Spotts Scores, Soccer Secures Soggy Shutout

Friday, September 27

Bowling Green, OH

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

3-4-2, 1-0-0

Akron

3-6-0, 0-1-0

Akron

Bowling Green

Lynsey Spotts Maureen Kennedy - Aug 30 2019 v Valparaiso

Lynsey Spotts (right) scored her first collegiate goal, & Maureen Kennedy & the BG defense kept a clean sheet on Friday night

Photo by: Isaiah Vazquez/BGSU Athletics

September 27, 2019 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Final Stats Matt Fannon Post-Match Interview Lynsey Spotts Post-Match Interview

Sophomore's first collegiate goal proves to be the GWG in MAC opener

By: BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Sophomore Lynsey Spotts scored late in the first half, and the Bowling Green State University defense kept a clean sheet as the Falcons topped the University of Akron, 1-0, on Friday night. The match, the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams, was held at a soggy Cochrane Stadium.

For Spotts, the goal was the first of her BGSU career. Two other sophomores were involved in the scoring of the night's lone goal for the Falcons (3-4-2, 1-0-0 MAC). Mackenzie Reuber's cross from the right side of the field found Sarah Allen in the penalty area, and Allen headed the ball back across the six-yard line, where the onrushing Spotts headed it past Akron (3-6-0, 0-1-0) goalkeeper Libby Harper.

BGSU outshot the Zips, 14-4, on the night, including a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal. Senior Kathleen Duwve made one save as she and the BG defense kept a clean sheet.

The victory extended the Falcons' school-record home unbeaten streak to 14 matches.

NOTE(S) OF THE NIGHT
• As mentioned (in the very last sentence), the win extended the Falcons' school-record home unbeaten streak. BGSU is now 12-0-2 at Cochrane Stadium since a 1-0, double-overtime setback to Xavier on Sept. 6, 2018.
• The Falcons now have a record of 20-3-2 in home matches since Matt Fannon assumed the head-coaching helm prior to the 2017 season. In those 25 contests, BGSU has outscored the opponents, 54-18.
• BGSU is now 14-1-1 in home matches (regular-season and tournament) against MAC foes in the Fannon Era, having outscored the opposition, 35-12, in those games.
• The Falcons are unbeaten in the last 15 home matches vs. MAC schools (14-0-1) since a 2-1 loss to Ball State in Fannon's first-ever MAC matchup (Sept. 22, 2017).

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
• 1' | Due to the weather forecast and the obvious desire to get the game in, the match began a little early. First touch came at 6:49 p.m. It was not raining when the opening whistle blew, but it began raining a few minutes later, and continued off and on for much of the match.
• 5' | Freshman Katie Cox fired the first three shot attempts of the night, including a shot over the crossbar in the early going. Senior Maureen Kennedy's serve found freshman Kennedy White, who laid the ball off to Cox, but the shot went just high.
• 7' | Moments later, a right-side cross found the boot of Cox, who hit a hard one-time effort. But, that shot sailed over the bar as well.
• 8' | White's pass put Sophia Barnes into the box on the left side, but the junior's shot curved just around the far goalpost.
• 13' | The Falcons had the first seven shot attempts of the match, including a close call from redshirt junior Nikki Cox. After Kennedy played the ball over the midfield line, Cox pounced on an errant first touch by an Akron player, swooping in and heading toward the box on a breakaway. Cox cut back to her right and, with a defender closing in on her, hit a shot from the penalty spot. But, UA goalkeeper Libby Harper, who had come off of her line, somehow got a piece of the shot and deflected it over the end line for a BG corner kick.
• 27' | Akron's first shot of the night, and one of just two first-half shots for the Zips, came with nearly 27 minutes gone. But, Aislinn Meany's effort was blocked by a BG defender.
• 41' | Kennedy played a long ball for freshman Jasmine Dijsselhof, who took the ball to the end line and fired a cross from the left side. But, the dangerous ball was knocked out of the box by a UA backliner.
• 42' | GOAL | Sophomore Mackenzie Reuber took the ball down the right side of the pitch, and hit a crossing ball into the box. Classmate Sarah Allen, on the six-yard line near the left goalpost, headed the ball back across the goalmouth to yet another soph, Lynsey Spotts. Spotts nodded the ball into the right side of the net for what would prove to be the only goal the Falcons would need. Spotts had begun the play, winning a 50-50 ball in the center circle and passing it back to freshman Audrey Shea, who hit a ball down the right side for Reuber.
• 45' | Akron's only shot on goal of the night came with under 20 seconds remaining in the half. After a BG foul, Ryley Watt's long free kick from her own side of the midfield stripe sailed toward the penalty area. A Falcon defender headed the ball, but Charley Kale settled it, took a dribble and fired a shot from distance. BG goalkeeper Kathleen Duwve was able to easily gather it in to preserve her team's one-goal lead.

