The Falcon women’s soccer team swept their two opponents this weekend at Cochrane Field and showed some strong play in the process. They were able to come from behind to defeat Akron on Friday 2-1 and got a convincing win over Wright State yesterday by score of 3-0.
“Both games were very pleasing, as far as effort was concerned this weekend,” coach Andy Richards said. “We knew coming in that the games were winnable, but we needed to play well and we earned the two wins we got.”
In Friday’s game against Akron, the Falcons and Zips were unable to find the net in the first half of play as both teams struggled to get shots. The play was back and forth with very few opportunities coming up for either team.
Ashley Wentzel had a good scoring opportunity in the first half, but her shot was tipped over the goal post by Akron goalie Crystal Tabor.
The Falcons generated opportunities early in the second half, but were still unable to beat Tabor. Akron was able to capitalize off a counterattack as Mirka Mohns slid one by Ali Shingler in the lower right corner of the net to give Akron a 1-0 lead with 26:39 left in the game.
BG answered back with 13:58 remaining as Lindsay Carter’s corner kick found Samantha Meister in front of the net, whose header then beat Tabor to even the game at 1-1. After a missed opportunity by Akron two minutes later and a missed chance by Meister with five minutes left, the game seemed to be heading for overtime.
However, in the final minute Keeley Dayton was able to control the ball and find Julie Trundle, who charged down the sideline into Akron territory. She then made a pass across to the front of the net that found Wentzel, whose kick found the net with 44 seconds left to give BG a 2-1 win.
It was Wentzel’s first goal as a Falcon and one that gave the Falcons their first MAC win on the year.
“It was a real good team effort today and we had full effort today by everyone out there,” said Wentzel. “We deserved this win after what we’ve been through this year and it’s exciting being that it’s our first MAC win.”
Coach Richards commented on how his team didn’t give up, and they played hard till the end.
“What a game and what great character we showed to be able come back and win this game,” Richards said. “It was great to see Ashley get the goal today and I’m ecstatic for her being it was her first collegiate goal.”
Yesterday, the Falcons and the Raiders of Wright State played, and it was a game the Falcons controlled from start to finish.
In the first half, the Falcons generated shots early and Kristy Coppes got her third goal of the year off a pass from Meister just 20 minutes in to give BG a 1-0 lead. Then with 8 minutes left in the half, Britt Anderson was able to beat Raider goaltender Steph Comisar off a pass from Trundle and Leah Eggleton.
The Falcons took a 2-0 lead to half and then just 2 minutes into the final half of play Coppes got her second goal of the match and fourth of the season to put the finally tally on the board making it 3-0.
There were missed opportunities by both teams in the final half, as both goalies made some nice saves. Emily Flohre played the second half for Wright State at goaltender and the Falcons played Jenifer Kernahan, who was able to get 4 big saves and finish the five-save shutout for the Falcons that Shingler had started.
With the wins the Falcons move to 3-5-1 on the year and now have a MAC record of 1-1-1.
“Today we had a plan in mind and the team did a good job with carrying that plan out for us,” said Richards. “We got good production from Kristy today and it was really a pleasing performance that was what we really needed to have.”
The Falcons will play at Valparaiso on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and will host Toledo on Sunday at 1 p.m.
