Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Jump Back On Winning Track, Defeat Michigan 1-0
October 12, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 12, 2001
Plymouth, Mich. -
PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Junior forward Matt Leardini notched his team-high third goal of the season for Bowling Green Thursday night in muddy conditions for the winning goal against host Michigan, as the Falcons snapped a two-game losing streak, 1-0.
Leardini's goal came on BGSU's first opportunity of the second half when he fired from the top of the box that got behind goalie Joe Zawacki at 70:20. The Youngstown, N.Y., native now leads BGSU with three goals.
"I'm very happy for the guys," BGSU coach Mel Mahler said. "It was a great team effort given the field circumstances.
"Hopefully this gets us back on the right track and gets us ready for Marshall."
Michigan (7-3-1, 1-2 in Big Ten) outshot the Falcons 20-7 for the match and 12-3 in the second half alone. Bowling Green goalie David DeGraff recorded five saves in the net.
The win gives BGSU a 2-1 record this year against Big Ten opponents with victories over Michigan State (3-1) and Michigan (1-0). The lone loss was against then 13th-ranked Ohio State (4-0).
The Falcons (4-4-1 overall, 1-3 in Mid-American Conference) travel to Huntington, W.V., for a 1 p.m. match against Marshall on Sunday, Oct. 14. The Thundering Herd lost just their second game of the year earlier this week.
