Danny PfrankGoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The visiting Bowling Green women's soccer team ended the Indiana State Sycamores' six-game winning streak on Sunday, topping ISU by a 3-2 score at Memorial Stadium in front of 191 fans.
Junior Alison Gasparovich scored both of Indiana State's (6-3) goals on Sunday, hitting the back of the net once in each half. Gasparovich got the scoring started in the 22nd minute, beating the Falcon keeper on a shot from 25 yards out on the left wing. Gasparovich stole the ball in the Bowling Green midfield, ran at a back-tracking defensive side before sliding the shot past the BGSU goalkeeper.
It did not take the Falcons (2-6-1) long to respond, as just under four minutes later a long-ball over the top of the Sycamore defense from Alicia Almond found a streaking Alyssa Zuccaro in the penalty box. Zuccaro controlled the long pass and scored from the right side of the penalty box to level the match at 1-1.
The match went into the halftime break knotted at 1-1, with ISU leading in shots (7-3), shots on goal (3-2) and corner kicks (3-0).
The Sycamores took the lead again in the 55th minute, scoring on a loose ball in the penalty box. Junior Katie Geyman sent a cross into the middle of box where a miscommunication between the Falcons caused BGSU goalkeeper Alexa Arsenault to collide with one of her own defenders, leaving Gasparovich alone near the back post. Gasparovich placed the ball into the open net, giving ISU the 2-1 lead.
Bowling Green responded quickly again, this time scoring 10 minutes later in the 65th minute. Zuccaro received a deflected pass at the top of the 18-yard box, controlled the ball and powered a shot past a diving Emily Lahay in goal for ISU to even the score at 2-2. The Falcons would score the game-winner in the 79th minute, when Zuccaro and Madeline Wideman connected passes across the top of the ISU penalty box that found a wide open Sarah VonderBrink. VonderBrink calmly beat Lahay to give BGSU the one-goal lead.
The loss ends ISU's six-game winning streak, tying the 2010 squad with the 2006 team that also won six matches in a row.
Gasparovich now leads ISU with five goals this season and her two-goal effort today makes her the 14th Sycamore to record a pair of goals in a single match. ISU has never had a single player total a hat trick. Senior Casey Clark also recorded a pair of goals in one match this season, back on September 5 against Eastern Illinois. Gasparovich's four-point day gives her 13 for the season, on five goals and three assists. Those 13 points rank the junior midfielder in a tie for 10th place in ISU's single-season point total list.
For the match, ISU led in shots (11-10) while Bowling Green took the edge in shots on goal (6-5). ISU also led in corner kicks by a 6-4 mark. Lahay falls to 6-2 in goal this season, making three saves over 90 minutes in goal.
Gasparovich and junior Morgan Wendlandt both took four shots and tallied two shots on goal on Sunday afternoon, with junior Ashley Collins, sophomore Kourtney Vassar and sophomore Taylor Hancock also recording a single shot each.
The Sycamores will look to shake off the loss next weekend with a pair of matches at Memorial Stadium. ISU hosts in-state rival Valparaiso on Friday at 7:00 p.m. before opening Missouri Valley Conference action with the Creighton Bluejays on Sunday afternoon at Noon.
Postgame comments from head coach Erika True:
