Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Earn First MAC Win, 2-1
October 30, 2005 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The match-up between Bowling Green State University (4-12-2, 1-4-0 MAC) and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (3-15-0, 0-5-0 MAC) was filled with storylines. The Mastodons were traveling to Mickey Cochrane Field for the first time as a Mid-American Conference foe, neither team had won a MAC game this season, and the Orange and Brown were saying good-bye to four seniors as they played their last home game as a Falcon.
Not only did Bowling Green earn their first win in the 2-1 victory but senior Omari Aldridge etched his name in the storied Bowling Green history books with his game winning goal. Aldridge has connected on 11 goals this season and tied three former Falcons for 8th place in the Single Season Goal Top Ten list. He is the first player since 1996 to break into the category.
Although the sun was shining for the historic match-up, it started as a dark day for the Falcons. Eleven minutes into play, IPFW's Victor Webb was awarded a penalty kick after being tangled up with BGSU defender Kyle McNayr. Webb's kick rolled past keeper Paul Shoemaker to give the `Dons the lead.
IPFW kept the 1-0 lead through the remainder of the first half.
"We fell behind on an unfortunate goal, but we just kept with it," said head coach Fred Thompson. "At half time we discussed we had 45:00 to score one goal. If we had to take it to over time we would." The Falcons defense was instructed not to give the visitors any chances and the offense knew they would score.
Thompson gave the Falcons 45:00 to score, but once Francisco Sanchez notched his first goal of the game and the season off and Aldridge rebound at 83:26 it took the Orange and Brown less than a minute to win.
For the second time in as many games Justin Kim found Aldridge in traffic to set up a short range goal. Of Kim's four assists this season, three have been connections with Aldridge.
"I thought we would win in regulation," said Thompson. "I didn't know the goals would be that close together."
The elated Thompson beamed as he reflected on the play of the seniors in the historic win.
"They have become leaders and it is time for them to move on," said Thompson.
Moving on is just what the Flacons will do as they and three other MAC programs will have to earn their way into the Final Four with two play-in matches before traveling to host No. 1 Akron. The play-in matches are scheduled for Nov.8 with opponents, times and sites yet to be determined.
The Falcons will be rewarded with a few days to relax before entering the MAC tournament. "We will a few days off to relax and lick our wounds a bit before we get ready to go again," said Thompson.
