ill.
FINAL 2010 RECORDS:
• BGSU 4-12-4, 2-6-3 Mid-American Conference
• ISU 9-7-2, 3-2-1 Missouri Valley Conference
SERIES*: First Meeting
COACHES:
• BGSU: Andy Richards (Sheffield City Polytechnic [England], '89), 102-108-26 in 12th year at BGSU and overall; 55-55-15 in MAC matches
• ISU: Drew Roff (Michigan State, '96), 42-26-8 in fifth year at ISU, 68-40-9 in seventh year overall
LIVE STATS: Available through GoRedbirds.com and BGSUFalcons.com
* Note: Series information can be found on pages 47-49 of the 2011 BGSU online media guide, which will soon be available in both PDF and flip interactive formats here at BGSUFalcons.com
ABOUT THE FALCONS
Richards and his staff, assistants Kellie Evans and Jimmy Walker, welcome back a total of 17 letterwinners, including seven starters, from last year's club. BGSU's returning players combined for nearly 67 percent of the team's goals and almost 73% of the assists a year ago. Four of the Falcons' top-five scorers return from the 2010 campaign, including senior captain Alyssa Zuccaro, who led the team in scoring. Zuccaro had one-third of the team's goals, with eight, and also led the Brown and Orange with six assists. Her total of 22 points was the highest by a BGSU player since the 2005 season.
Zuccaro enters her senior campaign with career totals of 40 points on 15 goals and 10 assists. She ranks eighth on the school career list for goals, and is ninth in career points on that BG chart.
Sophomore Madeline Wideman had 11 points in her inaugural season at BGSU, tying for second on the team in scoring. Nine of those 11 points came in MAC matches, with that total trailing only Zuccaro's 14 points.
Senior Megan Amann and junior Sarah VonderBrink each had seven points last season. Amann's five assists last fall upped her career total to 18, tying her for fourth in BGSU history.
Zuccaro and Wideman are the only two returning players to have started all 20 matches last season, but several other players found themselves in the starting 11 a majority of the time. Amann made 18 starts in 2010, while sophomore Alyssa Carmack (17 starts), junior Emily Rothwell (15) and redshirt sophomore Jenny Fowler (15) all started at least three-quarters of the Falcons' matches on the back line.
In goal, Alexa Arsenault has graduated after leaving her name all over the school's record book. BGSU has a pair of returnees with experience, however, in redshirt junior Becca Ison and true junior Laura Arnold. Arnold played in five matches, starting three, last fall, while Ison's three matches included one start.
EARLY START
The Falcons' Aug. 19 kickoff is the earliest start to a season in program history. Two years ago, BGSU opened the year on Aug. 21 at Ohio State. The Falcons met Cincinnati on Aug. 22 in two of the last four seasons, with a match in the Queen City in 2008 and a contest at Cochrane Field last fall.
LIVE STATISTICS
Again in 2011, all BGSU home women's soccer matches, and most away contests, will have live statistics available on the web. If you can't make it to the field, simply log on to BGSUFalcons.com at game time. The live stats links can be found on the front page of the site (in the 'schedule' section) or by clicking on the women's soccer schedule and choosing the corresponding match.
FALCON COACH ANDY RICHARDS
BGSU head coach Andy Richards, beginning his 12th season at the helm, has proven himself to be one of the most successful mentors in MAC women's soccer history. He has guided the Falcons to an overall record of 102-108-26, and a record of 55-55-15 in MAC regular-season play. Richards picked up the 100th victory of his collegiate head-coaching career in the Falcons' 3-2 win at Indiana State last season (Sept. 19).
Richards' teams perennially play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the MAC. In his first decade-plus in BG, he has led the Falcons to the MAC Tournament on eight occasions, with the team advancing to the semifinals seven times. BGSU is 10-5-5 in MAC Tournament matches during his tenure, and no coach has more trips to the league tourney title game than Richards' five. Two of those appearances – in 2004 and 2005 – resulted in MAC Tournament titles and trips to the NCAA Championships. Richards and the Falcons also won the '05 regular-season crown.
A native of Warwick, England, Richards earned his Bachelor of Education degree from Sheffield City Polytechnic in 1989. He received his Master of Education degree from Oregon State in 1997.
