First Half Scoring Propels Falcons Past EIU

Friday, September 11

Charleston, Ill.

4:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

4-2

Eastern Illinois

1-5-1

Bowling Green

Eastern Illinois

Photo by: BGSU Strategic Communications

September 11, 2015 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: By Alexx Klein, BGSU Athletic Communications

Box Score (PDF)
Box Score (HTML)
Season Stats (PDF)

Charleston, Ill. – The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team picked up its second straight win Friday night, defeating Eastern Illinois on the road 3-2. The Falcons advance to 4-2-0 on the season, a mark that has not been hit since 1999.

"I'm really pleased with our performance today and proud of the way the team responded to a little bit of adversity," said head coach Lindsay Basalyga. "We are really starting to find our rhythm in the final 1/4 of the field and the composure we are playing with has been fun to watch evolve. I'm not worried about the goals we gave up in that they are 100% fixable."

BGSU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead following goals by sophomores Madison Schupbach and Mikaela Couch. On top of the two goals, the Falcon offense took four more shots in the first 16 and a half minutes of play.

In the 16th minute, Schupbach's shot from outside of the box beat EIU keeper Maddie Lyon as BG went up 1-0 on the Panthers. Jessica Creech and Haley Parkinson were credited with the assist.

Ninety seconds later, Creech recorded her second assist in less than two minutes, finding Couch who put a shot past Lyon to the low corner. The Falcons went up 2-0 on Couch's fifth goal of the season. Her five goals through six games this season already ties the team-high by an individual from last season.

Near the midpoint of the first half, Eastern Illinois' Kathleen Mackinnon got a shot past goalkeeper Lauren Cadel to cut the BG lead in half.

With time winding down in the opening period, the Falcons' 2014 scoring leader, Skylar Fleak, scored her first goal of the season with 30 second left in the first half to extend the BG lead to 3-1. Schupbach tallied her second assist of the season on the play.

Bowling Green's defense held EIU to just three shots in the first period as the Falcons totaled nine, led by Schupbach, Fleak and Creech all with two a piece.

The Falcon attack didn't let up in the second half, opening with five more shots. However, in the 60th minute, Cadel deflected a shot on goal, but EIU's Molly Hawkins finished the play to cut the Panther scoring deficit to one.

Despite multiple shots on goal by both sides, neither would find the back of the net for the remainder of the game.

Bowling Green is now 4-2-1 all-time versus Eastern Illinois. The Falcons have won the last four meetings between the two teams.

The Orange and Brown have now scored at least one goal in all six contests of 2015, a feat that hasn't happened since 2008. The win versus the Panthers matched the Falcons' win total from all of last season.

"I'm just happy for our players and glad they get to experience the success that comes from their commitment and belief in our process. Valpo will be a really tough test on Sunday, but the players are excited for another opportunity to compete," added Basalyga.

BGSU continues its weekend road trip with a visit to Valparaiso, Ind. to take on the Crusaders Sunday at 2 p.m. The Falcons then return to Cochrane Stadium for five straight home matches.