Bowling Green State University Athletics
Top Seed BGSU Set for MAC Tournament
November 14, 2002 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 14, 2002
Bowling Green, Ohio -
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Bowling Green State University will host the remainder of the 2002 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Tournament beginning tomorrow, Nov. 15, at Mickey Cochrane Field.
BGSU finished the second-half of the season with a 5-4-0 record after beginning the season with an 0-8-0 record. The Falcons are the No. 1 seed in the tournament after sharing the regular-season title with the University of Akron. Both finished with 4-1-0 records in the MAC, but the Falcons defeated Akron 1-0 in the regular season to win the tiebreaker.
The first semifinal match pitting No. 2 seed Akron vs. #3 seed Marshall will be played at 12 noon (EST) at Cochrane Field on Friday, Nov. 15. The second semifinal match scheduled for 2:30 (EST) will have #1 seed BGSU vs. #5 seed Kentucky.
The MAC Championship will be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17, at Cochrane Field. The winner of the MAC Championship gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 48-team 2002 Division I Men's Soccer championship bracket will be announced on ESPNEWS Monday, November 18 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
MAC Tournament Schedule Friday, Nov. 15 12 noon Game 1 - #2 seed Akron vs. #3 seed Marshall 2:30 p.m. Game 2 - #1 seed BGSU vs. #5 seed KentuckySunday, Nov. 17 1 p.m. Winner game 1 vs. winner game 2
Bowling Green In Search For 4th MAC Tournament Championship
Bowling Green enters the 2002 Mid-American Conference Tournament as the No. 1 seed after capturing a share of the regular season championship with Akron. BGSU defeated Akron (1-0, Oct. 27) to earn the top seed in the tournament, which was scheduled to be hosted by Marshall University at Sam Hood Field (Nov. 8-10). Due to poor weather resulting in unplayable field conditions, the tournament was moved to #1 seed BGSU.
BGSU and the MAC Tournament
The Falcons have captured three MAC Tournament titles in the eight-year history of the postseason tournament. BGSU won the title in 1995, 1996 and 1997. In two of those title games the Falcons had to defeat Akron (1995 and 1997), while beating Kentucky in 1996. BGSU is 13-5-0 in those eight MAC tournaments and have won at least one game in seven of the eight.
MAC Championship Possibilities (Nov. 17)
The winner of the MAC Tournament gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 48-team 2002 Division I Men's Soccer championship bracket will be announced on ESPNEWS Monday, November 18 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The first round of the NCAA Tournament will be played at campus sites, Nov. 22-23. The NCAA Division I College Cup will be played Dec. 13 and 15 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the campus of Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas).
Two Falcons Score First Career Netters
Freshman Ben Monnette and junior Deryck Freudeman scored their first career goals in the 3-2 win over Cleveland State on Nov. 3. Monnette had contributed two assists already this season and now has four points on the season while Freudeman's goal was not only his first career netter, it was the game-winner against the Vikings.
Falcons Turning It On In Second Half of Season
BGSU's 3-2 win over Cleveland State on Nov. 3 improved its second-half season record to 5-4-0. Three of those four losses come by just one goal, including one in overtime. The Falcons, who began the season 0-8-0, have played in six-straight one-goal games to end the regular season. The win over the Vikings was the first non-conference decision for the Falcons this season (1-11-0 non-conference).
Paul Dhaliwal Scores goal/assist vs. Cleveland State
Junior-transfer Paul Dhaliwal had a goal and assist in the 3-2 BGSU victory over Cleveland State on Sunday. Dhaliwal's goal gives him a team-high four on the season to go along with two assists (team-best 10 points). His assist came on the game-winner for BGSU.
BGSU Coach Mel Mahler Earns 100th Falcon Victory
Bowling Green coach Mel Mahler earned his 100th victory as head coach of the Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 20, with a 2-1 double-overtime win against Marshall. Mahler's record with the Brown and Orange now stands at 102-66-8 (.602 pct.) in nine seasons. His overall 12-year-career record as a head coach now stands at 120-98-10 (.548 pct.).
Newcomers Making Their Mark for Falcons
Of the 17 goals scored this season by the Falcons, 14 have come off of the foot of a player in his first season at BGSU. Junior-transfer Paul Dhaliwal leads the team with four goals (10 points) while freshman Robert Aouad has three goals. Frosh Paul Seip and Francisco Jose Sanchez have two goals apiece with Ben Monnette (freshman), Eric Duda (Jr.-transfer) and Adrian Akpan (freshman) each with one goal. The only returning lettermen with goals this year are senior Matt Leardini, junior Matt Martinka, and RS-sophomore Deryck Freudeman.
