Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Soccer Falcons Conclude Spring Schedule This Weekend
April 22, 2009 | Men's Soccer
April 22, 2009
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team, having won the first two matches of the spring schedule, wraps up the spring campaign this weekend. The Falcons of head coach Eric Nichols head north for a Saturday (April 25) game at defending Big Ten Conference champion Michigan State University.
The Falcons, as mentioned, have gone 2-0-0 in the initial two games of the spring campaign. Nichols and Company have posted a pair of home wins, downing Ashland, 2-0, on March 28, and following that up with a 6-0 victory over Findlay on Saturday (April 18).
"We have played well so far this spring, and we hope that continues into the fall," said Jacob Lawrence, who will be a senior when that fall schedule rolls around. "Coach Nichols has brought some new philosophies to the team, and all of the players are really working hard to get the soccer program back on the map."
In the Ashland match, the Falcons got goals from Lawrence and fellow rising senior Gavin Dozier. The Eagles had a 15-4-2 record last year, setting a program record for wins and advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships.
Rising junior Dusko Topolic and sophomore-to-be Byard Ebling each scored twice against Findlay, while rising senior Cameron Hepple and rising junior Thomas McLean notched a goal apiece.
Jeff Smoker, who redshirted the 2008 season as a freshman, posted a pair of complete-game shutouts in goal for the Falcons.
"The Ashland and Findlay games were a good start for us," said Nichols. "I am pleased with some of the things we were able to do.
"We've got a lot of work ahead of us, and we have a huge test in defending Big Ten regular-season and tournament champion Michigan State this weekend. But, the guys are working hard, and I am extremely excited about how we are progessing."
The Falcons' fall schedule begins with a home date vs. Marshall on Tuesday, Sept. 1
"Winning games is always nice, so the last few weeks have been very encouraging," said Lawrence. "We have the potential for a great season next year, and I speak for the whole team when I say I'm really looking forward to it."
