Falcons Stave Off NIU Rally, Beat Huskies 2-1 in DeKalb

Sunday, October 1

DeKalb, IL

2:00PM

Bowling Green State University

7-4-0, 2-2MAC

Northern Illinois

5-5-1, 2-2MAC

Bowling Green

NIU

Photo by: Larry Clapper

October 01, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communicationis Assistant

LINKS
BGSU-NIU Box Score (PDF)
BGSU-NIU Box Score (Enhanced)
Updated BGSU Statistics
MAC Women's Soccer Statistics
NCAA Women's Soccer Statistics
2017 BGSU Record Book
Eastern Michigan Women's Soccer (next opponent)

DEKALB, ILL. -- The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team earned a split of their two weekend road games with a 2-1 victory at Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 1). The Falcons rebounded from a difficult 2-1 loss at Western Michigan on Friday and evened their Mid-American Conference record at 2-2 and improve their overall record to 7-4. The team is now one win shy of equaling their 2016 season totals for total wins and conference wins.

Bowling Green created several opportunities to score during the first half, as they posted seven total shots and attempted two corners. However, NIU goalkeeper Amy Annala made three saves to keep the score nil-nil into halftime. The Falcons continued to push the ball aggressively early in the second half but could not make it count until the 62nd minute. Paige Casto scooped up a loose ball in the attacking third and fed it to Madison Schupbach in the box. Schupbach slammed it past Annala for the game's opening score at the 62:04 mark.

Just over one minute later, Schupbach sent a crosser that a defender missed on a clearing attempt. Erica Hubert found the net for a 2-0 lead in the 64th minute. From there, NIU picked up the pressure. Haley Hoppe scored her second of the season in the 73rd minute to trim BGSU's lead to 2-1. The Falcon defense provailed over the final 17:32 to complete the victory.

COACH SAYS...
Head coach Matt Fannon stated,"We were superb today for the first 70 minutes, and controlled the game. Then we took our foot off the gas and gave them a way back into the game, and had to fight to hold on at the end. Ultimately, we are happy with the positive result after a long weekend."

NOTE OF THE DAY: SCHUPBACH TO THE FUTURE
Madison Schupbach scored three points on Sunday with a goal and an assist in BGSU's 2-1 win at Northern Illinois. This is her first game with a goal and an assist since Sept. 11, 2015 in a 3-2 win over Eastern Illinois. In her final year with the Falcons, she has an opportunity to produce personal season-highs in points, goals and assists. She has seven points, which is one shy of her previous best (8 in 2015). Her two goals in 2017 are also one shy of her 2015 total. With three assists, she has equaled her previous season best, which she established in 2016.

STAT PACK
-- BGSU out-shot NIU 15-9. They achieved seven shots on goal and only permitted three by the Huskies.
-- This was the tenth time in eleven games BGSU posted more shots and the eighth time they had more shots on goal
-- Schupbach and Hubert tied with Skylar Fleak for a game-high with three shots. Schupbach led all players with two SOG.
-- Hubert's goal was her eighth career game-winning goal and the 19th goal of her career.
-- Jennifer Reyes, Alexis Fricke, Morgan Abbitt and Maureen Kennedy each played the full 90 minutes.
-- Victoria Cope played all 90 minutes in goal and posted two saves against three shots.
-- Each team was whistled for 14 fouls. Prior to this weekend, BGSU had averaged just 7.5 fouls per match.

UP NEXT
BGSU returns to the pitch on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 4:00 p.m. against Eastern Michigan. Like the Falcons, EMU split a pair of weekend games by 2-1 decisions. The Eagles beat Akron and lost to Buffalo; they are now 1-3 in MAC play in 2017. The Falcons then return home for a 1:00 p.m. match on Sunday, Oct. 8 against Central Michigan. The Chippewas are now 0-2-2 in the MAC after a pair of draws this weekend against Buffalo and Akron.