Akron Downs BGSU, 2-0, at a Rainy Cochrane Field

Sunday, October 14

Bowling Green, OH

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

1-14-1, 0-7-1MAC

Akron

5-10-0, 1-7-0MAC

Team	1	2	Final F
Akron	1	1	2
Bowling Green	0	0	0

October 14, 2012 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Kelly DeNiro scored a goal in each half, lifting the University of Akron to a 2-0 win over the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team Sunday afternoon (Oct. 14). The Mid-American Conference match was held at Cochrane Field.

Akron 2, BGSU 0 - PDF Box
Akron 2, BGSU 0 - HTML Stats
PHOTO GALLERY - Jordan Sternberg, BGSU Marketing & Communications
Scroll down to view a postgame interview with Coach Kellie Evans

Ashley Hughes assisted on both goals for the Zips (5-10-0, 1-7-0 MAC), while Alex Luevano-Harden and Klaire Adee combined to make eight saves on the day. Each UA 'keeper played one half of the match.

The Falcons (1-14-1, 0-7-1) had healthy advantages in both shots and shots on goal, but had difficulty generating many dangerous scoring opportunities. The Brown and Orange had 20 total shots to the Zips' six, and BG had an 8-3 edge in shots on goal.

Much of the match was played under rainy conditions, but the rain stayed away long enough for the 'Senior Day' festivities to be completed. The Falcons' four seniors -- Becca Ison, Leah Johnson, Emily Rothwell and Sarah VonderBrink -- were recognized in ceremonies prior to the match, and all four played at least 45 minutes of the game.

VonderBrink and junior Madeline Wideman each had four shots in the match, and 'Vondy' and fellow senior Johnson each put two shots on goal. The latter two players nearly hooked up on a scoring chance with nine minutes gone, as a cross by VonderBrink was just beyond Johnson's reach in the penalty area.

Twelve minutes into the match, redshirt sophomore Kylie Briem hit a long ball from just shy of midfield. VonderBrink got her head on it, deflecting the ball toward the onrushing Wideman. But, again, that ball was just slightly out of the reach, and it rolled to Luevano-Harden.

The Zips, however, won back-to-back corner kicks in the 14th minute of the match, and soon took the lead. UA's short corner saw Hughes slide the ball to DeNiro in the left corner. DeNiro hit the ball into the box from that seemingly bad angle, and the cross/shot wound up hitting the far-side netting. The visitors were on the board at the 14:03 mark. And, although the Falcons had a 7-3 edge in first-half shots, the Zips took that 1-0 lead into the intermission.

It rained off and on during that first half, and a light rain was falling as the teams returned to the pitch for the second half. Both teams switched 'keepers at the break, with Adee taking the field for the Zips, and Ison replacing freshman Jenna Underwood for the hosts. And, it was Adee who would be tested first.

After more than doubling Akron's shots total in the opening half, the Falcons had the first six shot attempts of the second period. The first three shots were off the mark, but junior Kaitlyn Tobin and freshman Demy Whitaker each put shots on frame just over a minute apart. Both shots were hit from distance, however, and Adee was able to see each shot and make the save in both cases.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, the Zips made full use of their first shot of the period, and DeNiro was again the culprit. She took a pass from Hughes from the right side of the pitch, and, with space in which to work, took a few dribbles. As she approached the 18-yard line, DeNiro hit a low, hard shot, perfectly placing it in the lower-right-hand corner of the goal, just beyond the outstretched fingertips of a diving Ison. Hughes again had the lone assist on the goal, which came with 57 and a half minutes gone.

From there, Adee and her defenders were able to preserve the shutout. The Falcons had seven more shots before full time, but could not find the back of the net.

At the game's three-quarter mark, redshirt junior Jenny Fowler found Tobin with a pass, and Tobin played the ball ahead to VonderBrink. The senior, headed down the right side of the pitch, then cut back across the field and fired a shot that sailed just wide of the left post.

Nine minutes later, VonderBrink again made a long run, after passes from sophomore Lindsey Thompson and freshman Haley Parkinson. The senior again cut the ball back to avoid a defender and, moving from right to left, hit a shot from distance. But, Adee was able to corral the shot.

The Falcons pressed forward in the late stages of the match, and had a pair of shots just over 30 seconds apart. Johnson found sophomore Ashley Garr heading into the box on the left side, and Garr hit a shot that was blocked by Adee. The Falcons tracked the ball down once again, and Thompson found Wideman for a shot attempt. But, Adee was once again in position to make the stop. When the UA 'keeper stopped a shot by Johnson with just over a minute left, the Zips were able to salt away the victory.

Luevano-Harden had two saves in the first half, while Adee made six stops in her second-half stint. The Falcon goalkeepers had a total of one save as Underwood and Ison split time in net.

In addition to the 8-3 advantage in shots on goal, the Falcons also had eight corner kicks to the Zips' three, including a 7-2 advantage in the opening half.

A total of 20 players saw action for coach Kellie Evans and assistant Bubby Leasure on Sunday afternoon, with every one of those 20 posting a double-digit minutes-played total. Fifteen of those Falcons played 40 minutes or more against the Zips.

The Falcons take to the road for a pair of matches next weekend, facing Ball State on Friday (Oct. 19). The Brown and Orange then will take on Miami in Sunday (Oct. 21) action, before concluding the regular season at home vs. Central Michigan on Thursday, Oct. 25.