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Thursday, October 12
Bowling Green, Ohio
7 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
7-5-1, 5-1-1
0
vs
2
Kent State
8-4-2, 5-2-0
1
2
F
Kent St.
1
1
2
Bowling Green
0
0
0
Photo by: Keira Ellenberger, Falcon Media Sports Network
Flashes Blank BGSU, 2-0, Thursday Night
October 12, 2023 | Women's Soccer
Falcons fall for the first time in MAC play despite posting season-high shot, corner kick totals
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team recorded season-high totals in shots and corner kicks on Thursday night (Oct. 12), but the Kent State University defense kept the Falcons off of the scoreboard. The Golden Flashes picked up a 2-0 win in Mid-American Conference action at Cochrane Stadium.
The Falcons (7-5-1, 5-1-1 MAC) lost for the first time in MAC play this season. BGSU drops out of first place in the conference. Just two points separate the first- through fourth-place teams in the league (scroll down for updated standings).
BG had a season-best 27 total shot attempts, and the Falcons tied a season high with 11 corner kicks. But, the Golden Flashes (8-4-2, 5-2-0) bent, but didn't break, in the back. Sarah Melen made six saves to earn the shutout on the road.
For the Falcons, Madison Vukas made two saves – including a stop of a penalty kick – in the first half, while Lili Berg's three second-half stops included a save on a KSU breakaway.
The Flashes' Alisa Arthur opened the scoring in the 24th minute. KSU was awarded a penalty kick, and Arthur took that shot from the spot. She was denied, as Vukas made a nifty diving save. But, Arthur was first to the rebound and tucked her second shot away.
KSU doubled the lead in the 59th minute on a counterattack. A pass by Siena Stambolich put Callie Cunningham behind the BG defense. Berg was forced to come off of her line, but Cunningham was able to poke the ball past the BG 'keeper and then knock it into the net.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak as well as a six-match unbeaten streak for the Falcons..
Gallery: (10-12-2023) 101223 wsoc v KSU - Keira Ellenberger
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Just under five minutes into the game, the Falcons had a chance, as Chrstine Erdman stole the ball deep in the KSU end on the left side. The freshman hit a cross into the box, and Ellie Pool ran onto it and met it with a header, but the shot was just wide of the near post.
• In the 14th minute, back-to-back shots by Audrey Oliver and Maya Dean were blocked in the box after a BG corner kick.
• Roughly one minute later, Makenzie Ortman came up with a steal of her own and played the ball ahead to Pool. Pool hit a shot on frame, but Sarah Melen made the save.
• Just over a minute after that, Pool had another shot, off of another ball from Ortman. This time, Pool received the pass, made several nifty moves near the 18-yard line and fired a shot that Melen was able to stop. The rebound hit off of the charging Brynn Gardner and caromed just wide of the left post.
• Twenty minutes into the match, the Falcons had an 11-3 lead in total shot attempts. But, the Flashes would soon get on the board. A low cross by Callie Cunningham was dummied nicely by a teammate, and the ball wound up at the feet of Alanna Raimondo, who was tripped as she headed toward goal.
• A penalty kick was awarded, with Alisa Arthur taking it for the Flashes. BGSU 'keeper Madison Vukas made a diving stop of the kick, but the rebound came straight toward Arthur, who knocked it home from six yards out.
• Ten minutes into the second half, Dean made a tremendous run down the left side of the field, beating her would-be defender and bringing the ball along the end line. Her pass found Pool, who hit a hard shot that sailed just over the crossbar.
• The Flashes would double the lead on a counterattack with just under an hour gone. Siena Stambolich played a through ball to Cunningham, who raced behind the defense. Lili Berg was forced to come off of her goal line, but Cunningham was able to poke the ball past the BGSU goalkeeper and poke it into the net.
• With just under 11 minutes left, Brynn Gardner's right-side cross found the onrushing Oliver, but her shot whizzed just over the crossbar.
