Falcons Fall to Kent State In Narrow 1-0 Final Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, September 25

Bowling Green, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

6-4-0 (1-1-0MAC)

Kent State

6-1-0 (2-0-0MAC)

Kent State

Bowling Green

September 25, 2016 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green women's soccer program (6-4-0, 1-1-0 MAC) fell to Mid-American Conference foe Kent State (6-1-0, 2-0-0 MAC) Sunday afternoon in a narrow 1-0 final at Cochrane Stadium.

Freshman goalkeeper Kathleen Duwve made her fourth start of the season and tallied seven saves in the midst of facing 15 attempted shots by the Golden Flashes. Even despite Kent State getting past the Sylvania, Ohio native in the 17th minute with a kick into the top part of the net, Duwve recorded an .875 save percentage on the day.

"I think it was the tale of two halves today, we came out really flat and Kent State was able to capitalize in the first half," Bowling Green women's soccer head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. "In the second half we did a great job of keeping the ball buzzing and playing to our strengths. I think this is a really good learning opportunity for our team that in MAC play you can't waste minutes. You have to find a way to show up and compete for the full 90 minutes."

Although there were just six attempted shots by the Falcons, the offensive pressure was kick started when freshman Sam Howshar marked the first scoring chance for Bowling Green with ten minutes remaining in the first. The Falcons continued to put the pressure on leading into halftime as junior Madison Schupbach marked another scoring opportunity with just three minutes remaining. The native of Rochester, Mich. was able to get into the box, but had her shot blocked by a Kent State defender and went just wide of the left goal post, but was able to lift the Bowling Green team with a bit more momentum heading into the second half.

The match featured physical play in the second half, which ultimately led to 10 fouls committed by each of the conference opponents over the course of the 90 minutes. Kent State capitalized on the physical play to fight its way back to the offensive zone, although Duwve made a critical play with 30 minutes remaining to keep the score at a 1-0 mark.

The Falcons flew in the final 25 minutes of the match, and recorded three more scoring chances in an attempt to tie up the game. It was in the 24th minute when Howshar seemed to get ahead on a breakaway, but was ultimately called offsides. Then in the waning minutes of the match, senior midfielder Melissa Neeham took a shot to the low left corner of the goal with just six minutes remaining that was saved just in the nick of time. Finally, redshirt sophomore Erica Hubert came up through the midfield with the ball with just under three minutes to go, but was pushed to make an incomplete pass after getting tied up in the Kent State offense.

In the second MAC game of the season for the Falcons, Howshar recorded two attempted shots, while Needham and freshman midfielder Chelsee Washington each marked a shot on goal.

Overall, Kent State held the advantage in shots (15-6), shots on goal (8-2), and corner kick opportunities (6-1) over the Falcons.

The Bowling Green women's soccer program will continue Mid-American Conference play on Friday, Sept. 30, as it hits the road to face Buffalo in a 7 p.m. matchup.