Falcons Pull Off Another Improbable Comeback, Downing EMU, 2-1

Sunday, October 13

Ypsilanti, MI

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

8-4-2, 6-0-0

Eastern Michigan

3-9-2, 2-4-0

Bowling Green

Eastern Mich.

Chelsee Washington - Sept 29 2019 v Buffalo

Photo by: Isaiah Vazquez/BGSU Athletics

October 13, 2019 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Final Stats Matt Fannon Interview Chelsee Washington Interview Maureen Kennedy Interview

Kennedy scores late, Washington scores even later

By: YPSILANTI, Mich. (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Senior Maureen Kennedy's late goal was followed by classmate Chelsee Washington's even later goal, as the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team pulled off an improbable 2-1 overtime win over Eastern Michigan University on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 13). The Mid-American Conference matchup was held at Scicluna Field.

The Falcons, now 8-4-2 overall and 6-0-0 in the MAC, trailed for over an hour of game time before Kennedy scored the tying goal on a free kick with just 19.3 seconds remaining in regulation.

Then, nearly halfway through the overtime period, freshman Lena Kovar stepped up to block a clearing attempt by the Eagles (3-9-2, 2-4-0 MAC) near the top of the 18-yard box. The ball caromed to Washington on the left side of the penalty area, and the senior quickly deposited it in the back of the net to give the Falcons the win.

It marked the second time in as many matches that BG scored in the last minute of regulation en route to an overtime win. Washington's 90th-minute goal tied Thursday's contest vs. Central Michigan University at Cochrane Stadium, before freshman Kennedy White scored late in the second overtime period for a 3-2 win.

On Sunday, senior Kathleen Duwve made four saves to pick up the win vs. the Eagles, while Mabel Dunn had six stops for the hosts.

Both Kennedy and Washington had hit the crossbar with a shot during the match, before they each scored a goal later in the contest.

NOTE OF THE DAY: MORE OF THE SAME, ONLY DIFFERENT
• The Falcons are now 6-0-0 in the MAC. In the first weekend of league play, BGSU picked up a pair of one-goal wins over Akron (1-0) and Buffalo (2-1) at Cochrane Stadium.
• The following weekend, the Falcons scored back-to-back first-half goals in under five minutes of each match. BG took a 2-0 halftime lead on the way to a 3-1 win against both Kent State and Ohio.
• In #MACtion week three, BGSU trailed with under a minute left against both Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan. On Thursday, Chelsee Washington scored with 35 seconds left in regulation, and the Falcons went on to top CMU, 3-2 in double OT.
• Sunday, of course, saw Maureen Kennedy score with only 19.3 seconds to go, before Washington's "Golden Goal" gave BG the victory.

BONUS NOTE OF THE DAY: A 6-0 START
• BGSU is 6-0-0 in the MAC for just the second time in school history, and the second time in as many years.
• Last year's edition of the Falcons got off to a school-record 8-0-0 start in MAC play, winning the league regular-season crown with a 10-1-0 record.
• Only three BGSU teams have won as many as three matches to begin the conference campaign. The 2000 Falcons won three road matches, then dropped the next three contests, all at home, before rebounding to advance all the way to the championship match of the MAC Tournament.

