Bowling Green State University Athletics
Buckeyes Score Twice in Win Over Falcons
September 15, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 15, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The in-state rivalry of the Bowling Green State University Falcons (1-5-1) and the Buckeyes of Ohio State (2-3-2) is not a secret. Last season, the Falcons gained their first win in over a season as they defeated the Buckeyes at home. OSU entered the match nationally ranked but the Falcons gained the win in the second overtime at home.
In Columbus the rivalry and physicality of the rivalry heightened drawing 32 total fouls while three yellow cards were issued as the Bucks beat the visiting Falcons 2-0.
We expected the game to be physical, but that was not a deciding factor," said head coach Fred Thompson.
The deciding factor turned out to be ball possession and shot creation in the first half.
"If we would have played the first half like the second we probably would have reached overtime with a 0-0 or 1-1 score," said Thompson
In the first half the Falcon defense faced 15 shots with the majority coming from the center and right sides of the net.
The Buckeyes appeared as if they would jump to the early lead nine minutes into the match as keeper Paul Shoemaker challenged the offensive set that was taking place just yards outside of the right goal post. Ohio State drew the BG keeper out of his comfort zone, but was unable to convert the play into a goal sending the shot to the back post outside the net.
Minutes later, OSU once again regained control of the match as Ryan Kustos found Xavier Balc foot and sent the ball just over Shoemaker's head as he dove to the left side of the net.
A physical defensive effort by George Davis IV in BG territory brought OSU's Danny Irizarry down hard enough to draw the foul that was awarded with a penalty kick at the 19:06 mark. Shoemaker seemed to have the situation under control as he got a hand on the ball, but the shot bounced backward off the left post toward the net.
Ohio State continued to control the tempo of the match, but the Bowling Green attack flickered as Abiola Sandy found BGSU's current goal leader rookie Ahmad Smith ahead of the Buckeye defense. As Smith continued toward keeper Casey Latchem, he was tackled from behind as he was reaching shooting range and lost possession of the ball as play continued.
After 25 minutes of action, the Orange and Brown fired their first shot on goal by way of Smith. Sandy also made an attempt to cut the deficit off a corner shot but was stopped by Latchem.
The programs entered the locker room as BGSU trailed 2-0 at the half.
The second half began appearing to offer a chance for the BGSU attack to let the trigger lose.
Tim Crone bent a free kick, earned off an OSU foul, from the left side of the field but the result was wide to the right of the goal.
Other glimpses of the potential BGSU strike came as Justin Kim rushed to the front of the defensive pack but fell short as his shoot missed wide right. Ryan Perea also launched a shot through traffic that rolled narrowly wide of the net.
A defensive stalemate sealed the match as each of the storied in-state rivals did not allow a goal in the second half.
The Falcons will return home Sunday afternoon to welcome the Raiders of Wright State University. The match will be the first of three consecutive home matches for the Orange and Brown.
