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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Friday, October 7
Bowling Green, Ohio
4:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
vs
Eastern Michigan
Michigan native Ashley Garr & the Falcons face EMU and CMU this weekend (photo by Doug Sampson)
Eastern, Central Up Next for Falcons
October 04, 2011 | Women's Soccer
BGSU hosts Eagles in Friday action at Cochrane Field
The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team, believe it or not, reaches the midway point of the Mid-American Conference schedule this weekend. The Falcons of head coach Andy Richards will conclude a season-long three-game homestand with Friday's (Oct. 7) contest against Eastern Michigan University. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Cochrane Field.
BGSU's 2011 CUMULATIVE STATS: HTML | PDF
BGSU 2011 ONLINE MEDIA GUIDE: Links to PDF and 'flip interactive formats
Then, the Brown and Orange will hit the road for the next three matches, beginning with a Sunday (Oct. 9) game against Central Michigan University. The Falcons and Chippewas will do battle in a 1:00 p.m. start at the CMU Soccer Complex.
FALCONS vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN
Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 • 4:00 p.m.
VENUE: Cochrane Field; Bowling Green, Ohio
RECORDS:
• BGSU: 4-9-0, 1-3-0 MAC (4-12-4, 2-6-3 MAC in 2010)
• EMU: 0-9-2, 0-3-1 MAC (9-7-5, 6-2-3 MAC in 2010)
SERIES*: EMU leads, 10-7-1 | STREAK: EMU - 3
LAST MEETING: at Eastern Mich. 6, BGSU 4 (Oct. 1, 2010)
LAST MEETING IN BOWLING GREEN: at BGSU 2, Eastern Mich. 1 (OT) (Nov. 4, 2007)
COACHES:
• BGSU: Andy Richards (Sheffield City Polytechnic [England], 1989), 106-117-26 in 12th year at BGSU and overall; 56-58-15 in MAC matches
• EMU: Scott Hall (Eastern Michigan, 1994), 125-97-38 in 13th year at EMU and overall; 79-44-22 in MAC matches
LIVE STATS: Available right here at BGSUFalcons.com
FALCONS at CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011 • 1:00 p.m.
VENUE: CMU Soccer Complex; Mount Pleasant, Mich.
RECORDS (heading into Friday's matches):
• BGSU: 4-9-0, 1-3-0 MAC (4-12-4, 2-6-3 MAC in 2010)
• CMU: 8-1-3, 2-0-2 MAC (16-5-1, 10-1-0 MAC in 2010) – CMU hosts Miami on Friday
SERIES*: CMU leads, 8-5-2 | STREAK: CMU - 5
LAST MEETING: Central Mich. 1, at BGSU 0 (Oct. 3, 2010)
LAST MEETING IN MOUNT PLEASANT: at Central Mich. 1, BGSU 0 (Oct. 23, 2009)
COACHES:
• BGSU: Andy Richards (Sheffield City Polytechnic [England], 1989), 106-117-26 in 12th year at BGSU and overall; 56-58-15 in MAC matches
• CMU: Neil Stafford (Southern New Hampshire, 1996), 8-1-3 in first year at CMU; 80-62-8 in sixth year overall; 2-0-2 in MAC matches
LIVE STATS: Available through CMUChippewas.com or right here at BGSUFalcons.com
* Note: Series information can be found on pages 47-49 of the 2011 BGSU online media guide, which is available in both PDF and flip interactive formats here at BGSUFalcons.com
LIVE STATISTICS
Again in 2011, all BGSU home women's soccer matches, and most away contests, will have live statistics available on the web. If you can't make it to the field, simply log on to BGSUFalcons.com at game time. The live stats links can be found on the front page of the site (in the 'schedule' section) or by clicking on the women's soccer schedule and choosing the corresponding match.
ABOUT THE FALCONS
The Falcons will enter the weekend with an overall record of 4-9-0 on the season, and BGSU is 1-3 in MAC play. The Falcons opened the conference portion of the schedule on the road two weekends ago, and both matches were in doubt until the bitter end. BG picked up a 2-1 win at Buffalo in the conference opener (Sept. 23), but fell at Kent State, 1-0 in overtime, two days later (Sept. 25). Last weekend, the Brown and Orange dropped a pair of home contests, 1-0 to Toledo on Friday (Sept. 30) and 2-0 vs. Ball State Sunday afternoon (Oct. 2). BGSU is 1-5-0 at home and 3-4-0 on the road this season to date.
