Hoosiers Shutdown Falcons, 2-0

Sunday, September 18

Bloomington, Ind.

12:00 PM

Indiana University

Bowling Green

Junior forward Megan Pipkens (pictured) and senior defender Robin Barker's goals lifted the Hoosiers over the Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

9/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Sept. 18, 2005

Box Score |  Photo Gallery

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana women's soccer team defeated visiting Bowling Green, 2-0, on Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium today on Sunday. Senior defender Robin Barker and junior forward Megan Pipkens notched their first goals of the season to lift the Hoosiers over the Falcons to finish a weekend home sweep.

The win moves Indiana to 4-3-1 on the season, while the Falcons drop to 4-4.

"Getting the two wins was a primary goal this weekend for the team," head coach Mick Lyon said. "We also wanted to come out and play well and start getting more of a rhythm to our game heading into Big Ten action next week."

The first half of action sent both teams to the locker room even on the scoreboard at zero, with the Hoosiers in control of the affair with eight shots. Indiana dominated the first half, spending most of its time on the Bowling Green doorstep with four corners and two shots on goal. The Hoosier defense allowed only one shot on its own goal during the first 45, while Bowling Green's goalie, Ali Shingler, stayed busy in goal with nine saves overall on the afternoon.

It was the pressure of the Hoosier offense that opened the scoring frenzy in the second, first strike coming from the feet of senior defender Robin Barker. Barker received the setup from freshman midfielder Molly Kruger off a right corner kick that landed perfectly in Barker's possession to notch the first goal of the afternoon in the right side of the net in the 53rd minute. Barker's goal is her first of the year, and Kruger notches her third assist in her debut season.

"It's always great to be above 500," Barker said. "It has also been a big deal for us to convert on our chances, which is what we did today. It's also good to see Pipkens get her first goal. We are going to need everyone to be on their game going into the Big Ten."

Just 18 seconds later, the Hoosiers struck again off a feed from Lindsay McCarthy, who displayed some moves to pass her defender before giving up the ball to Pipkens for her first goal of the 2005 campaign, ninth overall in her career. McCarthy notched her first assist, while the two points are Pipkens first of the season.

"My first goal could not have taken any longer," Pipkens said. "I really needed that goal to remember how it feels and be able to carry it with me going into the Big Ten this coming week. It is also good to see that everyone on the team can score. We have scored from numerous positions, and have confidence in everyone on the field to finish a play."

Goalie duties were shared by senior Lauren Fabbro with one save, while sophomore Stacey Van Boxmeer, who takes the win for the Hoosiers, wrapped up the game between the pipes with one save to close out a stellar defensive effort from IU.

The back unit of seniors Barker, Courtney O'Bryan, junior Lauren Lamping and sophomore Beverly Markwort spent most of their time on the Falcon side of the field, as they allowed BGSU only four shots in the contest, with two of those finding their target on goal.

"We have been working a lot of our defensive shape this past week," Lyon said. "We have in the past been too spread out and had too many spaces. We did a great job of correcting that this weekend."

While the Hoosiers' starters provided a core effort, Indiana again found strength in its deep bench with junior defender Lauren Dieter, sophomore defender Jenna Babcock, midfielder Erika Lebedevs, midfielder Katy Stewart, forward Suzie Teixeira, forward Shannon Vnoucek, freshmen forward Molly Beckwith and forward Ashley Seib all getting some minutes in the Hoosier victory.