• The Flashes looked to add to the lead as Arthur was the beneficiary of a deflection that put her behind the defense with 5:40 to go, but Berg came off of her line to make a great stop to keep the Falcons' deficit at two goals. From there, however, KSU was able to seal the win.
STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons had a 27-17 lead in total shot attempts, and BGSU enjoyed an 11-2 advantage on corner kicks. KSU did have a slim 7-6 lead in shots on goal
• Sarah Melen had six stops for the Flashes. Madison Vukas made two saves and Lili Berg three for the Falcons, with each BG 'keeper making at least one spectacular stop.
• The loss was just the Falcons' eighth in the last 57 MAC regular-season matches, dating to the beginning of the 2018 season.
MAC STANDINGS
(through Thursday night's games)
School (Overall)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â MACÂ Â Pts.
 1. Ball State (7-5-2)    5-0-2  17
 2. Bowling Green (7-5-1)  5-1-1  16
 3. Western Mich. (8-3-3)  4-0-3  15
   Kent State (8-4-2)   5-2-0  15
 5. Toledo (7-5-2)     4-2-1  13
 6. Buffalo (6-3-5)    3-2-2  11
 7. Northern Ill. (5-6-3) 3-3-1  10
 8. Ohio (4-6-4)      2-3-2  8
 9. Eastern Mich. (1-8-6) 1-4-2  5
10. Central Mich. (2-5-5)Â 1-4-2Â Â 5
11. Miami (4-10-1)Â Â Â Â Â 1-6-0Â Â 3
12. Akron (2-12-0)Â Â Â Â Â 0-7-0Â Â 0
UP NEXT
• The Falcons now hit the road for a Sunday (Oct. 15) matchup with defending MAC champion Buffalo. First touch is set for 1:00 p.m. at UB Stadium.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will return home next Thursday (Oct. 19), meeting Central Michigan in a 7:00 p.m. start at Cochrane.
REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE
Sunday, Oct. 15 – at Buffalo, 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19 – CENTRAL MICHIGAN, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 22 – at Ball State, 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 26 – NORTHERN ILLINOIS, 3:00 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION...
• For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer), Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer) and Facebook (bgsuwsoc) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
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The Falcons (7-5-1, 5-1-1 MAC) lost for the first time in MAC play this season. BGSU drops out of first place in the conference. Just two points separate the first- through fourth-place teams in the league (scroll down for updated standings).
BG had a season-best 27 total shot attempts, and the Falcons tied a season high with 11 corner kicks. But, the Golden Flashes (8-4-2, 5-2-0) bent, but didn't break, in the back. Sarah Melen made six saves to earn the shutout on the road.
For the Falcons, Madison Vukas made two saves – including a stop of a penalty kick – in the first half, while Lili Berg's three second-half stops included a save on a KSU breakaway.
The Flashes' Alisa Arthur opened the scoring in the 24th minute. KSU was awarded a penalty kick, and Arthur took that shot from the spot. She was denied, as Vukas made a nifty diving save. But, Arthur was first to the rebound and tucked her second shot away.
KSU doubled the lead in the 59th minute on a counterattack. A pass by Siena Stambolich put Callie Cunningham behind the BG defense. Berg was forced to come off of her line, but Cunningham was able to poke the ball past the BG 'keeper and then knock it into the net.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak as well as a six-match unbeaten streak for the Falcons..
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Just under five minutes into the game, the Falcons had a chance, as Chrstine Erdman stole the ball deep in the KSU end on the left side. The freshman hit a cross into the box, and Ellie Pool ran onto it and met it with a header, but the shot was just wide of the near post.
• In the 14th minute, back-to-back shots by Audrey Oliver and Maya Dean were blocked in the box after a BG corner kick.
• Roughly one minute later, Makenzie Ortman came up with a steal of her own and played the ball ahead to Pool. Pool hit a shot on frame, but Sarah Melen made the save.
