With a 2-0 Shutout of NIU, Women's Soccer Marks Most Wins Since 2008

Sunday, October 23

Bowling Green, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

8-9-1 (3-6-1MAC)

Northern Illinois

4-9-4 (3-5-2MAC)

Northern Illinois

Bowling Green

With a 2-0 Shutout of NIU, Women's Soccer Marks Most Wins Since 2008

October 23, 2016 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

Box Score
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – On Sunday afternoon and the Falcons Senior Day, the Bowling Green women's soccer program (8-9-1, 3-6-1 MAC) shutout Mid-American Conference foe Northern Illinois (4-9-4, 3-5-2 MAC) with a 2-0 final. With the victory, the Falcons have now posted the most wins in a season since the 2008 campaign.

"We learned so much over the last 18 games and one of our downfalls I feel like in the past is coming out slow and not as sharp as we wanted to be," Bowling Green women's soccer head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. "I feel like they really set the tone early in the game today and got the ball buzzing really quickly. We were really urgent in the first five, ten minutes of the game around the goal and that really helped to set the tone."

In the win, freshman Rachel Muller was able to score her first collegiate goal that ultimately became the game-winner. A native of Castle Rock, Colo., Muller received a pass from redshirt sophomore Erica Hubert at the top of the box, and took a soaring shot that hit the back of the net in the upper left corner of the goal over the reach of the Northern Illinois keeper.

The Falcons early start to the match led to six shots in the first half that kept the momentum rolling over the course of the 90 minute conference matchup. Muller accounted for three of the Falcons 12 shots on the night, while Hubert also marked three shot attempts against the Huskies.

With seven minutes on the clock before halftime, freshman goalkeeper Kathleen Duwve made a pair of crucial saves after the Huskies took a free kick on the edge of the box. With the back-to-back saves, Duwve helped Bowling Green hold on to its 1-0 lead, and eventually earned her fourth shutout of the season.

From the crucial defensive play , junior Madison Schupbach was able to come away with the ball and take it down the field into the Northern Illinois zone. The native of Rochester, Mich. was able to take a shot that went just high, but was critical in reversing the momentum back in favor of the Falcons.

After more high-action, back-and-forth play across the field, Bowling Green was able to go into halftime with a 1-0 lead over the Huskies. It was 73:23 into the match when freshman Sam Howshar capitalized on a Falcons throw-in near the corner and was able to score by placing the ball in the left side of the net, giving Bowling Green a comfortable 2-0 lead with 16:37 remaining in the game. The goal was Howshar's second of the season.

The Falcons continued to be consistent with its offensive strategy and tallied six shots in each half, for a 90 minute total of 12. Northern Illinois marked 16 attempted shots, with 11 landing on net, while Duwve accounted for 10 saves in her fourth shutout in her debut season.

With the eighth win, Coach Basalyga has improved the win total across all four of her seasons leading the Bowling Green women's soccer program.

The Falcons will round out regular season play at home on Thursday, Oct. 27, as it welcomes in-state rival Toledo to Cochrane Stadium. The Battle of I-75 will begin its showdown at 3 p.m.