Spartans Stop Falcons, 2-0, in 2022 Season Opener

Thursday, August 18

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Michigan State

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Michigan St.

Bowling Green

Photo by: Larry Clapper

August 18, 2022 | Women's Soccer

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By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Michigan State University scored early in each half, and the Spartans went on to a 2-0 victory over the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team Thursday evening (Aug. 18) at Cochrane Stadium.

The game was the 2022 regular-season opener for both teams.

Lauren DeBeau gave the Spartans the lead in the 12th minute, slotting home a rebound after BGSU goalkeeper Lili Berg had made a diving save on a Maggie Illig shot. Berg had seven saves on the night, including several world-class stops.

After BGSU had controlled play for the first five-plus minutes of the second half, a Spartan counterattack saw an MSU forward tackled in the penalty area. Camryn Evans scored on the ensuing penalty kick – although Berg appeared to get a piece of the shot – to give the visitors a two-goal margin.

QUOTING COACH JIMMY WALKER
"Michigan State is a very good team. They are vastly improved. It's good that we are playing that level of competition; it's only going to make us better. I thought we competed really, really well for about 75 minutes. We just came out flat in the first 15. They were first to every ball and were really dynamic. We were maybe a little bit nervous at the start, but after that, we were very good. We created some good chances, and if one of those goes in, it's a very interesting game."

"We kept them in their end for the first 7-8 minutes of the second half, but the one time they got out, they got a penalty and scored. It's very disappointing that we gave that away, because we did get after them a lot more in the second half."

HIGHLIGHTS
• MSU had six shot attempts and four corner kicks in the first 11-plus minutes of the match, and the visitors broke through on shot number six. Lili Berg made a diving stop on a shot from MSU's Maggie Illig. But, Lauren DeBeau was lurking on the doorstep to score on the rebound and give the Green and White a 1-0 lead.
• The Falcons' first shot of the night came from Kennedy White after Lacee Bethea's long ball sent White in on goal. But, MSU's Lauren Kozal, the reigning Big Ten Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, made the stop on White.
• The home team applied offensive pressure in the early stages of the second half. BGSU did not have any first-half corner kicks, but the Falcons earned a pair in the first five-plus minutes of the second stanza.
• With just over a minute gone after halftime, a Brynn Gardner cross was plucked out of traffic by Kozal. As the match reached the 50-minute mark, a shot from 25 yards out by Maya Dean forced the MSU 'keeper to make an acrobatic save, as Kozal tipped the ball over the crossbar.
• But, just over a minute later, Illig was taken down in the penalty area at the other end of the pitch, and Camryn Evans stepped up and scored on the ensuing PK.
• Just past the hour mark, Mackenzie Reuber played a cross into the goalmouth from the right side. Kozal slipped and fell as the ball sailed into the box, and Bethea poked at the ball near the far post. But, her efforts were thwarted by Kozal and an MSU defender, and the Spartan 'keeper finally was able to dive on the ball and end the threat.
• With 10 minutes to go, Makenzie Ortman and Katie Cox checked into the game. Within seconds, Ortman played a diagonal ball into the box from the right side, and Cox hit a one-time redirection from approximately six yards out. But, the hard shot was hit directly at Kozal, who was able to make the stop.
• Under four minutes remained when a Reuber cross found Lexi Czerwien on the left side of the penalty area. Czerwien sent the ball back the other way, but her shot hit the right post and bounded away.

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• MSU had advantages of 17-7 in total shots, 9-4 in shots on goal and 9-3 in corner kicks. Lili Berg made seven stops for the Falcons, while Lauren Kozal had three saves for the Spartans, who were credited with one 'team save' as well.
• A pair of first-year Falcons, Lexi Czerwien and Ellie Pool, were in the starting lineup. Pool, a transfer from Toledo, made 27 career starts for the Rockets. Czerwien, who played at Xavier, was making her first collegiate start.
• Lauren Milner also was in the starting lineup for the first time as a Falcon.
• Freshmen Brynn Gardner, Emily Hollar and Abby Koly all made their BGSU debuts, coming off the bench to see action vs. the Spartans. Gardner played 51 minutes, the highest total among the Falcons' seven subs.
• Makenzie Ortman saw action for the first time since April of 2021. Ortman missed the entire fall 2021 season due to injury, but played 48 minutes on Thursday night vs. MSU.
• Despite the loss to the Spartans, BGSU has an overall record of 58-27-11 since the start of the 2017 season. And, since the beginning of the 2018 campaign, the Falcons are now 45-20-10.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons are back at home next Thursday (Aug. 25), taking on Cincinnati. First touch is set for 5:00 p.m.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will hit the road for the first time, facing nationally-ranked Tennessee on Wednesday night, Aug. 31.

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