SPECIAL BONUS NOTE OF THE DAY: ROAD WARRIORS
• BGSU is now 7-1-0 in MAC road matches since the start of the 2018 season, and the Falcons have outscored the opponents, 21-5, in those eight games.
• BG has scored at least two goals in seven of those eight matches.
• The Falcons have scored a total of 13 goals in the last four MAC road games, dating to the final road match of last season.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
• 2' | Sophomore Sarah Allen played a right-side cross to Hannah Dolfuss, but the senior's header from about 10 yards out went wide.
• 4' | The Eagles had a flurry of shots in a short span. The first was blocked by sophomore Alexis Miller, and senior Kathleen Duwve then made a point-blank save on Kristin Hullibarger. Sabrina McNeill eventually wound up with the ball and fired a shot from the top of the box that Duwve parried, then caught.
• 6' | Allen had a pair of shots blocked, one from the right side and one near the top of the box.
• 14' | Allen took a pass from fellow soph Mackenzie Reuber and made a long run down the right side, but her shot was wide of the far post.
• 19' | Redshirt junior Nikki Cox was fouled and a yellow card was issued to the Eagles, giving BG a free kick from approximately 30 yards out. Senior Maureen Kennedy blasted a shot that EMU goalkeeper Mabel Dunn tipped off of the crossbar, and Nikki Cox's follow-up try whizzed wide.
• 23' | McNeill collected a deflected ball and hit a turnaround shot that went just wide of the left post.
• 24' | The Eagles had numbers as a pass was played into the box, but freshman Audrey Shea slipped in between two EMU players to knock the ball away.
• 26' | GOAL | Lindsey Shira played a low right-side cross to Parys Kerr, who converted a one-timer from close range.
• 31' | Freshman Katie Cox made a nice turn as she received a long pass, then took several dribbles and fired a shot from just outside the box. But, the effort went over the bar.
• 32' | Freshman Kennedy White laid the ball off for Katie Cox, who hit another shot from distance that went just wide.
• 36' | BGSU was called for a foul just outside the box near the center of the field. A free kick was redirected by an EMU player, but the ball went out for a BG goal kick.
• 41' | Dunn punched a diagonal ball out of the box, but freshman Lena Kovar's follow try sailed high.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
• 46' | Nikki Cox fired a shot within the first 30 seconds, but it was saved by Dunn.
• 50' | Katie Cox received a Reuber throw-in, took a few touches and fired, but her shot from just outside the 18 sailed high as the winds began picking up.
• 51' | Reuber's right-side cross sailed toward goal, and Dunn parried it with a leaping effort. The ball fell to the ground in the box, but Dunn was able to dive on it just ahead of a lurking Allen.
• 55' | Nikki Cox took a pass from Katie Cox, turned and hit a scorcher. Dunn made a diving save, but the ball trickled behind her. She was able to recover and dive on the ball at the far post, with a player from each team converging.
• 57' | Katie Cox stole the ball just outside the box and played it to Allen on the right. Allen made a nifty first touch and fired a shot, but the ball was blocked out for a corner.
• 61' | After a handball on the Falcons, a free kick by Nicole Remedios curved on goal, forcing Duwve to punch it away, and Shea eventually cleared the ball out of the BG end.
• 62' | Senior Chelsee Washington played a nifty through ball for Allen, who took the ball in the box, cut back and fired. But, her shot hit the outside netting.
• 67' | Kennedy's free kick was played into the box, and the ball caromed to Miller, who fired a shot from the top of the 18 that was saved. Dunn was able to reach the rebound before Washington could arrive.
• 68' | BG won another free kick just over midfield, and this time, Shea played the ball into the box. Washington ran onto it, but her header went wide.
• 70' | Kennedy's free kick from the left side found the head of Washington. This time, her shot was deflected by Dunn, hit off of the crossbar and went over for a corner.
• 71' | BG won another corner, but off of that kick, a shot from distance by junior Sophia Barnes was high.
• 72' | MacNeill led an EMU counterattack that saw the hosts fire several shots, but two efforts were blocked and a Shira effort sailed wide and hit a dog behind the goal.
(Note: no dogs were harmed during Sunday's match, and in the ball's defense, it would not have hit the dog had the dog – a small dog at that – not attempted to catch the ball.)
• 75' | Remedios shot just wide for the hosts after a left-side cross was headed by a BG defender.
• 76' | In a scrum off of a corner kick, Duwve made a great diving save off of a shot by Hullibarger.
• 81' | Washington took a pass from Nikki Cox and hit a screamer from distance. The shot rang off the crossbar and caromed all the way back out of the box.
• 87' | Yet another Washington shot was saved by a diving Dunn.
• 90' | GOAL | White was fouled approximately 28 yards from goal, and Kennedy raced forward to take the ensuing free kick. The senior blasted a shot on frame. Dunn reached up and got her gloves on the shot, but could not keep the ball from continuing past her and into the net with 19.3 seconds to go.

OVERTIME HIGHLIGHTS
• 92' | Junior Nikhita Jacob played a ball forward to White, and White's low cross was blocked out for a corner, and Washington got her head on that Kennedy kick, but the ball was deflected out of play for a goal kick.
• 95' | GOAL | After another BGSU corner, the ball was free for a moment in the EMU penalty area. An Eagle defender attempted to clear the ball out of the danger zone, but Kovar stepped up to block the ball. Kovar's play sent the spinning ball toward Washington on the left side of the six-yard box, and the senior quickly deposited the ball into the net.

