Falcons Dismantle Eastern, 7-1, Sunday in Ypsi

Sunday, October 23

Ypsilanti, Mich.

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

7-5-4, 5-2-3

Eastern Michigan

3-11-3, 2-7-1

Bowling Green

Eastern Mich.

Ellie Pool, playing for the first time in a month, scored just over 2 minutes after checking into Sunday's match

Photo by: Chad Huffman, BGSU Athletics

October 23, 2022 | Women's Soccer

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Seven players score as BGSU gets contributions from the entire roster in six-goal road win

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team was firing on all cylinders Sunday afternoon (Oct. 23), as the Falcons posted a 7-1 win at Eastern Michigan University. The Mid-American Conference match was held at a sun-drenched Scicluna Field.

Seven different players scored one goal apiece for the Falcons (7-5-4, 5-2-3 MAC), who moved into third place in the MAC standings and clinched a berth in the conference tournament with Sunday's win.

Brynn Gardner scored the first goal of the match with just over 30 minutes gone, and Ellie Pool found the back of the net before halftime as well.

In the second half, Mackenzie Reuber's 58th-minute blast got the scoring started, with Kennedy White, Maya Dean, Emily Hollar and Abby Koly also netting goals.

Meagan Lukowski scored for the Eagles (3-11-3, 2-7-1 MAC), cutting the home team's deficit to 6-1, before Koly responded just over three minutes later.

Lili Berg played the first 72-plus minutes in goal, stopping all six shots on goal she faced. Kasey Hartmann also saw action in the win, with a pair of saves.

NOTE OF THE DAY
• BGSU's total of seven goals is tied for the fourth-highest total in a match in school history, and is tied for the most the Falcons have ever scored in a MAC match.
• The Falcons have scored seven goals in three MAC matches in school history – at home vs. Western Michigan 20 years ago (Oct. 25, 2002) and on the road against Northern Illinois three years ago (Oct. 24, 2019).

POST-MATCH REACTION – HEAD COACH JIMMY WALKER
"We played well, particularly in the second half. We played well in the first half as well, but there were a few moments where we needed a little more quality. We weren't quite as ruthless in the first half as we needed to be. In the second half, we had quality in abundance. We scored some fantastic goals, some well-worked team goals, we scored off a set piece and we scored a banger from about 35 yards out. If this team continues to believe, to buy in and to trust the process, they've got a good chance to do something."

POST-MATCH REACTION – ELLIE POOL
"It's a great feeling to see so many different players contribute to the win today. It's amazing how many good players we have, both in the starting lineup and coming off of the bench. It's really nice, because it feels like we can put a lot of different people into the game and never drop a level."

MAC STANDINGS
School (Overall)	MAC	Pts.
Buffalo (12-1-4)	6-0-4	22
Ball State (6-4-7)	5-1-4	19
Bowling Green (7-5-4)	5-2-3	18
Kent State (4-6-7)	4-1-5	17
Ohio (9-6-2)	5-4-1	16
Miami (8-4-5)	4-2-4	16
Western Mich. (4-8-5)	4-4-2	14
Northern Ill. (6-7-4)	3-5-2	11
Akron (3-8-4)	2-6-2	8
Toledo (2-9-6)	1-5-4	7
Eastern Mich. (3-11-3)	2-7-1	7
Central Mich. (2-10-5)	1-5-4	7

THE FALCONS AND THE MAC RACE
• Sunday's win, coupled with the other results around the MAC, saw the Falcons move up one spot into third place in the 12-team conference standings. Buffalo remains in first place with 22 points, followed by Ball State (19 points), BGSU (18) and Kent State (17). Miami and Ohio (16 points apiece are currently tied for fifth, while Western Michigan (14) sits in seven place. Each of the other five teams have been eliminated from MAC Tournament contention.
• Teams earn three points for a win and one for a tie.
• The top six teams in the final conference standings will qualify for the MAC Tournament. The first- and second-place teams in the final standings will earn first-round byes in the league tourney, with the third- and fourth-seeded teams hosting quarterfinal matches next Sunday (Oct. 30).

