After a string of Mid-American Conference games, the women’s soccer team will play a non-conference powerhouse when it takes on Cincinnati this afternoon on the road.
Falcons’ coach Andy Richards is excited about the challenge of playing one of the best teams in the state.
“It’s very exciting for us because they are a top program and we have never played them before,” Richards said. “It’s going to be a huge test for us, but one we are excited about because there is no pressure on us whatsoever.”
One of the other reasons for excitement is that several players on the BG roster are from the Cincinnati area, making the game somewhat of a homecoming for them.
Senior goalkeeper Erika Flanders, a Cincinnati native, is looking forward to the game.
“It’s a big thing for us,” Flanders said. “Almost half the team is from Cincinnati, and we get to go home and play.”
Richards said the fact that so many players are from the area played a role in the scheduling of the game.
“It’s one of the main reasons that we did it to be honest,” Richards said. “It’s exciting for all those Cincinnati kids, especially for Erika, who in her senior year gets to go back home. It should be fun for her.”
While the game against Cincinnati game is not a MAC game, Richards said the game is important for the rest of the season.
“If we go to Cincinnati (today) and win, that will be a huge result for our program,” Richards said. “It’ll get us some recognition certainly throughout the state and over a broader sphere as well.”
“It would give us bragging rights, help us with recruiting, and it would be great for the kids. Any time you can win a game it is good.”
Regardless, only winning MAC games will help BG reach the postseason. The Falcons have a 4-3 MAC record, with five conference games remaining. Richards said that the MAC will be tight and competitive for the rest of the season, and BG’s recent performances in MAC games will concern the Falcons’ opponents.
“All of the MAC coaches know that anybody in the conference can beat anybody else,” Richards said. “When teams are on a bit of a roll, they’re extra dangerous. Anybody who looks at our last results is going to see that we won at Akron, we won at Kent, they took care of Marshall and lost to Ohio in overtime. Anyone is going to respect that.”
Now, over halfway through the regular season, Richards said that the team is further ahead than he thought they’d be at this point.
“We are a very young team, and we needed some time to come together as a team,” Richards said. “We are kind of ahead of ourselves. I don’t think I expected us to be 4-3 in the MAC.”