Runkle Scores In 2-1 Defeat At Morehead State

Friday, August 28

Morehead, Ky.

6:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

2-1

Morehead State

1-2

OT 2

Bowling Green

Morehead State

Photo by: Larry Clapper

August 28, 2015 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: By Alexx Klein, BGSU Athletic Communications

Box Score (PDF)
Box Score (HTML)
Season Stats (PDF)

Morehead, Ky. – The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team suffered its first loss of 2015 in a hard-fought 2-1 overtime defeat Friday evening at Morehead State University in the Falcons' first road contest of the season.

"We definitely competed for the entire game and had some really dangerous chances, but defensively we could have done a better job managing the pressure at times, specifically in overtime," head coach Lindsay Basalyga said.

Morehead State earned the victory with a goal in the 99^th minute of play, following an aggressive match as evidenced by each team receiving a yellow card during the match. That goal came after each team scored in a five-minute stretch of the second half to break a scoreless tie.

The first half highlighted strong defensive efforts by both teams, with each goal keeper recording three saves in the period. BGSU created a few dangerous opportunities, as the team was able to get off eight total shots, led by Erica Hubert with three and senior captain Haley Parkinson with two.

The Falcons fought off two Eagle corner kicks, with the shot off the first kick going wide and the second missing high.

Sophomore Mikaela Couch's shot in the 21st minute hit the crossbar, and Alexa Cheripko's attempt 20 seconds later was saved by Eagle keeper Kaitlyn Murphy.

The three shots on goal Lauren Cadel faced were the most she has seen in a half thus far this season. She recorded five total saves in the game.

The beginning of the second half looked much like the first, with no score through 15 minutes. However, Morehead State scored on a penalty kick in the 61st minute to get on the board first. The goal was Cadel's first allowed all season.

With the Eagles up 1-0, BGSU pressured and got the equalizer. Morgan Abbitt's shot on goal was blocked in the 65^th minute, but Leah Runkle was there for the put-back for her first goal of the season.

BGSU had a chance to win the game in regulation but Skylar Fleak's shot sailed wide in the 86th minute, which ended up being the Falcons' last shot of regulation play.

In the golden goal overtime period, the Eagles opened the first five minutes with two corners and three shots, but Runkle answered with a shot of her own in the 97th minute, though it missed wide. The game ended on a goal by Morehead State's Dani Wilson in the 99th minute of the match.

"Lauren came up with huge back-to-back saves to keep us in the game, but as both teams were pushing for the win we got caught in transition for the overtime goal," said Basalyga.

"We are definitely taking away some experience and some learning," said Cheripko. "We know what it feels like to lose and we don't like it. We are going to do everything we can to learn from this, get better and come back stronger than ever."

The Eagles outshot the Falcons 6-1 in the overtime period.

"This is a great learning moment for our team as we gain experience on how to manage a game through the highs and lows," said Basalyga of her young team. The Falcons had seven freshmen and sophomores on the field to start the game and 12 saw action throughout.

Bowling Green travels to Detroit, Mich. to face Detroit for a 3 p.m. contest Wednesday. The Falcons then return to Cochrane Field Sept. 8 for a matchup with Findlay at 7 p.m.