Senior captain Alyssa Zuccaro leads the team in scoring, with eight points on a BG-best four goals. Zuccaro had both of the Falcons' goals at Buffalo, and also scored vs. Niagara and Youngstown State. Junior Sarah VonderBrink is second on the Falcons in scoring. Her five points include one goal and a team-leading three assists. Those assists include helpers on the game-winning goals at YSU and UB, and her goal was a match-winner as well, at Cleveland State.
In addition to VonderBrink, sophomores Ashley Miller, Kaitlyn Tobin and Tracy Togba and freshman Kaylee Draper each have one goal this season. Tobin's goal was a 90th-minute winner vs. the Penguins.
Senior Megan Amann has two assists this fall to date, while Miller and sophomore Madeline Wideman has one. Amann's assists came on VonderBrink's winning goal at CSU and Zuccaro's goal at YSU.
Redshirt junior Becca Ison has started 12 matches this season to date. Ison has played 1182-plus minutes, and has 67 saves – the second-highest total in the MAC – along with two shutouts and a goals-against average of 1.83. Ison made a career-high 11 stops in the Illinois State game, and she had nine saves at MSU and eight vs. Detroit, Niagara and Toledo.
True junior Laura Arnold has seen action in two matches, playing the final seven-plus minutes at Buffalo before starting the Kent State contest. Arnold has a 1-1-0 record, two saves and a GAA of just 0.88.
Sophomore Alyssa Carmack is the lone player to have played every second of all 13 matches this fall, while Draper has played 1160 of the 1,182-plus minutes. Zuccaro has been on the field for 1129 minutes, while junior Emily Rothwell has played 1098 minutes, Ison 1080 and redshirt freshman Kylie Briem 1028. Briem, Carmack, Draper, Zuccaro and redshirt sophomore Jenny Fowler each have started every match this fall to date, while Rothwell and Ison have made 12 starts apiece.
Head coach Andy Richards and his staff, assistants Kellie Evans and Jimmy Walker, welcomed back a total of 17 letterwinners, including seven starters, from last year's club. BGSU's returning players combined for nearly 67 percent of the team's goals and almost 73% of the assists a year ago. Four of the Falcons' top-five scorers returned from the 2010 campaign, including Zuccaro, who led the team in scoring. Zuccaro had one-third of the team's goals, with eight, and also led the Brown and Orange with six assists. Her total of 22 points was the highest by a BGSU player since the 2005 season.
LAST WEEKEND
The Falcons dropped a pair of close contests at home last weekend. On Friday (Sept. 30), Toledo got a goal in the 70th minute for a 1-0 victory over BGSU. Redshirt junior Becca Ison made eight saves, including several spectacular stops, in the match.
On Sunday (Oct. 2), Ball State scored twice in the first half en route to a 2-0 win. Ison had five saves in her complete-match effort for the Brown and Orange.
FALCONS IN THE MAC STATS
Several Falcon players are ranked in the MAC's individual statistics. Senior Alyssa Zuccaro is second in the conference in shots (40), and she is fourth in shots per game (3.08).
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Becca Ison is second in the league in saves, with 67. She is third in saves per game (5.58), eighth in save percentage (.753), tied for eighth in shutouts (two) and 10th in shutouts per game (0.17).
FALCON COACH ANDY RICHARDS
BGSU head coach Andy Richards, now in his 12th season at the helm, has proven himself to be one of the top mentors in MAC women's soccer history. He has guided the Falcons to an overall record of 106-117-26, and a record of 56-58-15 in MAC regular-season play. Richards picked up the 100th victory of his collegiate head-coaching career in the Falcons' 3-2 win at Indiana State last fall.
Richards' teams perennially play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the MAC. In his first decade-plus in BG, he has led the Falcons to the MAC Tournament on eight occasions, with the team advancing to the semifinals seven times. BGSU is 10-5-5 in MAC Tournament matches during his tenure, and no coach has more trips to the league tourney title game than Richards' five. Two of those appearances – in 2004 and 2005 – resulted in MAC Tournament titles and trips to the NCAA Championships. Richards and the Falcons also won the '05 regular-season crown.