FALCONS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN EAST
The Falcons have been picked to finish fifth in the MAC's East Division standings in 2011, according to the preseason coaches poll, released Monday (Aug. 15). The 2011 season marks the second year that a divisional format has been utilized for MAC women's soccer. Last year, the Brown and Orange tied for fourth in the East.
THE OPPONENTS
Loyola returns 11 letterwinners, including six starters, from the 2010 team that finished with a 7-12-1 overall record. The Ramblers went 4-3-1 in Horizon League play, finishing fifth in the conference standings. Barry Bimbi begins his first season at the helm, and his first as a collegiate head coach. The school's athletics web site is www.loyolaramblers.com.
Illinois State finished with a 9-7-2 mark last season, going 3-2-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference to finish third. The Redbirds will host Southeast Missouri State on Friday before welcoming the Falcons to town two days later. Head coach Drew Roff begins his fifth season at the ISU helm. The school's athletics web site is GoRedbirds.com.
YOU LOOK FAMILIAR
Sunday's match will be a homecoming of sorts for assistant coach Kellie Evans. Evans, who came to BGSU in April, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois State, helping the team to a 21-14-3 overall record in those two years. The Redbirds won the MVC regular-season and tournament championships in 2009.
THE 2011 CAPTAIN
Senior Alyssa Zuccaro is the captain of the 2011 women's soccer Falcons.
UP NEXT
Following the Illinois trip, the Falcons will return to Northwest Ohio to prepare for the home opener. BGSU will face Detroit on Sunday, Aug. 28, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Cochrane Field.
FALCONS at LOYOLA
Friday, August 19, 2011 • 7:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. ET)
VENUE: Loyola Soccer Park; Chicago, Ill.
FINAL 2010 RECORDS:
• BGSU 4-12-4, 2-6-3 Mid-American Conference
• Loyola 7-12-1, 4-3-1 Horizon League
SERIES*: First Meeting
COACHES:
• BGSU: Andy Richards (Sheffield City Polytechnic [England], '89), 102-108-26 in 12th year at BGSU and overall; 55-55-15 in MAC matches
• Loyola: Barry Bimbi (Saint Francis [Pa.], '94), first season at Loyola and overall
LIVE STATS: Available through loyolaramblers.com and right here at BGSUFalcons.com
FALCONS at ILLINOIS STATE
Sunday, August 21, 2011 • 2:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. ET)
VENUE: Adelaide Street Field; Normal, Ill.
FINAL 2010 RECORDS:
• BGSU 4-12-4, 2-6-3 Mid-American Conference
• ISU 9-7-2, 3-2-1 Missouri Valley Conference
SERIES*: First Meeting
COACHES:
• BGSU: Andy Richards (Sheffield City Polytechnic [England], '89), 102-108-26 in 12th year at BGSU and overall; 55-55-15 in MAC matches
• ISU: Drew Roff (Michigan State, '96), 42-26-8 in fifth year at ISU, 68-40-9 in seventh year overall
LIVE STATS: Available through GoRedbirds.com and BGSUFalcons.com
* Note: Series information can be found on pages 47-49 of the 2011 BGSU online media guide, which will soon be available in both PDF and flip interactive formats here at BGSUFalcons.com
ABOUT THE FALCONS
Richards and his staff, assistants Kellie Evans and Jimmy Walker, welcome back a total of 17 letterwinners, including seven starters, from last year's club. BGSU's returning players combined for nearly 67 percent of the team's goals and almost 73% of the assists a year ago. Four of the Falcons' top-five scorers return from the 2010 campaign, including senior captain Alyssa Zuccaro, who led the team in scoring. Zuccaro had one-third of the team's goals, with eight, and also led the Brown and Orange with six assists. Her total of 22 points was the highest by a BGSU player since the 2005 season.
Zuccaro enters her senior campaign with career totals of 40 points on 15 goals and 10 assists. She ranks eighth on the school career list for goals, and is ninth in career points on that BG chart.
Sophomore Madeline Wideman had 11 points in her inaugural season at BGSU, tying for second on the team in scoring. Nine of those 11 points came in MAC matches, with that total trailing only Zuccaro's 14 points.
