Women’s Soccer Preseason Practice Report: Falcons Kick-Off Preseason Practice

Photo by: BGSU Strategic Communications

Women’s Soccer Preseason Practice Report: Falcons Kick-Off Preseason Practice

August 05, 2015 | Women's Soccer

By: by Kevin Davis, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

Video: Interview with Coach Basalyga
Video: Interview with Co-Captains Cadel & Parkinson
2015 BGSU Women's Soccer Schedule
2015 BGSU Women's Soccer Quick Facts
2015 BGSU Women's Soccer Roster
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Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team kicked-off its 2015 preseason on Wednesday, Aug. 5, with not just one, but two team practices to start a 10-day preseason regiment to get the new look Falcons prepared for their exhibition contest at Pittsburgh on Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.

Sporting new Nike gear from head to toe, the BGSU women's soccer team continues its process under third year head coach Lindsay Basalyga, who has helped the program take huge strides in the rebuilding process since taking over prior to the 2013 season.

"Obviously I'm thrilled to be back and excited to go into year three of our process. I'm excited to finally get our 10 new freshmen on campus and to really start seeing where they are going to gel and mix in with our current players," Basalyga stated. "Overall, I'm just so thrilled about the level and the bar that the players set for themselves individually over the summer and collectively as a team. I'm definitely thrilled to finally be back and training."

The Falcons return 16 letterwinners from the 2014 season which saw BGSU post four more wins than the previous year and score wins over MAC foes Akron, Ohio and Kent State. In fact, BGSU returns a total of 10 starters from last year's squad led by 2014 All-MAC Second Team selection Lauren Cadel and 2014 All-MAC Freshman Team member Skylar Fleak. Cadel finished the season with 146 saves, the most ever in a single season by a goalkeeper in BGSU women's soccer history, while Fleak led the team in scoring with five goals in her freshman campaign.

Also returning are senior co-captain Haley Parkinson, who played in all 18 matches last season on the defensive backline for the Falcons, and senior goalkeeper Alexis Smith who played sparingly last season in her first year at BGSU after transferring in from Schoolcraft College.

"Personally, I think it's the best time - no school and all soccer," said Parkinson. "It's just soccer and you are with your team 24/7."

Juniors Paige Amodio, Jessica Creech, Kara Ross, Alexa Cheripko and Melissa Needham all return in 2015 and will be looked upon for both leadership and experience both on and off the field as Coach Basalyga's 2015 squad has 19 underclassman on the roster.

Prepping for their second season on the pitch for the Falcons along with Fleak are sophomores Leah Runkle, Madison Schupbach, Rachel Winters, Mikaela Couch, Sarah Quimby and Elisa Baeron, who all turned in quality minutes on the field for the Falcons as true freshmen last season.

Redshirt-sophomore Jennifer Reyes, who saw action in 17 matches last year for the Falcons, will miss the 2015 season due to an injury, yet fellow returner Erica Hubert will hit the field for the first time for the Orange and Brown this season after sitting out all of her freshman year last year with an injury.

To go along with the 16 returners, Coach Basalyga has brought in a strong class of 10 freshmen that will look to help push the Falcons' process to new heights immediately. Newcomers Laura Bozzelli and Morgann Williams will look to add some scoring help up front in the attack for the Falcons in 2015, while a handful of new Falcons in Abbie Bacon, Juli Knapp, Jip van Haaster and Morgan Abbitt will help to provide depth in the midfield for BGSU. Sophia Moreau, Alex Prout and Alexis Fricke will give the Falcons even more strength on the defensive backline, while goalkeeper Victoria Cope will look to learn from her fellow Canadian in Cadel between the pipes this year.

"There is definitely a lot of excitement in the locker room," commented Cadel. "Everyone is happy to be back, happy to be on the field together and competing for the next couple of weeks."

The Falcons will have 10 days to get ready for their exhibition contests versus Pitt out of the ACC on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 6 p.m. in Pittsburgh, Pa.

BGSU will host Chicago State in the regular season opener on Friday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. at Cochrane Field.

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