Bowling Green to Host Women's Soccer Tournament
MAC Women's Soccer Championship Central
MAC Women's Soccer Championship Bracket
Sunday's Scoreboard
#1 Bowling Green 2, #8 Eastern Michigan 1
#2 Ball State 2, #7 Buffalo 1
#3 Western Michigan 1, #6 Akron 0
#4 Ohio 2, #5 Kent State 1
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
#1 Bowling Green 2, #8 Eastern Michigan 1
Box Score
Full Story Coming Soon...
#2 Ball State 2, #7 Buffalo 1
Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. – Despite windy and rainy weather conditions, Paula Guerrero scored two goals including the game winner in double overtime to lift the Ball State University soccer team over Buffalo in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon at Briner Sports Complex.
With the victory, the Cardinals secured a spot in the semifinal round of the MAC Tournament. BSU will take on Western Michigan in that match. Ball State also pushed its winning streak to eight while improving its season record to 13-3-2.
"Today's outcome was obviously impacted by the weather conditions, but I was proud of how hard our team played and that they stuck with it to get the result we needed," said head coach Craig Roberts. "It was great to see Paula get those two goals, particularly the game winner. She works hard on those shots every day after practice and today it paid off."
The Cardinals struck first 18 minutes in when Buffalo was called for a hand ball on a corner kick that was sent into the box. Guerrero stepped up to the spot and buried the penalty kick to make it a 1-0 lead early on. The score would hold until halftime as BSU carried the advantage into the second half.
The wind picked up after halftime and Ball State could hardly clear any of Buffalo's attacks. The Bulls' took advantage as they were awarded a free kick just outside of the 18. Gurjeena Jandu launched a shot into the top right corner and scored the equalizer that would eventually force overtime.
The first overtime passed without many scoring chances, but Ball State was ready to capitalize on an opportunity come double overtime. The Cardinals drew a foul about 25 yards out and Guerrero stepped up to score her second goal of the match in the 105th minute. Her free kick nailed the crossbar and bounced down past the line to clinch the victory.
Ball State was solid offensively all afternoon as they tallied 17 shots to just six for the Bulls. Seven of those 17 shots were on goal for BSU. Buffalo was awarded five corner kicks to Ball State's four, and Tristin Stuteville made three saves throughout the match.
The Cardinals now prepare for a semifinal match against Western Michigan. BSU took down the Broncos, 3-0, when the two sides met earlier this season. The match will take place on Friday, Nov. 2, with the time to be announced. The location of that match is dependent on the outcome of the Bowling Green versus Eastern Michigan match.
#3 Western Michigan 1, #6 Akron 0
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan women's soccer team advanced to the Mid-American Conference Tournament Semifinals after defeating Akron, 1-0, at the WMU Soccer Complex in the quarterfinal matchup on Sunday afternoon.
The lone goal came in the 27th minute, with Colleen McKay playing a free kick into the box and freshman forward Morgan Otteson heading it into the net for her fifth goal of the season.
WMU (14-6-0) dominated play in the first half, holding the Zips to just one total shot, while firing off 10 and landing seven on target. Savannah Bosworth had a game-high three shots and also led the team with two shots on goal.
Akron picked up the pressure in the second half, recording six total shots but sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Sargent had to make just one save in the second half, and one in the first, to record her seventh shutout of the season and sixth at the WMU Soccer Complex.
The win pushes head coach Sarah Stanczyk into the WMU record books. Her 14 wins in her debut season is the most in program history by a first-year head coach, surpassing former head coach Lauren Sincalo's previous record of 13 in the 2016 season.
The Broncos advance to take on Ball State in the MAC Tournament Semifinals on Friday, Nov. 2. The time and location is still to be determined.
#4 Ohio 2, #5 Kent State 1
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio – Thanks to a late goal by Sydney Leckie, the fourth-seeded Ohio women's soccer team (9-7-3) advanced to the Mid-American Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2004, defeating No. 5 Kent State (10-8-2), 2-1, Sunday (Oct. 28) afternoon at Chessa Field.
Ohio's victory over the Golden Flashes is the first victory over Kent State since 2009.
"Today was a gritty tough performance from our team," head coach Aaron Rodgers said. "We knew going into the tournament against a tough Kent State team, we were going to have to be our best physically and with our execution. Every player on the squad contributed to this win. I am proud of the senior class and their leadership and what they have meant to this program. We will be ready to compete in the semifinals on Friday."
Hosting a quarterfinal game for the first time since 2009, the Bobcats opened the game off with the first attempt of the afternoon, when in the third minute, Alivia Milesky (Plain City, Ohio) get her head on the ball, however, it would go just hit of the net.
Kent State would get the next three attempts, one that would be saved by starting keeper Sydney Malham (Nashville, Tenn.), one that would hit the post in the 12thminute, and another that would be saved by defender Olivia Sensky (Powell, Ohio), keeping the game 0-0.
The Ohio offensive pressure would pick up, with the Bobcats recording the next five attempts of the game. In the 16thminute, Mandy Arnzen (Edgewood, Ky.) would register a shot that would force a save by the Kent State keeper. Abby Townsend (Powell, Ohio) would record an attempt and Milesky and Madelyn Kah (Hamilton, Ohio) would both record headers that would force saves, keeping the game at 0-0.
After Rianna Reese (Liberty Township, Ohio) recorded an attempt in the 33rdminute, Kent State would fire a shot that would go wide of the net.
Then in the 42ndminute, after a foul on Kent State that would result in a free kick, the Bobcats would strike. Off the free kick, Sensky would fire the ball to the net and Arnzen would touch it just pas the Kent State keeper, giving Ohio the 1-0 lead. The goal was Arnzen's first of the season.
Kent State would record the final two attempts in the final minutes of the half, with one going just off the crossbar, however the Bobcats would enter halftime with the 1-0 lead.
In the first half, the Bobcats outshot Kent State, 8-6.
Kent State would open the second half flying, with the Flashes recording the first attempt of the half, on a ball that would force Malham to make a save in the 47thminute.
Kah would get an attempt in the 48th minute, however, the ball would go just high of the net.
Then in the 54th minute, the Kent State pressure would pay off, when Vital Kats would score straight off the free kick, tying the game at 1-1.
That wouldn't stop the Bobcats as they would keep putting the pressure on Kent State, with Reese getting another attempt moments later, on a ball that would force a Kent State save.
After a shot by Townsend that would be blocked, Kent State would go back on offense, recording the next four attempts, however the Bobcat defense would hold strong, keeping the game tied at 1-1.
Then in the 68th minute, Ohio's grittiness would pay off. After a shot by Townsend would be saved by the Kent State keeper, the rebound would bounce right out to a sliding Leckie (Medina, Ohio), who would push the ball right past the diving keeper for her fourth goal of the season, putting Ohio up, 2-1.
After the Bobcats' second goal, Kent State would never be able to get the offense going again, with Ohio recording the final three attempts and the defense holding strong, securing the 2-1 victory.
Overall, Ohio outshot Kent State, 16-14, with the Bobcats recording nine on goal to the Flashes' seven. Individually, Arnzen registered a goal on two shots, while Leckie also recorded a goal on two attempts. Reese, Milesky and Townsend all registered three attempts, with Kah added two and Maria Collica (Solon, Ohio) added one. Sensky and Townsend both added assists for the Bobcats.
In net, Malham allowed one goal and made five saves in 90 minutes in net.
Up next, the Bobcats will continue play in the 2018 MAC Tournament, when they play in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 2. Opponent and time will be announced following the conclusion of today's games.
