The Falcon women’s soccer team tried, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to beat two of the top teams in the Mid-American Conference.

The Falcons (5-11-3, 1-6-3 MAC) fell to Central Michigan (14-3-0, 9-0 MAC) in a 1-0 loss on Friday before falling 2-0 to Eastern Michigan yesterday.

‘It was a great effort,’ said BG coach Andy Richards after Friday’s match.

The Chippewas have shut out every conference opponent this season, and their win Friday clinched the MAC regular-season championship for them.

‘We’re smiling right now,’ said CMU coach Tom Anagnost. ‘I am really proud of the women and what they have been able to accomplish. It’s been a great year so far, but our women will tell you that we will strive for more.’

But given the cold, muddy field conditions, Richards thought the game should not have been played at all.

‘It was a game of survival,’ Richards said. ‘The game shouldn’t have even been played, but it had to be played.’

Richards also mentioned that he couldn’t complain with all of the effort put in by his team.

They came in fired up and played that way, he said. Richards was trying to keep them fired up, because the team knows its season is hanging in the balance, and pull off some upsets and secure a bid to the MAC playoffs.

‘They were working hard [and] trying hard,’ Richards said. ‘It just wasn’t enough.’

After the game the team turned their focus towards Eastern Michigan.

‘We’ve got to win,’ Richards said before the match. ‘They’re determined. They’re focused. We have got to win against Eastern Michigan and Toledo.’

But with a loss to the Eagles, the team’s playoff hopes were dashed and they failed to advance to the MAC Tournament for the first time since 2001.

The two shutout losses on the weekend bring the team’s total to eight.

Editor’s note: Andrew Harner also contributed to this story.’