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kennedy White had the Falcons' first three shots of the day, with two in under three minutes to begin the contest. Her second shot during that time was a hard turnaround shot, but EMU goalkeeper Rebecca Przybylo was there to make the stop.
• In the eighth minute, a BGSU giveaway resulted in a shot by the Eagles' Hannah Thompson, but Lili Berg easily made the stop for the Falcons.
• With the match still scoreless, the Eagles had several shots after a corner kick with 16 minutes gone. But, the first effort was blocked before Berg plucked a Sophia D'Ambra header out of the air.
• White fired a blast with her left foot midway through the first half, but her shot from distance rolled just wide. Less than a minute later, the Eagles countered, but Berg saved Meagan Lukowski's shot, making arguably her most difficult stop of the day.
• BGSU had several more chances – including a shot by White that was blocked by a defender for a 'team save' – before finally breaking through. Lacee Bethea split a pair of defenders with a nifty through ball from BG's side of midfield, putting Brynn Gardner behind the defense. With Gardner bearing down on her, Przybylo came off her line in an attempt to cut down the shooting angle, but Gardner hit a shot that curved around the EMU 'keeper and just inside the right post.
• With just over five minutes left, BGSU doubled the lead. Jasmijn Dijsselhof played a ball ahead to Alaina Uncapher, and Uncapher won a challenge before heading toward goal. Uncapher, on the left side of the penalty area, drew both Przybylo and a defender toward her before sliding a pass to a wide-open Ellie Pool. Pool tapped the ball into the vacated net, and the Falcons took a 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
• Both teams had chances in the remainder of that first half, but Jayna Searles fired a shot just over the bar after a nice cross from Emily Hollar. Then, as the clock ticked under one minute to go, EMU looked to catch the Falcons creeping forward with a counter after a Falcon corner. But, Isabelle Gilmore tracked back to thwart what looked to be a breakaway, and the Eagles didn't even get a shot off.
• Mackenzie Reuber made it a 3-0 game in the 58th minute. The fifth-year Falcon brought the ball forward and, finding herself with space, uncorked a scorching shot from well outside the 18. The ball whizzed past Przybylo and found the upper-left-hand-corner of the net.
• White and Maya Dean worked a nifty combination play in the 63rd minute. White took Dean's return pass as she headed into the box and got behind the last line of defense. Przybylo attempted to beat White to the ball, but the striker rounded the 'keeper and slid the ball into the vacated net.
• Less than three minutes later, the Falcons were at it again. Bethea's hard shot rang off the crossbar, and Katie Cox gathered the rebound and fired a shot that went just over the goal.
• BGSU immediately won the ball back after the ensuing EMU goal kick. Searles took on an EMU defender before finding Dean, who slotted her shot home for the Falcons' fifth goal of the day.
• Six and a half minutes later, Hollar found the scoresheet, nodding home a corner kick from Alexis Miller. The goal was Hollar's first collegiate goal.
• The Eagles got one back with 12:53 to go. Lukowski found the net with an assist from D'Ambra, making it a 6-1.
• But, the Falcons answered less than three minutes later. Searles played a low cross into the box from the left side. Abby Koly beat EMU 'keeper Kevser Guendogdu to the ball, sliding to tap it into the net to close the scoring.

