It has been a long and busy offseason for The Orange and Brown, who are looking toward a promising future in 2024 in the first season under the new head coach Chris Fox.
After a disappointing exit in the semifinals of the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship with a 2-1 loss to the 6thThe Falcons, who are leading the Ohio Bobcats, are looking to take revenge with a new team.
Fox describes his goals for the 2024 season as fluid and dependent on how the team lives up to its expectations and continues to improve week by week.
“I think we’re aiming for a top-four finish, and if we get there, that’s great. If we’re in the race for the postseason championship or better, that’s great,” Fox said. “I I think for me, ultimately it’s about implementing the philosophy, the game model and the culture, setting high standards and just continuing to improve.”
The Falcons will have plenty of opportunity for improvement in the non-conference area, as their six opponents average a 216 non-conference RPI ranking in 2023, compared to 2023 when they averaged a 116 non-conference ranking.
Coach Fox sees this as an opportunity and hopes that the team will use the schedule given to them to their advantage.
“I don’t think we’re going to take anybody lightly,” Fox said. “It’s just about learning, growing, evolving and using each game as a learning experience so we can get ready and get ready for conference play.”
Departures and arrivals
Building the team’s future under Fox was an obvious focus for the Falcons this season as they looked to fill the void created by the graduation of seven players, including Katie Cox, Maya Dean And Lacee Bethea with eight new signings in the first year and two transfer players. Redshirt freshman Kaley Simqu Arrival from the University of Pittsburgh and Michelle Hochstadt Arrival with Fox from Morehead State.
BG loses much of the production that earned them second place in the MAC tournament last year, but the senior captain Isabelle Gilmore is convinced that the new team will prove to be trustworthy.
“The new girls are very personable, very friendly, they’re great. Super outgoing,” Gilmore said. “As a captain, I just try to make them feel comfortable. I think back to my freshman year and I had some great leaders to look up to. I just want to be that for these players.”
As the season progresses, this new core will become more influential, gaining more experience and time behind veterans like Gilmore and the fifth-year freshman. Ellie Pool.
Falcon Four players to watch
#9 Brynn Gardner
The junior forward is ready for another big season after scoring six goals in each of her first and second years with the Falcons and leading the team in goals last season.
Gardner’s finishing ability allows her to capitalize on the opportunities presented by Fox’s possession-based offensive system, which relies on a high volume of chances and shots on goal, many of which will come from Gardner.
After earning an All-MAC First Team nomination in her sophomore season, the sky’s the limit for her imagination over the past two years for Bowling Green.
#30 Isabelle Gilmore
The BG team captain is entering her final year of eligibility and her play will be a key to success for the Falcons.
A versatile defender capable of leading the team on both sides of the ball, Gilmore has exceptional skills that he has demonstrated over the past three years and will showcase again this season.
As the leader of this revamped roster, Gilmore will have to adapt to Fox’s new system, but if the preseason and spring league are any indication, she appears to have already done so.
“I think in my role now, I need to take on more of a leader role,” Gilmore said. “I need to be more patient with the ball all over the field, that’s what (Fox) is looking for in this system.”
#3 Emily Gardner
Emilie is the oldest of the two Gardner players on the team and will spend her final year this season as a strong defender alongside Gardner.
Gardner is coming off a fantastic, breakthrough 2023 season in which she led the team in minutes, started all but one game, and earned multiple National Team of the Week honors in October.
As one of six Falcons in her final year of eligibility, she will look to make the most of it and build on her 2023 success.
#28 Michelle Hochstadt
The sophomore midfielder is one of two transfers the Falcons signed in the offseason and already has plenty of experience at both the college and professional levels, having started every game for Fox as a freshman at Morehead State.
Hochstadt grew up in Germany, where she spent seven years with Eintracht Frankfurt, playing three years for their U17 team before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt II, where she played for four seasons.
“She’s technically brilliant, both with her feet and her vision, and she has a high IQ for the game,” coach Fox said of Hochstadt. “She already played a full season under me last year, so she has a really great understanding of everything.”
Hochstadt’s knowledge of Fox’s system and her experience in her role will allow her to serve as a role model and give the rest of the team a head start in learning the new system, and if the stars align, she could have a breakthrough season.
What awaits us
The Falcons begin the season on Thursday, August 15th at home at Cochrane Stadium against the Detroit Mercy Titans and face the Findlay Oilers a week later.
After four more non-conference games, the Falcons open conference play against Ball State on Thursday, September 19 in Muncie and play their first conference home game against Toledo three days later.
The season ends with Senior Night on Thursday, October 24th against Eastern Michigan, followed by two away games against the Akron Zips and the Kent State Golden Flashes.
