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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Detroit
Falcons Rally For 3-3 Tie at Detroit
November 04, 2008 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 4, 2008
Final Stats
BGSU-Detroit Boxscore in PDF Format 
DETROIT, Mich. - Trailing by three goals early in the second half, the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team rallied for a 3-3 tie against the University of Detroit Mercy Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 4). The non-conference game was held at UDM's Titan Field.
The match closed the regular season for both clubs, leaving the Falcons and Titans with identical 4-12-2 records.
Junior Chuko Evwaraye scored the Falcons' first and third goals, while sophomore Garrett Bireline picked up his first collegiate goal.
Freshman Colin Armstrong had the first two assists of his Falcon career.
Senior Brent Petkus, a Michigan native, made seven saves in his complete-game effort. UDM was credited with 29 shots to the Falcons' 16.
For the Titans, three different 'keepers combined for five saves. Luke Paneccasio played the first half and stopped two shots. Paul Graf played the second half, allowing all three BGSU goals, and making two saves, while Bryan Kloss had one saves in working both OT periods.
"I think this was a performance that a lot of alums and Bowling Green can be proud of," said Falcon head coach Fred Thompson, who was missing five regulars due to injuries and card counts. "When we went down three goals, we fought back and tied the game. A lot of people stepped up and did a very good job.
"Obviously, it took us a while to get rolling, but we clawed our way back into the game, and gave it all we had. We just ran out of time."
Detroit had a 13-4 advantage in first-half shots, taking a 2-0 lead into the intermission. Adam Philp got the hosts on the board at the 12:15 mark, taking a pass from Brandon Powell. Philp played the ball off his chest, turned in midair and then fired a shot which hooked to the right corner of the net.
About three minutes later, Simon Zahra took a corner kick from the left side. Renato Susnja headed the kick home for a two-goal lead.
That lead increased to three goals early in the second period. Susnja took a shot, which was saved by Petkus. But, Powell was able to score on the rebound, giving UDM a 3-0 lead with 50:30 elapsed.
BG's comeback begin 14 minutes later. Junior Hunter Van Houten sent a ball into the penalty area, and that ball made its way to Evwaraye, who put it home for his first goal of the day.
About six minutes later, Armstrong sent the ball in from the left side, which resulted in a scramble at the goal line. Bireline, unmarked on the right-hand side, deposited it past Graf to put the Falcons within 3-2 at the 70:33 mark.
The game-tying goal came at the 82:55 mark after Armstrong fed a pass to Evwaraye, who was on the left side at about the 25-yard line. Evwaraye's blistering shot hooked into the top right corner or the net to knot the game at 3-3.
"That third goal was an absolute bomb from Chuko, just dipping into the goal from an angle," said Thompson. "It was a fantastic strike."
BGSU's next action will be Thursday, Nov. 13, against an opponent to be determined. That match, a Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal, will begin at 11:00 a.m. in Akron, Ohio.