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• BGSU had advantages of 28-12 in total shot attempts, 14-9 in shots on goal and 4-1 in corner kicks.
• The Falcons have outscored the opponents, 17-2, over the last six games.
• BGSU's total of seven goals is tied for the fourth-highest total in a match in school history, and is tied for the most the Falcons have ever scored in a MAC match.
• The Falcons have scored seven goals in three MAC matches in school history – at home vs. Western Michigan 20 years ago (Oct. 25, 2002) and on the road against Northern Illinois three years ago (Oct. 24, 2019).
• BGSU scored five goals in the second half on Sunday, tying that school record. The Falcons now have scored five goals in a half six times in school history.
• Seven different Falcons scored a goal in Sunday's win, only the third time that has happened in BGSU history. Seven players also scored in wins over Tennessee Tech (7-0; Sept. 12, 2008) and Chicago State (8-0; Sept. 7, 2014).
• With a goal on Sunday, Kennedy White increased her 2022 totals to 12 goals and 25 points. The total of 12 goals ties her for third on the BGSU single-season list.
• Her total of 25 points ties White for 10th on that BG seasonal chart.
• BGSU Hall-of-Famer Kristy Coppes holds both single-season records, as she had 18 goals and 38 points in 2004.
• In her career, White now has 27 goals and 62 points. She has moved into a tie for fourth place with Skylar Fleak (2014-17) on the BGSU career goals list.
• White moved past her former teammate, Maureen Kennedy (61 points from 2016-19) on the BG career points list, and she now ranks eighth on that chart.
• Ellie Pool played in each of BGSU's first seven matches of the season, but was injured early in the MAC opener vs. Toledo on Sept. 22. Pool missed the next eight contests before returning on Sunday. Just over two minutes after checking into the game for the first time, Pool scored her first goal as a Falcon.
• Pool's game-winning marker was her first as a Falcon and the second of her career. Pool, who played two seasons at UT before transferring to BG, now has career totals of nine goals and 24 points.
• Maya Dean had a goal and an assist. She now has 14 points on the season, tying her for second on the team.
• All 14 of Dean's points – on four goals and six assists – have come in MAC play.
• In her career, Dean now has 19 points on five goals and nine assists.
• Freshman Brynn Gardner's goal on Sunday was her fourth of the season. She is tied with Dean for second on the team in both goals and points (14). Gardner and Dean are tied for the team lead with six assists.
• Lacee Bethea picked up her third assist of the season and the fourth of her BGSU career.
• Jasmijn Dijsselhof recorded her first assist of the year on Sunday. She now has six assists and 10 points in her BG career.
• Freshman Emily Hollar's goal on Sunday was her first as a Falcon.
• Another freshman, Abby Koly, found the back of the net vs. the Eagles. Koly now has two goals and five points this fall.
• Alexis Miller assisted on Hollar's goal. It was Miller's first point of the season, and she now has four in her Falcon career.
• Mackenzie Reuber scored a brilliant goal on Sunday, with a perfectly-placed shot from distance. It was Reuber's first goal of the year and the third of her career. She has 16 career points.
• Alaina Uncapher recorded her fourth assist of the season, and ranks third on the team in that category. Sunday marked the first time she assisted on a game-winning goal.
• Jayna Searles, like Uncapher a freshman, had her first – and her second – collegiate point in Sunday's win. She assisted on the goals by Dean and Koly.
• Lili Berg saved all six shots she faced in 72-plus minutes of action on Sunday. She lowered her goals-against averages to 0.93 this season, 0.71 in MAC play in 2022 and 0.89 in her career.
• BGSU now has an overall record of 65-31-15 since the start of the 2017 season. And, since the beginning of the 2018 campaign, the Falcons are 52-24-14.
• Since the start of 2017, BGSU is now 45-11-5 in MAC regular-season matches and 54-12-7 in all matches (regular-season and tournament) vs. MAC foes.
• The Falcons are 17-2-1 in the last 20 MAC road matches. BGSU has outscored the opponents, 57-11, in those 20 contests.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will end the regular season with a match at Northern Illinois on Thursday (Oct. 27) afternoon. That contest begins at 1:00 p.m. locally (2:00 p.m. ET) in DeKalb.
• The MAC Tournament begins next Sunday (Oct. 30), with quarterfinal-round matches at campus sites. BGSU still has a chance to finish as high as second place or as low as sixth in the MAC standings, meaning that the Falcons could play at home ... or play on the road ... or not play at all next Sunday.
• The first- and second-place teams will earn first-round byes. The third seed will host the sixth seed, while the fourth seed will host the fifth seed next Sunday, with the two winners joining the top-two seeds in the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 3.

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.