A native of Warwick, England, Richards earned his Bachelor of Education degree from Sheffield City Polytechnic in 1989. He received his Master of Education degree from Oregon State in 1997.
RICHARDS IS IN THE TOP-FOUR
Falcon head coach Andy Richards is one of the winningest mentors in MAC women's soccer history. Currently, Richards ranks fourth on the conference's all-time wins list.
OVERALL WINS BY MAC COACHES
(since the MAC began sponsoring women's soccer in 1997 – totals through games of Monday, Oct. 3)
151 Bobby Kramig, Miami (1997-present)
125 Scott Hall, EMU (1999-present)
110 Brad Evans, Toledo (2001-present)
106 Andy Richards, BGSU (2000-present)
99 Stacy Strauss, Ohio (2000-present)
91 Jean-A. Tassy, Buffalo (1998-2007) *
89 Mike Haines, WMU (1998-2008)
87 Rob Marinaro, Kent State (2001-present)
70 Ron Rainey, Ball State (1999-2005)
* Tassy had 113 total wins at UB from 1995-2007, but the Bulls did not join the MAC until the 1998 season
THE OPPONENTS
Eastern Michigan will enter Friday's match with an overall record of 0-9-2 this season, and the Eagles are 0-3-1 in MAC play. Eastern tied Pittsburgh, 2-2, in the season opener (Aug. 19), and the Eagles snapped a nine-game losing streak with another 2-2 draw vs. Buffalo on Sunday (Oct. 2). EMU had been shutout in five-straight games, but the Eagles scored three goals in last weekend's two matches, falling to Kent State, 2-1 (Sept. 30) before tying UB. The Eagles are 0-7-1 on the road this year to date. Angela Vultaggio leads the team with five points, while Bianca Rossi has two goals to tie Vultaggio for the EMU lead in that category. Maggie Manville has played in nine of the team's 11 matches in goal, and has 56 saves and a goals-against average of 1.92. Head coach Scott Hall welcomed back 11 letterwinners, including eight starters, from last year's team. The 2010 Eagles went 9-7-5 overall and 6-2-3 in the MAC. The school's athletics web site is www.emueagles.com.
Central Michigan is 8-1-3 overall, and the Chippewas will take a 2-0-2 MAC mark into Friday's home contest vs. Miami. CMU is unbeaten in the last eight matches (5-0-3) since a 2-1 overtime loss to Kentucky on Sept. 2 – the team's lone loss this season. Last weekend, the Chippewas and UB battled to a scoreless draw on Friday (Sept. 30) before CMU downed KSU, 3-0, Sunday afternoon (Oct. 2). Central has yet to allow a goal in MAC play, and the Chippewas have surrendered a total of just five goals all year. Offensively, Ashley Mejilla leads a balanced attack with eight points. Mejilla, Autumn Hawkins and Laura Gosse have three goals each, while three other players have two goals apiece. In next, Stefanie Turner has played in 10 of the team's 12 matches, and has two shutouts, 28 saves and a GAA of 0.58. Grace Labrecque has played over 376 minutes and has yet to allow a goal. She has 10 saves and two shutouts, and the two 'keepers have combined for four additional shutouts (for a total of eight) this fall. Central currently has a shutout streak of 427:50, and the Chippewas have a 29-match home unbeaten streak heading into Friday's Miami match. Head coach Neil Stafford has 15 letterwinners, including nine starters, from a year ago. The 2010 Chippewas went 16-5-1 overall and 10-1-0 in MAC action. CMU tied for the MAC's West Division title, captured the MAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Championships. The school's athletics web site is CMUChippewas.com.
THE SERIES
The Falcons trail Eastern Michigan, 10-7-1, in the all-time series between the teams, and the Eagles have won the last three meetings. Friday marks the first time BGSU has hosted Eastern in four years. The last meeting at Cochrane Field was a 2-1 overtime win for the Falcons in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 MAC Tournament (Nov. 4, 2007). In last year's match in Ypsilanti, the teams combined for nine second-half goals in a wild 6-4 win by the Eagles (Oct. 1, 2010). Madeline Wideman and Alyssa Zuccaro each had a goal and an assist in that match, while Tracy Togba also scored a goal that afternoon. BGSU is 2-4-0 in home matches and 5-6-1 in away games in the series with EMU.
