One of the goals for the women’s soccer team this season is reaching the postseason of the Mid-American Conference. After the Falcons’ play last week, they have stepped closer to their goal.

Bowling Green earned a win and a tie this past weekend in MAC play, after falling to national powerhouse Cincinnati last Tuesday.

The Falcons were shut out by the Bearcats 2-0 in Cincinnati. Despite the loss, Falcons coach Andy Richards felt the team played well.

“You’re never happy with a loss, but some losses are easier to take than others,” Richards said. “I don’t think many people would have given us a chance to beat Cincinnati on its own field, but we played well.”

Bowling Green resumed MAC play Friday with a 2-0 win on the road against Central Michigan, a team that defeated the Falcons last season.

Friday’s game saw the first collegiate goal for Samantha Meister, as well as the eighth goal of the season for Kristy Coppes.

Meister was happy to get her first goal.

“It was really exciting for me,” Meister said. “It always feels good to put [the ball] through the net.”

The win gave the Falcons five wins in the conference. Richards said that the win showed the team’s improvement from last season.

“We are always trying to look at the big picture, and overall we have made some good strides,” Richards said. “We played well, scored some nice goals and got another win.”

Against Eastern Michigan Sunday, the Falcons got another goal from Meister, but still found themselves trailing 2-1 heading into the final minute. With the countdown going over the loud speaker, Julie Trundle scored with six seconds left on the clock, helping the Falcons secure a 2-2 tie.

Trundle, who now has three goals this season, said that getting the tie was big.

“A win is better than a tie,” Trundle said. “But when you can come from behind in the last six seconds, it feels good.”

Richards said the nature of the game left the Falcons with a good feeling after the game.

“It was a great way to end the day,” Richards said. “We ended up with a tie but I’m sure that Eastern Michigan felt like they’d lost it, and we’d felt like we won it. It’s kind of a strange way to look at things.”

With a record of 5-3-1 in the MAC, the Falcons are getting close to securing a spot in the postseason. They have three more conference games left on the schedule, and according to Richards, a team that wins six games will usually get into the tournament.

Meister said that the Falcons believe that they can win all of their remaining MAC games.

“I’m thinking about getting all three games,” Meister said. “Getting to the tournament is nice, but I think we can win all three.”

BG’s next game will be a non-conference game at 4 p.m. on Friday against Valparaiso. Their next conference game will be an 11:30 a.m. game on Sunday in Buffalo.