Bowling Green State University Athletics
Sunday, September 11
Pittsburgh, Pa.
2:30 PM
Bowling Green State University
1
at
0
Pittsburgh
Danny Baraldi scored in the 83rd minute to give BGSU a 1-0 win at Pittsburgh (photo by Galloway Photography)
Baraldi, BG Down Pittsburgh, 1-0
September 11, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Falcon freshman scores in 83rd minute
Freshman Danny Baraldi's goal in the 83rd minute proved to be the difference, as the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team posted a 1-0 shutout over the University of Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon (Sept. 11). The game, the final contest in the Pitt/Nike Invitational, was held at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
FINAL STATS: HTML | PDF
With the win, the Falcons improve to 4-1-0 on the season. BGSU went a perfect 2-0 on the weekend, with a 1-0, double-overtime victory over Duquesne University on Friday (Sept. 9) along with the victory over the Panthers. Pittsburgh drops to 1-4-1 on the year.
Baraldi, junior Rodcliff Hall and sophomore Michael Wiest were named to the all-tournament team.
Both BGSU and Air Force posted 2-0-0 records in the tournament. The Falcons from Colorado were declared the tourney champions, while BG was named tournament runner-up.
The winning goal came when Hall's through-ball put Baraldi in on a breakaway. The freshman striker drilled a shot from 20 yards out that rang off the far (right) post, bounced back across the goalmouth to the left post and went into the net. Hall drew the assist on Baraldi's blast, which came at the 82:44 mark.
"It all started with us winning the ball in the midfield," said Baraldi. "Someone poked it to Junior (Hall). Junior played a through-ball to me, and I ran on to it, looked up and saw the goalie off of his line a little bit. I also saw the side netting, and I just put my head down and shot, and it hit off the post and went in."
Senior Miguel Rosales, seeing his first action of the season, made two saves in goal to earn the shutout. For Rosales, in his second year with the Falcons after transferring from Cincinnati, it marked the seventh clean sheet of his BGSU tenure.
"Obviously, this was a great weekend for us," said Falcon head coach Eric Nichols. "Both games were very hard fought. Both opponents were big, athletic and tough. They both are also very solid defensively, so we knew scoring goals was going to be difficult.
"But, we were very solid defensively ourselves. Both Mike (Wiest) and Miguel did a great job in goal this weekend. Both had to make plays and come up with some tough saves.
"On the other side of the ball, we created some very good chances in both games, and had a great goal in each win. Danny's goal today was fantastic."
The Falcons had a 13-8 advantage in shots, putting seven shots on goal to the Panthers' two. Rosales, as mentioned, had two saves in his complete-match effort.
Pittsburgh starting goalkeeper Lee Johnston had four saves in nearly 67 minutes of shutout ball, before leaving the match due to injury. Hami Kara played the final 23:01 and made two saves on three shots faced.
"We played very well together as a team this weekend," said Baraldi. "Our defense was unbelievable, getting the two shutouts. It starts with our goalies and goes all the way up to our forwards. Everyone is playing well right now, and that's why we were able to get these two wins."
The Falcons hit the road for tournament action again next weekend (Sept. 16-18), heading to Nashville, Tenn., for matches against Belmont and Lipscomb.
FALCON NOTES
* The Falcons, as mentioned, are 4-1-0 this season to date ... that marks BGSU's best start to a season since the 1996 team went 4-0-1 to begin the year ... that '96 squad wound up with a record of 18-4-1 and won Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
* Junior goalkeeper Miguel Rosales, making his first start of the year, had two saves to earn the shutout vs. Pittsburgh on Sunday ... Rosales now has seven shutouts in his BGSU career ... last fall, in his first season with the Falcons, Rosales had six clean sheets, the highest total by a BG 'keeper since 2001 ... he was named to both the All-MAC Second Team and the MAC's All-Tournament Team a year ago.
* Freshman Danny Baraldi leads the team with six points on the year ... he is tied for the BG lead in both goals (two) and assists (two), and both of his goals have been game winners.
* Junior Rodcliff Hall had his first assist at BGSU on Baraldi's goal Sunday ... Hall is second on the team in scoring, with five points ... he is tied with Baraldi for the BG lead in goals scored ... Hall's two goals both have been game winners, including his goal in the second overtime vs. Duquesne on Friday.
PITT/NIKE INVITATIONAL
Friday, Sept. 9
BGSU 1, Duquesne 0 (2-OT)
Air Force 2, at Pittsburgh 1
Sunday, Sept. 11
Air Force 3, Duquesne 2
BGSU 1, at Pittsburgh 0
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Caleb Downey, Air Force
Kevin Durr, Air Force
Brian Klazura, Air Force
Eric Tise, Air Force
Danny Baraldi, Bowling Green
Rodcliff Hall, Bowling Green
Michael Wiest, Bowling Green
Nate McCann, Duquesne
Julio Perez, Duquesne
Robert Iledare, Pitt
Manny Morgado, Pitt
FINAL STATS: HTML | PDF
With the win, the Falcons improve to 4-1-0 on the season. BGSU went a perfect 2-0 on the weekend, with a 1-0, double-overtime victory over Duquesne University on Friday (Sept. 9) along with the victory over the Panthers. Pittsburgh drops to 1-4-1 on the year.