THE BGSU-EMU SERIES
(EMU leads, 10-7-1)
Sept. 28, 1997 -- at Eastern Mich. 1, BGSU 0
Sept. 20, 1998 -- at Eastern Mich. 5, BGSU 2
Nov. 3, 1998 -- BGSU 1, at Eastern Mich. 0 #
Oct. 15, 1999 -- Eastern Mich. 4, at BGSU 2
Sept. 24, 2000 -- BGSU 1, at EMU 0 (2-OT)
Oct. 31, 2000 -- BGSU 2, at EMU 1 #
Oct. 12, 2001 -- Eastern Mich. 3, at BGSU 0
Oct. 13, 2002 -- BGSU 2, at EMU 2 (2-OT)
Sept. 7, 2003 -- Eastern Mich. 1, at BGSU 0
Nov. 4, 2003 -- BGSU 2, at Eastern Mich. 1 #
Sept. 26, 2004 -- at Eastern Mich. 3, BGSU 2
Oct. 23, 2005 -- BGSU 2, at Eastern Mich. 1
Oct. 22, 2006 -- at BGSU 1, Eastern Mich. 0
Oct. 7, 2007 -- Eastern Mich. 2, at BGSU 0
Nov. 4, 2007 -- at BGSU 2, EMU 1 (OT) #
Oct. 19, 2008 -- at Eastern Mich. 2, BGSU 0
Oct. 25, 2009 -- at Eastern Mich. 2, BGSU 0
Oct. 1, 2010 -- at Eastern Mich. 6, BGSU 4
# MAC Tournament Quarterfinal
The Falcons trail Central Michigan, 8-5-2, in that series, and BGSU is looking to snap a five-match losing streak to the Chippewas. Last year, CMU posted a 1-0 win at Cochrane Field (Oct. 3, 2010). That was the same score when the Falcons last ventured to Mount Pleasant, on an inclement day two years ago (Oct. 23, 2009). BG's last win over Central was a 2-1 decision at the CMU Soccer Complex six years ago (Oct. 21, 2005). The home team has won only four times in series history. BGSU is 1-5-1 in home matches, 3-3-0 in road games and 1-0-1 in neutral-site contests vs. the Chippewas.
THE BGSU-CMU SERIES
(CMU leads, 8-5-2)
Oct. 1, 1998 -- at BGSU 4, Central Mich. 3
Oct. 17, 1999 -- Central Mich. 2, at BGSU 1
Sept. 15, 2000 -- BGSU 3, at Central Mich. 1
Oct. 14, 2001 -- Central Mich. 4, at BGSU 1
Oct. 11, 2002 -- BGSU 2, at Central Mich. 0
Sept. 12, 2003 -- at BGSU 2, CMU 2 (2-OT)
Nov. 7, 2003 -- BGSU 0, CMU 0 (2-OT) %#
Sept. 24, 2004 -- at Central Mich. 1, BGSU 0
Nov. 7, 2004 -- BGSU 2, Central Mich. 0 ^
Oct. 21, 2005 -- BGSU 2, at Central Mich. 1
Oct. 20, 2006 -- Central Mich. 3, at BGSU 1
Oct. 5, 2007 -- CMU 2, at BGSU 1 (2-OT)
Oct. 17, 2008 -- at Central Mich. 2, BGSU 0
Oct. 23, 2009 -- at Central Mich. 1, BGSU 0
Oct. 3, 2010 -- Central Mich. 1, at BGSU 0
% MAC Tourn. Semifinal (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
# BGSU advanced, 4-3, on PKs
^ MAC Tourn. Championship (Athens, Ohio)
FALCONS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN EAST
The Falcons have been picked to finish fifth in the MAC's East Division standings in 2011, according to the preseason coaches poll. The 2011 season marks the second year that a divisional format has been utilized for MAC women's soccer. Last year, the Brown and Orange tied for fourth in the East.
THE 2011 CAPTAIN
Senior Alyssa Zuccaro is the captain of the 2011 women's soccer Falcons.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's matches vs. EMU and CMU, the Falcons will return to intra-divisional competition, facing Akron and Ohio. BG will meet the Zips in Akron on Friday, Oct. 14, in a 7:30 p.m. start, and the Falcons will continue on to Athens for a Sunday, Oct. 16, match against the Bobcats. That contest will begin at 1:00 p.m.
