Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Upsets #28 Kentucky, 1-0, to Advance to MAC Championship Game
November 09, 2003 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio - Freshman Dustin Snyder (Plainwell, Mich.) scored the game-winning goal with just 2:37 remaining in Sunday's Mid-American Conference semifinal game to lead Bowling Green to a 1-0 upset over #28-ranked Kentucky. With the win, the No. 4 seed Falcons advance to their eighth MAC Championship game in 10 years.
UK senior defender Chris Austin slipped when going to clear the ball deep in Kentucky's zone and sophomore Daniel Bartulovic (Gates Mills, Ohio) carried the ball from about 30 yards out. His initial shot was blocked by UK goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, but Snyder was there from the left side to pound in the game-winner in the 87th minute.
"We've been through a lot this year and I'm proud that this team overcame all of that," said BGSU coach Mel Mahler. "We are playing our best soccer right now, which we've done traditionally. It's a matter of just playing our best soccer at this time of year."
Since the Mid-American Conference started sponsoring men's soccer in 1994, the Falcons have reached the MAC Tournament Championship in eight of 10 years. BGSU also improved its MAC Tournament record to a league-best 16-6 (.727 pct.). The Falcons have won three MAC tournament championships (1995, 1996, 1997).
Kentucky was the No. 1 seed for the tournament after capturing the conference's regular-season title with a 6-0-0 record. The Wildcats did not allow a single goal in all six games and had allowed just one goal in its previous six overall games heading into the tournament.
"We've always stayed with what works for us," said Mahler. "Sometimes it takes longer to click. We didn't panic this year. We didn't give in and start trying different things."
BGSU goalkeeper David DeGraff (Naperville, Ill.) registered his 19th career shutout and third MAC Tournament shutout by stopping three shots. He lowered his season numbers to 1.26 gaa. and .819 save pct.
Early physical play resulted in UK playing one man short after senior Craig Pykett picked up his second yellow card at just 24:06 of the match. He earned his first yellow at 4:11. RS-junior P.J. Behan (Toledo, Ohio) was forced to miss a majority of the first half when he took a hard hit from a UK defender. UK had 23 fouls compared to BGSU's 12.
BGSU held a 16-8 shot advantage overall, including 11-3 in the second half.
UK falls to 12-6-1 overall while BGSU improves to 8-8-5. The Falcons will face No. 3 seed Western Michigan in the MAC Championship game next Sunday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Broncos defeated #2 seed Akron in the early semifinal game on Sunday in a shootout after regulation and overtime play ended in a scoreless tie.
NOTES:
* FR Dustin Snyder scored his team-leading sixth goal and third game-winning goal of the season. Snyder also has four assists for a team-high 16 points.
*SO Daniel Bartulovic's assist on the game's only goal was his first helper of the season.
* The 1-0 shutout of Kentucky was BGSU's first over the Wildcats since a 2-0 victory in the 1998 MAC Tournament semifinals (2-0).
* BGSU's win over Kentucky on Sunday improved its record to 6-2 against the Wildcats in MAC Tournament play.
* WMU (#3 seed) will host the MAC Championship game due to its higher seeding over BGSU (#4 seed).
* BGSU is 3-4 in MAC Championship games, with titles coming in 1995, 1996, and 1997.
* #28 ranking of Kentucky is from College Soccer News
