Bulldogs Go Undefeated in First Week of Season

BC beats Columbia Basin, tie Pierce & Skagit Valley to open the 2014 season.

The Bellevue College women’s soccer team opened up the 2014 season at the NWAC Starfire Friendlies. Their first match was against South division Pierce College Raiders. “We had two great weeks of preseason to prepare,” said second year head coach Kiko Magana. “We prepared for the season as much as we could, but we’ll know what exactly worked and what didn’t after we play our two Starfire Friendlies.”
The Raiders struck first with a goal by Kaylee Holloway in the 31’ from a defensive break down from BC. The counter-attacking goal was the only goal heading into half time. The second half was the Bulldogs’ half with the equalizing goal coming from freshman Suri Johnson off a corner kick at 52’ giving sophomore Katie Newell her first assist of the year. For the remainder of the match, BC had chances for the game winning goal but failed to capitalize. The match ended on a 1-1 draw.
“A huge part of our first match was to get the game experience and flow of college soccer,” said Magana. “There were more positives than negatives from this result. Defensively we limited Pierce to a couple of chances and we scored a quality goal.”
MATCH STATS
Shots:
BC – 19
Pierce – 7

Corner Kicks:
BC – 8
Pierce – 3

Fouls:
BC – 4
Pierce – 10

Saves:
BC – 2
Pierce – 7
Goals / Assists:
BC – 52’ Suri Johnson (1), assist Katie Newell (1)
Pierce – 31” Kaylee Holloway

The Bellevue College women’s soccer team played Colombia Basin College for their second Starfire Friendly match. The match opened up with both sides having quality chances to score, “We began the match very flat and unfocused,” said head coach Kiko Magana. “The heat and heavy legs were not an excuse for how bad our first half performance was, good teams like CBC will punish us for mental mistakes.”
CBC helped the Bulldogs earn a goal in the 21’ from an odd play from their defensive line. BC failed to hold the lead, and CBC scored in minute 25, ending the half 1-1. Throughout the first half the Bulldogs struggled to find any good spells of possession, and the second half started off with a goal from CBC in the 47’ from a corner kick. Four minutes later, BC freshman Jessica Walters found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal as freshman Melody Blake crafted a dangerous ball forward for Walters. At a score of 2-2, both sides were hungry for the possible game-winning goal heading into the last 30 minutes. CBC snapped up the go-ahead goal at the 63’ leaving the Bulldogs in a one-goal deficit for a second straight game. “When we conceded the third goal it was great to see our players step up and regroup to get the equalizing goal,” said Magana. Nine minutes after CBC’s go-ahead goal, Bulldog freshman goalkeeper Maggie Alikpala delivered a drop kick which gave Walters another opportunity to score. However, Walters was then pulled down inside the box by a CBC defender, and was awarded with a penalty kick and the defender was given a red card. Walters put the penalty kick in the back of the net for her second goal of the match. With all the momentum, Bellevue secured the game-winning goal just two minutes after scoring the PK in the 74’ from Blake off a pass from freshman Chelsea Delgado. The Bulldogs maintained control of the match and won their first game of the year in a dramatic 4-3 win.
“It’s always great to win games, especially intense matches like today’s,” said Magana. “Our players need to be held accountable for their mistakes, we definitely still have a lot things to work on, but I’m proud of the team for staying together and getting our first win of the year.”
This was the first year the Bulldogs have gone undefeated at Starfire Friendlies.
MATCH STATS
Shots:
BC – 13
Pierce – 6

Corner Kicks:
BC – 3
Pierce – 2

Fouls:
BC – 6
Pierce – 6

Saves:
BC – 4
Pierce – 8
Goals / Assists:
BC – 21’ Own Goal CBC
CBC – 25’
CBC – 47’
BC – 51’ Jessica Walters (1), assist Melody Blake (1)
CBC – 63’
BC – 72’ Jessica Walters (2) PK
BC – 74’ Melody Blake (1), assist Chelsea Delgado (1)

 

Bellevue College Home Opener – Host Skagit Valley College Cardinals
August 30, 2014
Bellevue, WA. – The Bulldogs (1-0-1) hosted Skagit Valley College (1-1-0) in the season opener on an overcast, rainy day. Right off the start, the Bulldogs set the tone controlling the match and having countless opportunities to score. The first opportunity of the match came in the 5th minute from sophomore Katie Newell who smashed a shot off the cross bar. Skagit Valley also had an opportunity to score in the 19’ from a defensive breakdown, but the shot sailed high over the crossbar and starting goalkeeper Maggie Alikpala. “So far this season, we’ve put defensive pressure on ourselves,” said head coach Kiko Magana. “We need to be more vocal, take care of our passes and continue to move off the ball.” BC had another chance to score in the 21’ from freshman Jessica Walters’ service into the six-yard box, but the shot was off-target and went over the SVC goalkeeper. As half time approached, the Bulldogs kept pushing for the game’s first goal. In the 37th minute, Newell took the corner kick which found freshman Gaby Adamson on the six yard box, but her header was blocked and cleared on top of the 18-yard box for freshman Winter Wirkkala’s rebound shot that was also high over the crossbar.
With a scoreless first half, the Bulldogs took the field to start the second half and picked up right where they left off. With waves of attacks throughout the second half the Cardinals were constantly under pressure in their own defending half. Shots were taken from 11 different Bulldogs, yet none of the 11 hit the back of the net. As the match entered stoppage time, BC pushed forward into the attack. Still, with all the shots and opportunities, the Bulldogs came out with a 0-0 draw moving their overall record to (1-0-2). This match is their second draw in three matches.
“I’m happy with our performance today, but not satisfied as I saw a lot of positive things throughout the match,” said Magana. “It was good to experience our first clean sheet of the year. We needed a goal scorer today, the girls had numerous opportunities and we have to put one of them away.”
The Bulldogs will start grinding out matches next week as they hit the road for four straight matches. Next home match will be Friday, Sept. 12, at 2:00 PM and Saturday, Sept. 13, at 12:00 PM.
MATCH STATS
Shots:
BC – 23
SVC – 1

Corner Kicks:
BC – 7
SVC – 0

Fouls:
BC – 2
Pierce – 3

Saves:
BC – 0
Pierce – 8
Goals / Assists:
None
BC – Clean Sheet Maggie Alikpala (1)
SVC – Clean Sheet Mikayla Sundquist

Last Updated September 3, 2014