BGSU's 2011 CUMULATIVE STATS: HTML | PDF
BGSU 2011 ONLINE MEDIA GUIDE: Links to PDF and 'flip interactive formats
Then, the Brown and Orange will hit the road for the next three matches, beginning with a Sunday (Oct. 9) game against Central Michigan University. The Falcons and Chippewas will do battle in a 1:00 p.m. start at the CMU Soccer Complex.
FALCONS vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN
Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 • 4:00 p.m.
VENUE: Cochrane Field; Bowling Green, Ohio
RECORDS:
• BGSU: 4-9-0, 1-3-0 MAC (4-12-4, 2-6-3 MAC in 2010)
• EMU: 0-9-2, 0-3-1 MAC (9-7-5, 6-2-3 MAC in 2010)
SERIES*: EMU leads, 10-7-1 | STREAK: EMU - 3
LAST MEETING: at Eastern Mich. 6, BGSU 4 (Oct. 1, 2010)
LAST MEETING IN BOWLING GREEN: at BGSU 2, Eastern Mich. 1 (OT) (Nov. 4, 2007)
COACHES:
• BGSU: Andy Richards (Sheffield City Polytechnic [England], 1989), 106-117-26 in 12th year at BGSU and overall; 56-58-15 in MAC matches
• EMU: Scott Hall (Eastern Michigan, 1994), 125-97-38 in 13th year at EMU and overall; 79-44-22 in MAC matches
LIVE STATS: Available right here at BGSUFalcons.com
FALCONS at CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011 • 1:00 p.m.
VENUE: CMU Soccer Complex; Mount Pleasant, Mich.
RECORDS (heading into Friday's matches):
• BGSU: 4-9-0, 1-3-0 MAC (4-12-4, 2-6-3 MAC in 2010)
• CMU: 8-1-3, 2-0-2 MAC (16-5-1, 10-1-0 MAC in 2010) – CMU hosts Miami on Friday
SERIES*: CMU leads, 8-5-2 | STREAK: CMU - 5
LAST MEETING: Central Mich. 1, at BGSU 0 (Oct. 3, 2010)
LAST MEETING IN MOUNT PLEASANT: at Central Mich. 1, BGSU 0 (Oct. 23, 2009)
COACHES:
• BGSU: Andy Richards (Sheffield City Polytechnic [England], 1989), 106-117-26 in 12th year at BGSU and overall; 56-58-15 in MAC matches
• CMU: Neil Stafford (Southern New Hampshire, 1996), 8-1-3 in first year at CMU; 80-62-8 in sixth year overall; 2-0-2 in MAC matches
LIVE STATS: Available through CMUChippewas.com or right here at BGSUFalcons.com
* Note: Series information can be found on pages 47-49 of the 2011 BGSU online media guide, which is available in both PDF and flip interactive formats here at BGSUFalcons.com
LIVE STATISTICS
Again in 2011, all BGSU home women's soccer matches, and most away contests, will have live statistics available on the web. If you can't make it to the field, simply log on to BGSUFalcons.com at game time. The live stats links can be found on the front page of the site (in the 'schedule' section) or by clicking on the women's soccer schedule and choosing the corresponding match.
ABOUT THE FALCONS
The Falcons will enter the weekend with an overall record of 4-9-0 on the season, and BGSU is 1-3 in MAC play. The Falcons opened the conference portion of the schedule on the road two weekends ago, and both matches were in doubt until the bitter end. BG picked up a 2-1 win at Buffalo in the conference opener (Sept. 23), but fell at Kent State, 1-0 in overtime, two days later (Sept. 25). Last weekend, the Brown and Orange dropped a pair of home contests, 1-0 to Toledo on Friday (Sept. 30) and 2-0 vs. Ball State Sunday afternoon (Oct. 2). BGSU is 1-5-0 at home and 3-4-0 on the road this season to date.
Senior captain Alyssa Zuccaro leads the team in scoring, with eight points on a BG-best four goals. Zuccaro had both of the Falcons' goals at Buffalo, and also scored vs. Niagara and Youngstown State. Junior Sarah VonderBrink is second on the Falcons in scoring. Her five points include one goal and a team-leading three assists. Those assists include helpers on the game-winning goals at YSU and UB, and her goal was a match-winner as well, at Cleveland State.
