Early Second-Half Goal Lifts Ball State to 2-0 Win

Friday, October 25

Bowling Green, OH

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

0-14-1, 0-8-1MAC

Ball State

10-4-3, 5-2-2MAC

Team	1	2	Final F
Ball State	0	2	2
Bowling Green	0	0	0

October 25, 2013 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Falcons host Miami Sunday in Senior Day match

By: BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Victoria Jacobs scored just 37 seconds into the second half, breaking a scoreless tie and lifting Ball State University to a 2-0 win over the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team Friday night (Oct. 25). The Mid-American Conference match was held at Cochrane Field.

FINAL STATISTICS: HTML | PDF
PHOTO GALLERY - James Nahikian, BGSU Athletic Communications
Scroll down for video of the post-match interview with Lindsay Basalyga

The Falcons (now 0-14-1 overall, 0-8-1 MAC) battled the Cardinals (10-4-3, 5-2-2 MAC) for the full 90 minutes, and the statistics were even in nearly every statistical category. BSU had a narrow advantage in total shots attempted, 19-18, and the Cardinals had a 10-7 edge in shots on goal. The Falcons had two corner kicks to the visitors' one, and each team was whistled for just four fouls.

Falcon freshman goalkeeper Jenna DiTusa, making her collegiate debut, made eight saves on the night.

The score (0-0) and shot (8-8) totals were even after 45 minutes of play, but the Cards struck quickly after the second half began. BSU played the ball down the left side, and a Cardinal player saved the ball from going over the end line, centering the ball into the penalty area. Several players from both teams were in the box, but BSU's Lindsay Kempf laid it into the path of Jacobs, who fired a shot from the top of the box. The high, arcing shot, taken through traffic, went over everyone, including the leaping effort of DiTusa, and into the net.

The Cardinals doubled the lead midway through the second half, on a goal by Abbey Fiser. BSU's Madison Oyer played a ball through to Fiser, who was behind the Falcon defense in the penalty area. Fiser was in all alone, and poked the ball to her left to elude the charging DiTusa, who was forced to come off her line. Fiser then finished into the open net for a two-goal advantage.

The Falcons battled to the final whistle, with several close calls over the final 20 minutes. Junior Ashley Garr found freshman Taylor Bucaro with a pass, and Bucaro played it forward to junior Sidney Huth. But, as she approached the box and tried to make a final move, Huth was dispossessed, as a Cardinal defender was able to get a toe on the ball and knock it away from the BG striker.

With 12 minutes to go, Bucaro fired a shot from the top of the box that was blocked by a BSU backliner. The ball came back to Bucaro, who hit another shot that hit the crossbar. The ball glanced off the top of the 'bar and out of play.

Senior Madeline Wideman, who had a career-high six shot attempts on the night, hit a blast from distance as the clock ticked under the nine-minute mark, but BSU 'keeper Layne Schramm was able to make the save in the center of the six-yard box. Schramm had seven saves on the night.

With under three minutes to go, Bucaro made a long run to beat a BSU player to the ball near the end line. Bucaro fired a right-side cross, but Schramm grabbed the ball before a Falcon forward could reach it.

Wideman and senior Jenny Fowler teamed up with just over a minute left, as Wideman found Fowler with a pass, and Fowler played a textbook cross to Huth on the far side of the net. Huth hit a one-timer, but the shot went wide left.

Although the teams combined for 16 shots in the opening period, neither team generated a great deal of grade-A scoring chances, as the first 45 minutes generally consisted of midfield play. Just over five minutes in, Bucaro's left-side cross found Fowler on the far side of the six-yard box, and the co-captain headed the ball back across the goalmouth, but the Cardinals were able to clear it out of harm's way.

Fifteen minutes in, Bucaro curved a corner kick on goal, but Schramm came up with the ball in traffic.

Ball State's best chance, arguably, of the opening half came with roughly 10 minutes to go, as a hard shot by Kelsey Wendlandt was corralled by DiTusa at the right goalpost.

The Falcons return to Cochrane Field for one last time in 2013, hosting Miami University on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 27). That match, which begins at 1:00 p.m., is Senior Day, and the seven seniors within the BGSU women's soccer program will be recognized in ceremonies prior to kickoff.