Broncos down IUPUI, 6-1 in exhibition play

Story courtesy WMU Sports Information

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (August 14, 2008) - Thalia Playford and Ali Jacobs each scored a pair of goals as the Western Michigan women’s soccer team opened up its 2008 exhibition season with a 6-1 win over IUPUI in front of 134 fans at the Western Michigan Soccer Complex on Thursday afternoon.

The teams played three 45-minute periods during the exhibition match, with IUPUI striking first in the 13th minute. Margaret Allgeier put a free kick into the middle of the box. During the scramble, Katrina McCoory got off a slow roller that beat WMU goalie Julia Francy on her right side.

The Broncos responded in the 18th minute when freshman Stephanie Skowneski took a pass from Hillary Wernlund and tried firing off a shot, but it was blocked by an IUPUI defender. Skowneski kept control of the ball and beat the goalie, who had come out to meet her.

The Broncos held IUPUI to just one shot on goal in the first period, and only let the Jaguars fire of five on net for the game.

“I thought that the first 20 minutes we were pressing it a little bit,” said head coach Mike Haines. “I thought we were giving the ball away and being too direct.”

“I loved how the team responded to come back and quickly score a goal. I think our finishing just needed to be better in the first half and need to be a little better defensively.”

WMU picked it up in the second half, scoring a goal in the 54th, 73rd and 84th minutes. The first was an unassisted goal by senior captain Cassandra Nelson. Nelson fired a shot in the top left corner, beating an outstretched Farrell, to give the Broncos a 2-1 lead. That was followed by an unassisted goal by Jacobs on a deep shot from the right corner. The ball sailed over backup goaltender Maeghan Parks to push the Broncos lead to 3-1. Jacobs would score again on a header off a cross from Ashleigh Carpentier for her second of the game.

“In the second half I thought we made the corrections we needed to make,” added Haines. “IUPUI did a great job attacking through our middle in the first half and we closed it up in the second. We were more patient and calm with the ball and we were able to get a lot of good chances.” In the extra period, Playford netted a pair of goals in the 100th minute and the 127th. The first goal came after Playford picked up the ball on a turnover with the second coming off of a giveand- go with Kelly Blenner through the center of the box to finalize the score at 6-1.