In addition to VonderBrink, sophomores Ashley Miller, Kaitlyn Tobin and Tracy Togba and freshman Kaylee Draper each have one goal this season. Tobin's goal was a 90th-minute winner vs. the Penguins.
Senior Megan Amann has two assists this fall to date, while Miller and sophomore Madeline Wideman has one. Amann's assists came on VonderBrink's winning goal at CSU and Zuccaro's goal at YSU.
Redshirt junior Becca Ison has started 12 matches this season to date. Ison has played 1182-plus minutes, and has 67 saves – the second-highest total in the MAC – along with two shutouts and a goals-against average of 1.83. Ison made a career-high 11 stops in the Illinois State game, and she had nine saves at MSU and eight vs. Detroit, Niagara and Toledo.
True junior Laura Arnold has seen action in two matches, playing the final seven-plus minutes at Buffalo before starting the Kent State contest. Arnold has a 1-1-0 record, two saves and a GAA of just 0.88.
Sophomore Alyssa Carmack is the lone player to have played every second of all 13 matches this fall, while Draper has played 1160 of the 1,182-plus minutes. Zuccaro has been on the field for 1129 minutes, while junior Emily Rothwell has played 1098 minutes, Ison 1080 and redshirt freshman Kylie Briem 1028. Briem, Carmack, Draper, Zuccaro and redshirt sophomore Jenny Fowler each have started every match this fall to date, while Rothwell and Ison have made 12 starts apiece.
Head coach Andy Richards and his staff, assistants Kellie Evans and Jimmy Walker, welcomed back a total of 17 letterwinners, including seven starters, from last year's club. BGSU's returning players combined for nearly 67 percent of the team's goals and almost 73% of the assists a year ago. Four of the Falcons' top-five scorers returned from the 2010 campaign, including Zuccaro, who led the team in scoring. Zuccaro had one-third of the team's goals, with eight, and also led the Brown and Orange with six assists. Her total of 22 points was the highest by a BGSU player since the 2005 season.
LAST WEEKEND
The Falcons dropped a pair of close contests at home last weekend. On Friday (Sept. 30), Toledo got a goal in the 70th minute for a 1-0 victory over BGSU. Redshirt junior Becca Ison made eight saves, including several spectacular stops, in the match.
On Sunday (Oct. 2), Ball State scored twice in the first half en route to a 2-0 win. Ison had five saves in her complete-match effort for the Brown and Orange.
FALCONS IN THE MAC STATS
Several Falcon players are ranked in the MAC's individual statistics. Senior Alyssa Zuccaro is second in the conference in shots (40), and she is fourth in shots per game (3.08).
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Becca Ison is second in the league in saves, with 67. She is third in saves per game (5.58), eighth in save percentage (.753), tied for eighth in shutouts (two) and 10th in shutouts per game (0.17).
FALCON COACH ANDY RICHARDS
BGSU head coach Andy Richards, now in his 12th season at the helm, has proven himself to be one of the top mentors in MAC women's soccer history. He has guided the Falcons to an overall record of 106-117-26, and a record of 56-58-15 in MAC regular-season play. Richards picked up the 100th victory of his collegiate head-coaching career in the Falcons' 3-2 win at Indiana State last fall.
Richards' teams perennially play one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the MAC. In his first decade-plus in BG, he has led the Falcons to the MAC Tournament on eight occasions, with the team advancing to the semifinals seven times. BGSU is 10-5-5 in MAC Tournament matches during his tenure, and no coach has more trips to the league tourney title game than Richards' five. Two of those appearances – in 2004 and 2005 – resulted in MAC Tournament titles and trips to the NCAA Championships. Richards and the Falcons also won the '05 regular-season crown.
A native of Warwick, England, Richards earned his Bachelor of Education degree from Sheffield City Polytechnic in 1989. He received his Master of Education degree from Oregon State in 1997.
RICHARDS IS IN THE TOP-FOUR
Falcon head coach Andy Richards is one of the winningest mentors in MAC women's soccer history. Currently, Richards ranks fourth on the conference's all-time wins list.
