Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Men's Soccer Set for Vegas
September 17, 2003 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 17, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio -
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BGSU Travels to 2003 UNLV Classic in Las Vegas (Sept. 19-21)
The Bowling Green men's soccer team will travel to Las Vegas, Nev., this weekend for the 2003 UNLV Classic, hosted by the Runnin' Rebels. The Falcons will face San Diego State on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m. PCT (8 p.m. EST) and then take on UNLV Sunday, Sept. 21, at 12 noon PCT (3 p.m. EST). Drake University is the other team competing.
Series History
BGSU has only faced San Diego State once before, dropping a 2-0 decision in 1985. The Falcons have played UNLV once before, also in 1985, losing 4-1 to the Runnin' Rebels.
About the Competition
SDSU enters the UNLV Classic with a 3-1 record, including wins over Oregon State, Long Island, and UC-Riverside. The Rebels enter the weekend's tournament with a record of 2-4. However, UNLV is coming off back-to-back victories, including a 2-0 upset of nationally-ranked Creighton. Alex Hernandez leads the Rebels with five goals and one assist.
BGSU Coach Mel Mahler
Mel Mahler is in his 17th year with the Falcon Soccer program and 10th as head coach. He was named full-time head coach in March 1995 after serving as interim coach following the death of long-time Falcon coach Gary Palmisano in December 1994. Mahler has a career coaching record of 123-100-11 (.549) in 12 years and a 105-68-9 (.602) record at Bowling Green in nine seasons.
DeGraff the Man In the Middle for Falcons
Bowling Green's David DeGraff will be playing his final collegiate season for the Falcons in 2003. DeGraff has started every match for the Falcons over the past three seasons, totalling 5,299:57 minutes of action out of a possible 5,415:44 minutes in 58 matches.
Falcons Allow Just Two Goals in Four Games
The Bowling Green defense has allowed just two goals in four games in 2003. Leading the way have been senior defenders Matt Martinka and Eric Duda, as well as senior goalkeeper David DeGraff. DeGraff has a 0.47 gaa. and a .917 save pct. with 22 saves this season. The Naperville, Ill., native began the year with a 260:51-minute scoreless streak that was snapped in a 1-0 loss at Central Florida.
Duda "Assisting" the Falcons Scoring Attack
Senior defender Eric Duda has not only helped hold Falcon opponents to just two goals this season, he has also contributed three assists on the offensive attack. Duda has an assist in each of the two BGSU wins, including two helpers in 3-0 victory over Wis.-Green Bay. He had just two assists in 16 matches last season.
Falcons Picked 3rd in MAC Preseason Poll
BGSU was picked to finish third in the 2003 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, released in early August by the conference office. Voting was conducted by the league's seven coaches. Akron was picked to finish first while Kentucky was tabbed to come in second, but to win the MAC Tournament. Following BGSU were Marshall, Western Michigan, Buffalo and Northern Illinois.
Adkins Nets First Career Goal
RS-Sophomore Kyle Adkins scored his first career goal at Stetson on Sunday, Sept. 14, in a 3-1 BGSU win. Adkins, who missed all of last season due a torn ACL, scored his first goal in just his fourth collegiate game. He did not play in the 2001 season.
