By J. Patrick Eaken
After starting the season 0-5, Bowling Green girls soccer coach Erika Kimple promised that there would be something different for Wednesday’s match at Bobcat Stadium.
Her premonition was spot-on as the Bobcats earned their first victory of the season, defeating Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division foe Napoleon, 2-0.
Kimple was not the only one with a premonition.
“I think definitely after our record so far we were looking to get a win,” said BG senior midfielder Claire Rieman.
The Bobcats (now 1-5 overall) are 1-2 in the Cardinal Division, while the Wildcats fall to 2-5-2 overall and 1-2 in the league.
The Bobcats made a few tweaks, and those adjustments loomed big. That included moving freshman goalkeeper Kylah Crawford to defensive midfield, and putting junior Yari Corado at keeper, where she recorded BG’s first shutout this season.
“We put the girl who normally plays goal at midfield and that made a huge difference. It made a difference because our previous defensive mid was great, but she’s so good on the ball that we wanted to push her forward — both of them,” Kimple said.
“So, we have all these girls who were playing more defensively (to play) more offensively. Kylah Crawford, the defensive mid, we could see the energy pushing forward, just pressing and being aggressive and playing to win and not playing to not lose. That finally happened.”
Then, BG did to Napoleon what other opponents have been doing to BG all season — scoring in the first five minutes of the game. The Bobcats went from a possession team to being more direct, and they were able to show off their speed up front.
Sophomore midfielder Allison Hover’s shot less than two minutes into the game went over the top crossbar, but on the ensuing goal kick by Napoleon senior keeper Jillian Richard, Hover gathered it in and sent a pass forward to BG sophomore forward Alyana Mahan.
Mahan, although defended through the box, scored on a breakaway just two minutes and 14 seconds after the opening kickoff to put the Bobcats up, 1-0. It was Mahan’s third goal of the season.
Well over 90% of the game was played in Napoleon’s defensive zone, but the Wildcats were able to keep it a one goal game for the next 55 minutes, despite getting outshot 27-1, including 17-1 in shots on goal.
“At first, they put one in quick, but we composed ourselves, and we figured it out there in the middle and at the end,” said Napoleon coach Hannah Slight.
First, give credit to Richard — she not only made 17 saves, but time after time she punted to midfield, sending one punt with the wind at her back 70 yards downfield.
While Mahan is the BG football team’s place kicker for field goals and point after conversions, Richard could easily be the punter for the Wildcats if she could be protected against the NLL’s linebackers.
“I think she’s considered a multi-faceted weapon. She really knows how to get the ball down the field,” Slight said. “She makes some incredible stops, and we are thankful to have her, and she will surely be missed next year.”
The only thing is, every time Richard booted a punt 50 yards or more, the BG midfielders either beat the Wildcats to the ball, or won the 50-50 battles, and before you know it the Bobcats’ offense was racing back toward the goal looking for a shot opportunity.
“I think we did a really good job filling those spaces and moving to places where we could receive balls and make those runs as we keep transitioning forward,” Rieman said.
Then give credit to the Wildcats’ defensive line, which mounted a handful of non-goalie saves to help protect Richard.
“(Junior midfielder) Morgan Riemund is such an under-appreciated player,” Slight said. “You can count on her for everything. She’s always got my back, back there, and she’s always got her teammate’s backs. She plays where she is needed. We could not do it without her.”
Of Napoleon’s few offensive opportunities, almost making a goal happen in the second half was freshman forward Leola Hoffman. If the ‘Cats even got one shot into the net, it would have tied the game, despite the disparity in shots.
“Of course, Leala Hoffman did a great job up top really at the end there getting aggressive and things like that. Unfortunately, we didn’t capitalize,” Slight said.
“The important part is we played a full 80 minutes of solid soccer, so that is a good step in the right direction.”
Finally, with 12:44 remaining, BG sophomore midfielder Corinna Kramer nailed a 30-yard shot from a wide angle, assisted by sophomore defender Leah Koester. As a result, it was four BG sophomores that contributed to all of BG’s scoring.
“It’s so nice to see,” Kimple said. “It’s frustrating because I think this team has so much potential. We just haven’t been able to finish off games. I don’t think our record reflects how we’ve actually been playing and how we’ve been doing better every game.
“So, it’s finally nice to have that win,” continued Kimple. “It feels great for their confidence and it’s great for us to see that our game plan is finally working.”
Rieman said seeing those two sophomores finishing on passes from two other sophomores, despite scoring just two goals on 27 shots, is a step in the right direction after some of the scoring woes the Bobcats have suffered so far.
“We definitely need to work on finishing those, but I think we are in the right spots and we’re going to get it eventually,” Rieman said.
BG travels to Bluffton for a non-league noon game on Saturday, while the ‘Cats host Archbold at 11 a.m.