OVERALL WINS BY MAC COACHES
(since the MAC began sponsoring women's soccer in 1997 – totals through games of Monday, Oct. 3)
151 Bobby Kramig, Miami (1997-present)
125 Scott Hall, EMU (1999-present)
110 Brad Evans, Toledo (2001-present)
106 Andy Richards, BGSU (2000-present)
99 Stacy Strauss, Ohio (2000-present)
91 Jean-A. Tassy, Buffalo (1998-2007) *
89 Mike Haines, WMU (1998-2008)
87 Rob Marinaro, Kent State (2001-present)
70 Ron Rainey, Ball State (1999-2005)
* Tassy had 113 total wins at UB from 1995-2007, but the Bulls did not join the MAC until the 1998 season
THE OPPONENTS
Eastern Michigan will enter Friday's match with an overall record of 0-9-2 this season, and the Eagles are 0-3-1 in MAC play. Eastern tied Pittsburgh, 2-2, in the season opener (Aug. 19), and the Eagles snapped a nine-game losing streak with another 2-2 draw vs. Buffalo on Sunday (Oct. 2). EMU had been shutout in five-straight games, but the Eagles scored three goals in last weekend's two matches, falling to Kent State, 2-1 (Sept. 30) before tying UB. The Eagles are 0-7-1 on the road this year to date. Angela Vultaggio leads the team with five points, while Bianca Rossi has two goals to tie Vultaggio for the EMU lead in that category. Maggie Manville has played in nine of the team's 11 matches in goal, and has 56 saves and a goals-against average of 1.92. Head coach Scott Hall welcomed back 11 letterwinners, including eight starters, from last year's team. The 2010 Eagles went 9-7-5 overall and 6-2-3 in the MAC. The school's athletics web site is www.emueagles.com.
Central Michigan is 8-1-3 overall, and the Chippewas will take a 2-0-2 MAC mark into Friday's home contest vs. Miami. CMU is unbeaten in the last eight matches (5-0-3) since a 2-1 overtime loss to Kentucky on Sept. 2 – the team's lone loss this season. Last weekend, the Chippewas and UB battled to a scoreless draw on Friday (Sept. 30) before CMU downed KSU, 3-0, Sunday afternoon (Oct. 2). Central has yet to allow a goal in MAC play, and the Chippewas have surrendered a total of just five goals all year. Offensively, Ashley Mejilla leads a balanced attack with eight points. Mejilla, Autumn Hawkins and Laura Gosse have three goals each, while three other players have two goals apiece. In next, Stefanie Turner has played in 10 of the team's 12 matches, and has two shutouts, 28 saves and a GAA of 0.58. Grace Labrecque has played over 376 minutes and has yet to allow a goal. She has 10 saves and two shutouts, and the two 'keepers have combined for four additional shutouts (for a total of eight) this fall. Central currently has a shutout streak of 427:50, and the Chippewas have a 29-match home unbeaten streak heading into Friday's Miami match. Head coach Neil Stafford has 15 letterwinners, including nine starters, from a year ago. The 2010 Chippewas went 16-5-1 overall and 10-1-0 in MAC action. CMU tied for the MAC's West Division title, captured the MAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Championships. The school's athletics web site is CMUChippewas.com.
THE SERIES
The Falcons trail Eastern Michigan, 10-7-1, in the all-time series between the teams, and the Eagles have won the last three meetings. Friday marks the first time BGSU has hosted Eastern in four years. The last meeting at Cochrane Field was a 2-1 overtime win for the Falcons in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 MAC Tournament (Nov. 4, 2007). In last year's match in Ypsilanti, the teams combined for nine second-half goals in a wild 6-4 win by the Eagles (Oct. 1, 2010). Madeline Wideman and Alyssa Zuccaro each had a goal and an assist in that match, while Tracy Togba also scored a goal that afternoon. BGSU is 2-4-0 in home matches and 5-6-1 in away games in the series with EMU.