• Just over a minute after that, Pool had another shot, off of another ball from Ortman. This time, Pool received the pass, made several nifty moves near the 18-yard line and fired a shot that Melen was able to stop. The rebound hit off of the charging Brynn Gardner and caromed just wide of the left post.
• Twenty minutes into the match, the Falcons had an 11-3 lead in total shot attempts. But, the Flashes would soon get on the board. A low cross by Callie Cunningham was dummied nicely by a teammate, and the ball wound up at the feet of Alanna Raimondo, who was tripped as she headed toward goal.
• A penalty kick was awarded, with Alisa Arthur taking it for the Flashes. BGSU 'keeper Madison Vukas made a diving stop of the kick, but the rebound came straight toward Arthur, who knocked it home from six yards out.
• Ten minutes into the second half, Dean made a tremendous run down the left side of the field, beating her would-be defender and bringing the ball along the end line. Her pass found Pool, who hit a hard shot that sailed just over the crossbar.
• The Flashes would double the lead on a counterattack with just under an hour gone. Siena Stambolich played a through ball to Cunningham, who raced behind the defense. Lili Berg was forced to come off of her goal line, but Cunningham was able to poke the ball past the BGSU goalkeeper and poke it into the net.
• With just under 11 minutes left, Brynn Gardner's right-side cross found the onrushing Oliver, but her shot whizzed just over the crossbar.
• The Flashes looked to add to the lead as Arthur was the beneficiary of a deflection that put her behind the defense with 5:40 to go, but Berg came off of her line to make a great stop to keep the Falcons' deficit at two goals. From there, however, KSU was able to seal the win.
STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons had a 27-17 lead in total shot attempts, and BGSU enjoyed an 11-2 advantage on corner kicks. KSU did have a slim 7-6 lead in shots on goal
• Sarah Melen had six stops for the Flashes. Madison Vukas made two saves and Lili Berg three for the Falcons, with each BG 'keeper making at least one spectacular stop.
• The loss was just the Falcons' eighth in the last 57 MAC regular-season matches, dating to the beginning of the 2018 season.
MAC STANDINGS
(through Thursday night's games)
School (Overall)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â MACÂ Â Pts.
 1. Ball State (7-5-2)    5-0-2  17
 2. Bowling Green (7-5-1)  5-1-1  16
 3. Western Mich. (8-3-3)  4-0-3  15
   Kent State (8-4-2)   5-2-0  15
 5. Toledo (7-5-2)     4-2-1  13
 6. Buffalo (6-3-5)    3-2-2  11
 7. Northern Ill. (5-6-3) 3-3-1  10
 8. Ohio (4-6-4)      2-3-2  8
 9. Eastern Mich. (1-8-6) 1-4-2  5
10. Central Mich. (2-5-5)Â 1-4-2Â Â 5
11. Miami (4-10-1)Â Â Â Â Â 1-6-0Â Â 3
12. Akron (2-12-0)Â Â Â Â Â 0-7-0Â Â 0
UP NEXT
• The Falcons now hit the road for a Sunday (Oct. 15) matchup with defending MAC champion Buffalo. First touch is set for 1:00 p.m. at UB Stadium.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will return home next Thursday (Oct. 19), meeting Central Michigan in a 7:00 p.m. start at Cochrane.
REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE
Sunday, Oct. 15 – at Buffalo, 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19 – CENTRAL MICHIGAN, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 22 – at Ball State, 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 26 – NORTHERN ILLINOIS, 3:00 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION...
• For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer), Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer) and Facebook (bgsuwsoc) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
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Team Stats
KSU
BGSU
Goals
2
0
Shots
17
27
Shots on Goal
7
6
Saves
6
5
Corners
2
11
Fouls
11
19
Scoring Plays
Alisa Arthur (6)
GOAL by KSU Arthur, Alisa.
23:06
Callie Cunningham (1)
Assisted By: Siena Stambolich
GOAL by KSU Cunningham, Callie Assist by Stambolich, Siena.
58:35
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
6
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
6
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
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