BG Drops two tough Games to WVU and XU

This past weekend the BGSU Women's Soccer team lost two tough battles against non-conference opponents. The team opened up weekend play with a very hard fought loss against West Virginia, who is nationally ranked in many polls. Despite the loss, BG was able to put together some dangerous scoring opportunities and WVU can not claim to have had any easy time during the game, despite the score line. 20 players for the Falcon's saw action during the game.

BGSU took on Xavier for their second match of the weekend, and again came away empty handed with a loss. The loss was especially tough to stomach due to the fact that many unforced team errors helped XU secure the win. Xavier got out to an early 1-0 start with a bit of luck and some miscommunication between BGSU players to take the lead less than 4 minutes into the match. The score would remain the same until only 26 seconds into the 2nd half when the falcons found the equalizer on a great pass from Alicia Almond that put Katelyn Turner in on goal. Turner calmly beat the XU keeper and put the score at an even 1-1. BG came right back again with another goal less than 7 minutes later to take the lead 2-1 (Alicia Almond again threaded a ball through the defense to an onrushing Alyssa Zuccaro, who slotted the ball to Katie Stephenson who finished 1st time against the XU keeper). Unfortunately, XU got right back into the game on an own goal by BGSU only minutes later, knotting the match at 2-2. XU got the go ahead goal and would not relinquish the lead, despite continued offensive pressure from the falcons. On the day, BG outshot Xavier 14-12.

BG will now travel to New York for an away-trip set of matches against Niagara University and St. Bonnaventure University this upcoming weekend. BG will be back in action on their home field next Friday Sept 10 against the University of Minnesota, and Sunday against Cleveland State University.

We hope to see you during our next home stand! R O L L A L O N G !!

UC tops BGSU in Season Opener 2-1 in 2OT

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats narrowly pulled out a win over the Falcons in the home, and season, opener for BGSU. The game ended in a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation, but the Bearcats were able to make the most out of a questionable free-kick call in the second overtime period to secure their victory.

The Bearcats struck first, taking a 1-0 lead over the home team early in the first half on an own goal by the Falcons. BG thwarted many UC attacks as the game continued and did not allow the visitors any more good chances on goal during regulation. The team pushed on with consistent offensive pressure and Alyssa Zuccaro netted the equalizer with a little over 5 minutes left in the match. Sarah Vonderbrink and Maddie Wideman were credited with assits.

Although a disappointing loss, the team recognizes many positive aspects in terms of how they played. Spectators would agree that BG easily had some of the best opportunities to score on the day, in a game that was exciting to watch due to it's physical nature and fast pace. The team looks to rebound from the loss this weekend as we host Nationally ranked West Virginia on Friday (kickoff 5:00pm) and Xavier on Sunday (kickoff 1:00pm).

Hope to see you on the sidelines! R O L L A L O N G!

2010 Preseason Underway

The 2010 BGSU Women's Soccer team officially began pre-season training camp on Friday, August 6th. The day began with some meetings and "Christmas" (a.k.a. gear distribution - man are they spoiled!), and concluded with the running of the annual Falcon Fitness Test followed by a short training session. The team has completed preseason and already have the foundation of a very cohesive and talented group. Pre-season has been extremely competitive as the team continues to build toward the beginning of the season, but there have also been many laughs and light-hearted team activities along the way. A few noteworthy team activities include the Iron Chef competition and Midnight Madness with team Camo being triumphant over team Black Attack.

IRON CHEF COMPETITION:
Each one of our seniors "captained" a team to compete in the cooking contest. The teams were given $40, 1.5 hours, and the secret ingredient of "potatoes" and the rest was left up to each team's imagination. The teams were judged on taste, creativity, and presentation.....and boy did they make it tough! The food was truly delicious and it was rewarding for the team to prepare the food together and to eat the foods that they, themselves, made. Watch out BG restaurants....the BGSU Women's Soccer team could start a successful catering business! :)

FOOD DESCRIPTIONS:

Team Jamaican Jerks (Winner!):

Jamaican stir fry with jerk flavored chicken, cauliflower, asparagus and potatoes, served with a homemade garlic potato biscuit, and a potato-peanut butter sushi roll.