STATISTICS
• BGSU had a 22-16 advantage in total shot attempts. Washington led the way with six shots, including three on goal, while Sarah Allen and Nikki Cox had four shots apiece. Sabrina McNeill and Lindsey Shira each had four shot attempts for the hosts.
• BG had a 15-7 advantage in shots after halftime, after EMU had a 9-7 lead in first half shots. The Eagles had the wind at their backs in the first half, while BG was playing with the wind in the second half and the OT.
• The Falcons put eight shots on goal to the Eagles' five. In addition to Washington's three SOG, Nikki Cox and Maureen Kennedy had two each.
• BGSU had a 5-3 lead in corner kicks.
•The Eagles were whistled for 15 fouls to the Falcons' 12.
• A total of 18 players saw action for the Falcons. Only Duwve, Kennedy and Audrey Shea each played all 94-plus minutes in Sunday's win.

ADDITIONAL FALCON NOTES
• The Falcons have clinched a winning record in MAC play. BGSU is 6-0-0 in conference action, with five matches remaining.
• BGSU has now played six overtime matches this season, the program's highest total in nine years (since BGSU also played six such matches in 2010). The school record for overtime matches in a season is nine, set in the 2007 campaign.
• The Falcons now have a record of 3-1-2 in overtime games in 2019. BGSU's three OT wins ties the school record, set by the 2000 team and matched in both 2006 and '07.
• BGSU now has an all-time record of 24-31-42 in overtime matches.
• Senior Chelsee Washington scored her second 'Golden Goal' of the season in Sunday's win. Washington becomes only the third player in school history with two OT goals in a season, joining Samantha Meister (2003) and Corbie Yee (2007) on that list.
• On the career 'Golden Goals' list, Washington ranks third in BG history, trailing only Yee (four) and Meister (three).
• Washington now has 17 career goals, moving into sole possession of 10th place on that BGSU list. Her next target is Michelle Lisy, who scored 18 goals from 1997-2000.
• Fellow senior Maureen Kennedy now has 15 goals as a Falcon. She has moved into sole possession of 12th place on that BGSU list.
• Kennedy now has 58 career points, and has moved past Julie Trundle (57 from 2002-05) into sixth place on that BG list. Washington now ranks eighth with 53 career points as a Falcon.
• Washington's game-winning goal was her seventh as a Falcon, tying her with Jill Conover (1999-2002) for sixth on that BG chart.
• Freshman Lena Kovar assisted on Washington's goal on Sunday, for the first point of her BGSU career.
• Washington has scored a goal in three-straight games – all wins – and has a total of seven points in that time. She has had six shot attempts in each of the last two contests.
• Kennedy now has a five-match point-scoring streak, with nine points (three goals and three assists) in that time.
• On the season, Kennedy now has 14 points, ranking second on the team behind Nikki Cox (16). Washington (13 points) is third and Kennedy White (11) fourth.
• Kennedy is now tied with White for second on the team in goals, with five apiece. Nikki Cox has a BG-leading six, while Washington now has four.
• In MAC matches only, Kennedy leads the team with nine points, followed by Washington (eight) and Nikki Cox (seven). All three players have three goals against conference competition.
• Eight of the last 10 BGSU-EMU matches have ended with a 2-1 final score. Each team has won four 2-1 matches and five overall contests during that span.
• The Falcons, are now 3-0-0 on the road in MAC play this season, and 7-1-0 in such games since the start of last season.
• BG is now 10-4-1 in true road matches vs. MAC foes under head coach Matt Fannon. In the nine years prior to his arrival (2008-16), the Falcons won a total of six MAC matchups away from home.
• In fact, after winning two conference road contests in 2008, BGSU went 4-36-5 on the road in the MAC over the next eight years (2009-16). The Falcons have more than doubled that total in Fannon's first two-plus years.
• Since Fannon assumed the head-coaching job prior to the 2017 season, BGSU has a record of 32-1-1 when scoring at least two goals in a match.
• Overall, BGSU is now 35-16-6 in the Fannon Era, including a record of 22-5-1 in MAC regular-season matches.
• With Kovar adding her name to the scoresheet on Sunday, a total of 14 different Falcons have recorded at least one point in 2019.
• Senior Kathleen Duwve now has 26 career victories, the fourth-highest total in school history. Duwve ranks fifth or higher on all of BGSU's career goalkeeping lists.
• Duwve has a goals-against average of 1.33 this season, and a GAA of just 0.96 in MAC matches.

WHAT'S NEXT?
• The Falcons close the home portion of the regular-season schedule next weekend. BGSU faces Miami on Friday (Oct. 18), with first touch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium.
• Then, BGSU will face Ball State on Sunday (Oct. 20), in a rematch of the 2018 MAC Tournament's championship match. Sunday's contest will begin at 1:00 p.m., and admission to all BGSU regular-season soccer action is free.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS
• For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @bgsuwsoc), Instagram (bgsuwsoc) and Facebook (bgsuwsoc) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.