THE BGSU-EMU SERIES
(EMU leads, 10-7-1)
Sept. 28, 1997 -- at Eastern Mich. 1, BGSU 0
Sept. 20, 1998 -- at Eastern Mich. 5, BGSU 2
Nov. 3, 1998 -- BGSU 1, at Eastern Mich. 0 #
Oct. 15, 1999 -- Eastern Mich. 4, at BGSU 2
Sept. 24, 2000 -- BGSU 1, at EMU 0 (2-OT)
Oct. 31, 2000 -- BGSU 2, at EMU 1 #
Oct. 12, 2001 -- Eastern Mich. 3, at BGSU 0
Oct. 13, 2002 -- BGSU 2, at EMU 2 (2-OT)
Sept. 7, 2003 -- Eastern Mich. 1, at BGSU 0
Nov. 4, 2003 -- BGSU 2, at Eastern Mich. 1 #
Sept. 26, 2004 -- at Eastern Mich. 3, BGSU 2
Oct. 23, 2005 -- BGSU 2, at Eastern Mich. 1
Oct. 22, 2006 -- at BGSU 1, Eastern Mich. 0
Oct. 7, 2007 -- Eastern Mich. 2, at BGSU 0
Nov. 4, 2007 -- at BGSU 2, EMU 1 (OT) #
Oct. 19, 2008 -- at Eastern Mich. 2, BGSU 0
Oct. 25, 2009 -- at Eastern Mich. 2, BGSU 0
Oct. 1, 2010 -- at Eastern Mich. 6, BGSU 4
# MAC Tournament Quarterfinal
The Falcons trail Central Michigan, 8-5-2, in that series, and BGSU is looking to snap a five-match losing streak to the Chippewas. Last year, CMU posted a 1-0 win at Cochrane Field (Oct. 3, 2010). That was the same score when the Falcons last ventured to Mount Pleasant, on an inclement day two years ago (Oct. 23, 2009). BG's last win over Central was a 2-1 decision at the CMU Soccer Complex six years ago (Oct. 21, 2005). The home team has won only four times in series history. BGSU is 1-5-1 in home matches, 3-3-0 in road games and 1-0-1 in neutral-site contests vs. the Chippewas.
THE BGSU-CMU SERIES
(CMU leads, 8-5-2)
Oct. 1, 1998 -- at BGSU 4, Central Mich. 3
Oct. 17, 1999 -- Central Mich. 2, at BGSU 1
Sept. 15, 2000 -- BGSU 3, at Central Mich. 1
Oct. 14, 2001 -- Central Mich. 4, at BGSU 1
Oct. 11, 2002 -- BGSU 2, at Central Mich. 0
Sept. 12, 2003 -- at BGSU 2, CMU 2 (2-OT)
Nov. 7, 2003 -- BGSU 0, CMU 0 (2-OT) %#
Sept. 24, 2004 -- at Central Mich. 1, BGSU 0
Nov. 7, 2004 -- BGSU 2, Central Mich. 0 ^
Oct. 21, 2005 -- BGSU 2, at Central Mich. 1
Oct. 20, 2006 -- Central Mich. 3, at BGSU 1
Oct. 5, 2007 -- CMU 2, at BGSU 1 (2-OT)
Oct. 17, 2008 -- at Central Mich. 2, BGSU 0
Oct. 23, 2009 -- at Central Mich. 1, BGSU 0
Oct. 3, 2010 -- Central Mich. 1, at BGSU 0
% MAC Tourn. Semifinal (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
# BGSU advanced, 4-3, on PKs
^ MAC Tourn. Championship (Athens, Ohio)
FALCONS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN EAST
The Falcons have been picked to finish fifth in the MAC's East Division standings in 2011, according to the preseason coaches poll. The 2011 season marks the second year that a divisional format has been utilized for MAC women's soccer. Last year, the Brown and Orange tied for fourth in the East.
THE 2011 CAPTAIN
Senior Alyssa Zuccaro is the captain of the 2011 women's soccer Falcons.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's matches vs. EMU and CMU, the Falcons will return to intra-divisional competition, facing Akron and Ohio. BG will meet the Zips in Akron on Friday, Oct. 14, in a 7:30 p.m. start, and the Falcons will continue on to Athens for a Sunday, Oct. 16, match against the Bobcats. That contest will begin at 1:00 p.m.
Chris Fox Post-Match Interview (Sept. 21, 2025)
Sunday, September 21
Christie Fransen Post-Match Interview (Sept. 21, 2025)
Sunday, September 21
Lexi White Post-Match Interview (Sept. 21, 2025)
Sunday, September 21
Emme Butera Post-Match Interview (Sept. 14, 2025)
Monday, September 15