Team Shake and Bake:

Baked parmesan idaho potato wedges, rosemary crusted red potatoes served over a bed of rice pilaf, veggie stir fry with tri colored peppers, corn, and red onion, and a sweet potato casserole for des sert.

Team Chow Down:

Sauteed green beans with pierogies, served with a crostini of french bread topped with seasoned mashed potatoes, grilled chicken, sweet barbeque sauce and chives.

Team "Winners":

Whole wheat gnocchi with a turkey sausage and creamy tomato sauce ragout, served with cheesy potato casserole, and homemade jalapeno poppers stuffed with mashed potatoes, cheese, and sour cream.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS:
There are no words to describe this team activity. The videos will have to speak for themselves. All I can say is H I L A R I O U S ! Such a good group! (Videos to follow shortly...check back soon!)

2nd Annual Indoor Clinic and Tournament

We have set a date for our 2nd Annual BGSU Women's Soccer Indoor Event. This year the event will take place on Saturday, Febuary 6th in the Perry Field House. Last year's event was a huge success, so we have expanded the event to include more age groups this year.

U8-U11 will play 4v4 to small goals (no keepers)
U12-U14 will play 3v3 to small goals (no keepers)

A developmental clinic will be held for the two younger groups above.

NEW THIS YEAR:
U15-U18 will play 7v7 to big goals (6v6 + keepers)

Please click the following link to view this year's brochure and registration information.

Current BGSU Women’s Soccer players will be on hand to meet and interact with all those participating in the tournament. We are looking forward to hosting you for this wonderful event!

Happy Holidays!

The BGSU Women's Soccer team recently held their annual Holiday party at Santa's (Andy's), house. There was a non-negotiable entry requirment of arriving in an "ugly christmas sweater" in order to take part in the festivities. Colleen and Sam showed up looking like figurines from the nut cracker, although they also somewhat resembled movie ushers in red coats :) The best christmas sweater of the night had to go to Lauren (Lolo) Livingston though, as she took the time to personally pin christmas decorations onto a cardigan. Her sweater ended up being more "cute" than "ugly". No suprises there!

The white elephant gift exchange brought many laughs again as ususal. Some of the more comical gifts included: A scarecrow to put in your yard, fuzzy socks, a winnie the pooh robe, and a very "interesting" mad libs book. The hot ticket items, that everyone wanted to steal, were the gift cards, blankets, and a cute little purse. All in all, the team had an enjoyable time....Just take a look for yourself!

The team would like to wish all of our supporters a very happy, and safe, holiday season! Please check back in after the New Year!

Kordan and Bland reflect on the Season:

Senior Captains Colleen Kordan and Samantha Bland were recently asked to provide some reflection on the past season to the BGSU school news paper. See below to read their the article that was published in this weeks BG News:

Looking back on four years of playing soccer with the Falcons, senior co-captains Samantha Bland and Colleen Kordan have bittersweet emotions.

They both loved their time playing soccer under coach Andy Richards but now that it is over, both are already missing it.

“I can’t even explain the emotions,” Bland said. “You never think the day actually will come when you’re done with something that you have put so much time into your whole life.

“I’m extremely sad to be done with BGSU soccer, it was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Kordan shares some of the same and some different feelings about finishing her final season.

“I am excited to move onto a new chapter of my life and enjoy things that I couldn’t while I was playing soccer,” Kordan said. “I’m planning on graduating in the spring. It’s an exciting part in my life.”

But Kordan is hung up on some of the way this season panned out.

“The way my senior class and I went out, that’s not how I wanted to be remembered,” Kordan said. “It was my goal to help lead my team to a championship and I wasn’t able to fulfill that goal. It’s sad — soccer has been a part of my life for the past 15 years and now it’s gone. It still hasn’t hit me yet.”