Lynsey Spotts scored her first collegiate goal late in the first half, & it proved to be the GWG!

⚽ BGSU 1, Akron 0 ⚽ pic.twitter.com/IGTyUWMrfI
— BGSU Women's Soccer (@bgsuwsoc) September 28, 2019

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
• 48' | Meany stole the ball for the Zips in the BG end of the field, and crosssed the ball to an open Annamarie Alfery near the top of the penalty area. Alfery's quick shot, however, whizzed over the crossbar.
• 70' | CROSSBAR | The teams combined for just three shot attempts – all off the mark – in the first 22 minutes of the second half. But, BG had three shots in a span of just over two minutes midway through the period. One of those came off of a Kennedy corner kick. Senior Chelsee Washington got her head on the ball and directed it toward junior Nikhita Jacob. Jacob's header beat Harper, but caromed off of the crossbar.
• 72' | Akron's Bailee Bowers stole the ball from a BG defender near midfield and appeared to be in all alone on goal. But, Shea ran her down, getting to the ball as Bowers headed into the penalty area and knocking it away for a corner kick, which the Falcons successfully defended.
• 85' | While BG enjoyed the bulk of the possession on Friday night, the Zips applied a great deal of pressure in the final five-plus minutes. As the clock ticked down toward that five-minute mark, a long free kick by the Zips was headed by a Falcon defender in the box. The ball popped up in the air toward the goal, and Duwve was knocked to the ground as she attempted to grab it. The senior 'keeper still managed to corral the ball while on the turf, but the whistle had already blown as the Zips were called for a foul on the play.

STATISTICS
• As mentioned, BGSU had advantages of 14-4 in shot attempts and 4-1 in shots on goal. Kathleen Duwve made one save en route to a shutout, while Libby Harper had three stops for the Zips.
• BG had a 9-2 lead in shots in the first half, and allowed UA just two shot attempts in each half.
• The Falcons had six corner kicks to the Zips' three.
• A total of 18 players saw action for the Falcons, with Duwve, senior Maureen Kennedy and freshman Audrey Shea playing all 90 minutes. Senior Chelsee Washington was on the field for 87 minutes and junior Nikhita Jacob 83.
• Seven different Akron players were on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes.
• BG was whistled for 11 fouls to 10 for Akron, and no cards were displayed in Friday's match.

WHAT'S NEXT?
• The Falcons are back at Cochrane Stadium on Sunday (Sept. 29), facing Buffalo in a 1:00 p.m. start. The UB match will be Senior Day for the Falcons, as the program's seven seniors will be recognized in ceremonies prior to the match. That group includes Hannah Dolfuss, Kathleen Duwve, Monica Florez, Maureen Kennedy, Rachel Muller, Kristin Tveit and Chelsee Washington.
• Sunday will also be Dog Day at Cochrane Stadium, with fans encouraged to bring their canine companions to the match for lots of four-legged fun and frivolity.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS
• For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @bgsuwsoc), Instagram (bgsuwsoc) and Facebook (bgsuwsoc) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.