Senior Megan Amann and junior Sarah VonderBrink each had seven points last season. Amann's five assists last fall upped her career total to 18, tying her for fourth in BGSU history.
Zuccaro and Wideman are the only two returning players to have started all 20 matches last season, but several other players found themselves in the starting 11 a majority of the time. Amann made 18 starts in 2010, while sophomore Alyssa Carmack (17 starts), junior Emily Rothwell (15) and redshirt sophomore Jenny Fowler (15) all started at least three-quarters of the Falcons' matches on the back line.
In goal, Alexa Arsenault has graduated after leaving her name all over the school's record book. BGSU has a pair of returnees with experience, however, in redshirt junior Becca Ison and true junior Laura Arnold. Arnold played in five matches, starting three, last fall, while Ison's three matches included one start.
EARLY START
The Falcons' Aug. 19 kickoff is the earliest start to a season in program history. Two years ago, BGSU opened the year on Aug. 21 at Ohio State. The Falcons met Cincinnati on Aug. 22 in two of the last four seasons, with a match in the Queen City in 2008 and a contest at Cochrane Field last fall.
LIVE STATISTICS
Again in 2011, all BGSU home women's soccer matches, and most away contests, will have live statistics available on the web. If you can't make it to the field, simply log on to BGSUFalcons.com at game time. The live stats links can be found on the front page of the site (in the 'schedule' section) or by clicking on the women's soccer schedule and choosing the corresponding match.
FALCON COACH ANDY RICHARDS
BGSU head coach Andy Richards, beginning his 12th season at the helm, has proven himself to be one of the most successful mentors in MAC women's soccer history. He has guided the Falcons to an overall record of 102-108-26, and a record of 55-55-15 in MAC regular-season play. Richards picked up the 100th victory of his collegiate head-coaching career in the Falcons' 3-2 win at Indiana State last season (Sept. 19).
Richards' teams perennially play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the MAC. In his first decade-plus in BG, he has led the Falcons to the MAC Tournament on eight occasions, with the team advancing to the semifinals seven times. BGSU is 10-5-5 in MAC Tournament matches during his tenure, and no coach has more trips to the league tourney title game than Richards' five. Two of those appearances – in 2004 and 2005 – resulted in MAC Tournament titles and trips to the NCAA Championships. Richards and the Falcons also won the '05 regular-season crown.
A native of Warwick, England, Richards earned his Bachelor of Education degree from Sheffield City Polytechnic in 1989. He received his Master of Education degree from Oregon State in 1997.
FALCONS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN EAST
The Falcons have been picked to finish fifth in the MAC's East Division standings in 2011, according to the preseason coaches poll, released Monday (Aug. 15). The 2011 season marks the second year that a divisional format has been utilized for MAC women's soccer. Last year, the Brown and Orange tied for fourth in the East.
THE OPPONENTS
Loyola returns 11 letterwinners, including six starters, from the 2010 team that finished with a 7-12-1 overall record. The Ramblers went 4-3-1 in Horizon League play, finishing fifth in the conference standings. Barry Bimbi begins his first season at the helm, and his first as a collegiate head coach. The school's athletics web site is www.loyolaramblers.com.
Illinois State finished with a 9-7-2 mark last season, going 3-2-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference to finish third. The Redbirds will host Southeast Missouri State on Friday before welcoming the Falcons to town two days later. Head coach Drew Roff begins his fifth season at the ISU helm. The school's athletics web site is GoRedbirds.com.
YOU LOOK FAMILIAR
Sunday's match will be a homecoming of sorts for assistant coach Kellie Evans. Evans, who came to BGSU in April, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois State, helping the team to a 21-14-3 overall record in those two years. The Redbirds won the MVC regular-season and tournament championships in 2009.
THE 2011 CAPTAIN
Senior Alyssa Zuccaro is the captain of the 2011 women's soccer Falcons.
UP NEXT
Following the Illinois trip, the Falcons will return to Northwest Ohio to prepare for the home opener. BGSU will face Detroit on Sunday, Aug. 28, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Cochrane Field.
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