There are a lot of things that Kordan and Bland will take with them now that their season has come to a close and they are on their way to graduation. Richards has definitely left them with some good lessons that apply to both on and off the field.

“Losing makes you appreciate winning,” Bland said. “Don’t be selfish. When you work as a team, you can accomplish so much more than working for yourself.”

But some lessons will be left on the soccer field.

“Always keep the ball low and hard and in the corner,” Bland said.
The seniors also will miss much more from their four years playing.

“Hands down: my teammates,” Kordan said. “It’s funny. You come into college not knowing a single teammate and by the end of your four years, you’ve truly become a family — especially with those you’ve played with for four years. It’s an irreplaceable feeling.”

Bland also will miss her teammates.

“I will miss the girls,” she said. “I have made some of my best friends here — the bus trips, home games and being able to play competitively.”

Now that the season has come to a close, Kordan and Bland have different ideas of how soccer will fit in their lives.

“I’ve never pictured myself as a coach, but who knows,” Bland said. “I definitely want to focus my dietetics career around something sports-related; soccer would be great.”

“I hope to play co-ed and in leagues with my former teammates,” Kordan said. “Maybe one day, I’ll go back to coaching. I hope to stay connected to the BGSU program by attending games and working the summer camp.”

Looking back, one must look at the highlights and accomplishments of these two soccer players. Kordan has accumulated five goals scored along with seven assists in her four years here as a Falcon. She was named to the All-MAC team her freshman year, named co-defensive MVP along with Bland her sophomore year and named First Team All-MAC her junior year.

Bland has scored three goals and two assists in her tenure here at BG. Her defensive accomplishments are even more impressive though, as she has been named the team’s defensive MVP each year with the Falcons.

For these two players, looking back on their memories on the field is very rewarding and emotional. Now that they have left their legacies on the field, they are leaving the world of BG soccer with some advice for the younger players, to help them prosper.

“Always give 100 percent and have fun,” Kordan said. “I remember when I was a freshman the seniors used to tell me, ‘Enjoy it — it’ll be over before you know it.’”

Samantha Bland had a similar message, along with a certain goal she would like the Falcons to carry out.

“Stay in shape, stay out of trouble, don’t get down on yourself,” she said. “And win a flippin’ ring.”

As previously mentioned, the team is hard at work to make winning next season's MAC championship a possibility. ROLL ALONG!

Almond and Stephenson earn Academic All-District Honors

Two Bowling Green State University student-athletes have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV University Division Women's Soccer Team. Juniors Alicia Almond and Katie Stephenson each earned third-team honors.

Stephenson makes the team for the second consecutive year, having been named to the second team in 2008. Almond earns academic all-district honors for the first time.

Almond maintains a 3.95 cumulative grade point average as a health science major. Stephenson, a finance major, has a 3.94 cumulative GPA in her BGSU career to date.

A native of Findlay, Ohio (Findlay HS), Almond was one of just four Falcons to start all 20 matches in 2009. A mainstay on BGSU's back line, she played a total of 1728 minutes, the second-highest total on the team, and scored three points.

Almond scored a goal in the Miami game, and assisted on freshman Keely Chandler's game-winning goal vs. Youngstown State. In her career, Almond has played in 47 matches, making 21 starts, and has seven points on three goals and an assist.

Stephenson, who hails from Lexington, Ohio (Lexington HS), played in all 20 matches in 2009, making 12 starts. Like Almond, Stephenson had three points on a goal and an assist. Her goal came in BGSU's win at Detroit, and she also assisted on Chandler's winner in the YSU match.

In her career, Stephenson has played in 63 of BGSU's 64 matches since her arrival on campus, making 32 starts. She has 16 career points on five goals and six assists.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District University Division Team is made up of student-athletes from Division I schools in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. To be nominated, a student-athlete must hold at least sophomore status, be a starter or key reserve, and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher. Team members are selected by a vote of members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) within the district.