Baraldi, junior Rodcliff Hall and sophomore Michael Wiest were named to the all-tournament team.
Both BGSU and Air Force posted 2-0-0 records in the tournament. The Falcons from Colorado were declared the tourney champions, while BG was named tournament runner-up.
The winning goal came when Hall's through-ball put Baraldi in on a breakaway. The freshman striker drilled a shot from 20 yards out that rang off the far (right) post, bounced back across the goalmouth to the left post and went into the net. Hall drew the assist on Baraldi's blast, which came at the 82:44 mark.
"It all started with us winning the ball in the midfield," said Baraldi. "Someone poked it to Junior (Hall). Junior played a through-ball to me, and I ran on to it, looked up and saw the goalie off of his line a little bit. I also saw the side netting, and I just put my head down and shot, and it hit off the post and went in."
Senior Miguel Rosales, seeing his first action of the season, made two saves in goal to earn the shutout. For Rosales, in his second year with the Falcons after transferring from Cincinnati, it marked the seventh clean sheet of his BGSU tenure.
"Obviously, this was a great weekend for us," said Falcon head coach Eric Nichols. "Both games were very hard fought. Both opponents were big, athletic and tough. They both are also very solid defensively, so we knew scoring goals was going to be difficult.
"But, we were very solid defensively ourselves. Both Mike (Wiest) and Miguel did a great job in goal this weekend. Both had to make plays and come up with some tough saves.
"On the other side of the ball, we created some very good chances in both games, and had a great goal in each win. Danny's goal today was fantastic."
The Falcons had a 13-8 advantage in shots, putting seven shots on goal to the Panthers' two. Rosales, as mentioned, had two saves in his complete-match effort.
Pittsburgh starting goalkeeper Lee Johnston had four saves in nearly 67 minutes of shutout ball, before leaving the match due to injury. Hami Kara played the final 23:01 and made two saves on three shots faced.
"We played very well together as a team this weekend," said Baraldi. "Our defense was unbelievable, getting the two shutouts. It starts with our goalies and goes all the way up to our forwards. Everyone is playing well right now, and that's why we were able to get these two wins."
The Falcons hit the road for tournament action again next weekend (Sept. 16-18), heading to Nashville, Tenn., for matches against Belmont and Lipscomb.
FALCON NOTES
* The Falcons, as mentioned, are 4-1-0 this season to date ... that marks BGSU's best start to a season since the 1996 team went 4-0-1 to begin the year ... that '96 squad wound up with a record of 18-4-1 and won Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
* Junior goalkeeper Miguel Rosales, making his first start of the year, had two saves to earn the shutout vs. Pittsburgh on Sunday ... Rosales now has seven shutouts in his BGSU career ... last fall, in his first season with the Falcons, Rosales had six clean sheets, the highest total by a BG 'keeper since 2001 ... he was named to both the All-MAC Second Team and the MAC's All-Tournament Team a year ago.
* Freshman Danny Baraldi leads the team with six points on the year ... he is tied for the BG lead in both goals (two) and assists (two), and both of his goals have been game winners.
* Junior Rodcliff Hall had his first assist at BGSU on Baraldi's goal Sunday ... Hall is second on the team in scoring, with five points ... he is tied with Baraldi for the BG lead in goals scored ... Hall's two goals both have been game winners, including his goal in the second overtime vs. Duquesne on Friday.
PITT/NIKE INVITATIONAL
Friday, Sept. 9
BGSU 1, Duquesne 0 (2-OT)
Air Force 2, at Pittsburgh 1
Sunday, Sept. 11
Air Force 3, Duquesne 2
BGSU 1, at Pittsburgh 0
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Caleb Downey, Air Force
Kevin Durr, Air Force
Brian Klazura, Air Force
Eric Tise, Air Force
Danny Baraldi, Bowling Green
Rodcliff Hall, Bowling Green
Michael Wiest, Bowling Green
Nate McCann, Duquesne
Julio Perez, Duquesne
Robert Iledare, Pitt
Manny Morgado, Pitt
BGSU MSOC: USMNT GOAT (Lucas Kleimeyer)
Wednesday, September 17
Off The Pitch: Andrew Shaffer (Sept. 11, 2025)
Thursday, September 11
Eric Nichols Post-Match Interview (Sept. 5, 2025)
Saturday, September 06
Off The Pitch: Bennett Painter (Sept. 3, 2025)
Thursday, September 04