BGSU Blanks Broncos to Begin MAC Play

Thursday, September 23

Kalamazoo, MI

4:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

2-4-2, 1-0-0

Western Michigan

2-6-0, 0-1-0

Bowling Green

Western Mich.

Falcons congratulate Kennedy White on her first-half goal at WMU

Kennedy White (center) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal

Photo by: Ashley Huss, WMU Athletics

September 23, 2021 | Women's Soccer

Box Score BGSU-WMU Stats BGSU Women's Soccer on Twitter BGSU Women's Soccer Media Guide / Record Book Give to the Falcon Club Get Your Nike Sideline Gear

White, Wolfbauer find the back of the net in Thursday's 2-0 win

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team got the Mid-American Conference portion of the schedule off to a successful start Thursday afternoon (Sept. 23). Michigan natives Kennedy White and Madi Wolfbauer scored first-half goals to lift the Falcons over Western Michigan University, 2-0, in the conference opener at the WMU Soccer Complex.

The Falcons (2-4-2 overall) took the lead for good when White scored in the 13th minute of the match. After a long ball forward by Nikki Cox, WMU goalkeeper Maggie Rogers came out of the penalty area and attempted to clear the ball away. But, White blocked that clearance attempt, then slotted the ball past a Bronco defender and into the vacated net.

Wolfbauer scored on a strike from distance with just over three minutes left before halftime.

Lili Berg made a pair of saves against the Broncos (2-6-0), for her first complete-match shutout of the year. Rogers had four saves for the hosts, as the Falcons were credited with a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal.

NOTE OF THE DAY
• Lili Berg has now played seven career regular-season matches against MAC teams, and has allowed just two goals. She has been a part of six shutouts in those seven matches, including four complete-match clean sheets.

BONUS NOTE OF THE DAY
• Kennedy White has played in two matches at the WMU Soccer Complex since coming to BGSU, and she has scored the game-winning goal in both. White found the net in the 36th minute of the Falcons' 1-0 win over the Broncos in late October of 2019.
• The Canton, Mich., native now has five career GWG as a Falcon, with three coming against MAC opponents from her home state (two vs. WMU, one against Central Michigan).

QUOTING COACH WALKER
"Today was a very gritty, hard-working, professional performance against a very good WMU team. Weather conditions played a huge factor in the game and we are proud of the way our ladies competed. We looked solid defensively and created some good chances in the game."

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons took the lead at the 12:41 mark. Nikki Cox played a long ball ahead, and White and a Bronco defender raced to reach it. WMU goalkeeper Maggie Rogers was first to the ball, coming out of the penalty area. But, as Rogers attempted to clear it out of her own end of the field, White leaped and blocked the ball. She tracked it down on the left side of the 18-yard box and slotted a shot past a Western defender and into the vacated net.
• Just four minutes later, Nikki Cox played an entry ball into the WMU end. A Bronco cleared the ball, but it went directly to Madi Wolfbauer, who fired a hard shot that Rogers was able to save.
• With 27 minutes gone, Wolfbauer took a free kick and put another shot on frame, but Rogers made the stop at the near post.
• The Broncos had a chance as the match reached the half-hour mark, as Katie Schumacher's cross/shot from the right side sailed toward the upper half of the goal. But, BGSU 'keeper Lili Berg was able to tip the ball over the crossbar with a leaping effort.
• With five minutes left before the break, a diagonal ball by Madison Alberty was deflected to Wolfbauer. The BG striker settled the ball, took a touch and fired a shot from distance that glanced off of the top of the crossbar and out of play.
• Just two minutes later, though, nearly the same sequence of events unfolded, and this time, Wolfbauer administered a shot that the Broncos were unable to prevent. A left-side cross was again headed by a defender. But, Wolfbauer again settled the ball and again hit a shot. Rogers had no chance as the blast sailed into the right side of the net.
• Twice in the first 15 minutes of the second half, White nearly scored off of a left-side diagonal ball by Jasmijn Dijsselhof. The first came with 39 minutes to go, as White's header forced Rogers to dive and tip the ball wide of the left goalpost.
• Seven minutes later, White came flying into the penalty area to again get her head on a Dijsselhof serve, but this time the ball sailed over the bar.
• BG had second-half chances from Wolfbauer and Isabelle Gilmore in the first 25 minutes of the period as well, but Wolfbauer's header was saved at the far post, and Gilmore's shot from distance was tipped over the bar.
• Jenna Blackburn fired a free kick toward goal from approximately 25 yards out, but it went wide of the target, and Berg appeared to have the goalmouth adequately covered.
• In the 77th minute, Berg tipped a diagonal ball by Cas Flanagan over the bar, and after the ensuing corner kick, WMU's Kai Sugiyama put her shot wide.
• With 6:25 to go, Berg made a diving effort to stop a shot by Bailey Korhorn from the center of the box. She tipped the ball wide of the post, and the Broncos' ensuing corner kick sailed behind the goal for a BG goal kick.

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• BGSU was credited with advantages of 8-7 in total shot attempts and 6-2 in shots on goal. The Falcons had a slim 8-7 lead in corner kicks.
• Lili Berg made two saves to earn the shutout. She has been a part of eight clean sheets in her 16 career starts, earning five complete-match shutouts while combining for three more.
• Berg has a career goals-against average of 1.01.
• Kennedy White, as mentioned, scored the game-winning goal on Thursday. White now has 15 goals and 36 points in her BGSU career, having played 39 matches as a Falcon.
• Madi Wolfbauer now has nine goals and 19 points in just 16 career matches at BGSU. She leads the Falcons with four goals and nine points this season to date.
• The Falcons are now 13-2-0 in the last 15 MAC road matches, dating to the beginning of the 2018 season. BGSU has outscored opponents, 41-8, in those 15 conference road contests.
• BGSU now has an overall record of 49-23-10 since the start of the 2017 season. The Falcons are 32-7-1 in MAC regular-season matches and 39-8-3 in all games vs. conference foes in that time.
• And, since the beginning of the 2018 campaign, the Falcons are now 36-16-9 overall, 26-3-0 in MAC regular-season action and 31-3-2 in all games vs. league opposition.

AROUND THE MAC
Thursday's Results
Bowling Green 2, at Western Michigan 0
Eastern Michigan 0, at Ball State 0 (2-OT)
at Ohio 2, Buffalo 1
at Miami 1, Central Michigan 0 (OT)
Toledo 3, at Northern Illinois 0
at Kent State 1, Akron 0

UP NEXT
• The Falcons return home for the next two contests, beginning Sunday (Sept. 26). BGSU will host Northern Illinois in a 1:00 p.m. start, and it will be the Falcons' Pride Game.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will wrap up the September slate next Thursday, Sept. 30, when Ohio comes to Cochrane Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. start.

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