Falcons Battle Bishops to Scoreless Draw

Saturday, August 22

Bowling Green, Ohio

3:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Ohio Wesleyan (Exh.)

Tanner Fink was one of two Falcons to play all 90 minutes

August 22, 2009 | Men's Soccer

By: BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team opened the Eric Nichols Era Saturday afternoon (Aug. 22), battling Ohio Wesleyan University to a scoreless draw in exhibition play at Cochrane Field.

BGSU 0, OHIO WESLEYAN 0 - Final Stats
BGSU 0, OHIO WESLEYAN 0 - PDF Boxscore

A total of 24 different Falcons saw action in the match, including all three goalkeepers. Redshirt freshman Jeff Smoker drew the start in goal and played the entire first half, while true freshman Dylan Schoettley and redshirt junior Steven Topper split time in the second half. The teams did not play overtime.

The Battling Bishops held a narrow 13-12 advantage in shot attempts, but the Falcons put five of their shots on target to OWU's two. Redshirt sophomore Robert Barker led the Brown and Orange with three shot attempts on the afternoon, while senior Tyler Deal and sophomore Byard Ebling had two apiece. Five different Falcons recorded shots on goal.

The match was evenly played, with both sides having several scoring chances, but no one able to solve the opposing 'keeper. Approximately 10 minutes into the match, the Falcons had a solid offensive flurry, stringing several passes together. But, OWU goalie Richard Ott was able to grab Cameron Hepple's left-side crossing ball.

Less than three minutes later, the Bishops had a solid chance. Travis Wall slid a pass to Raphi Fratkin, but Fratkin's low shot skittered across the box and just outside the far (right) post.

Off of a corner kick by senior co-captain Hunter Van Houten, the ball deflected to Deal. Deal uncorked a hard shot from nearly 30 yards out, but the ball sailed wide right. Just two minutes later, Ebling got his head on a Hepple cross, but the shot was directly at Ott.

Late in the half, the Bishops had a scoring chance, but a centering ball was just out of reach of a sliding player on the doorstep.

With under seven minutes remaining before halftime, freshman Joey D'Agostino found Ebling with a left-to-right pass, and Ebling fired a nifty turnaround shot into the upper right corner of the net. But, at the sideline, the assistant referee's flag was in the air, signalling offsides on the Falcons. The match remained scoreless.

Just a few minutes after BG nearly scored, the visitors had a grade-A chance of their own. Tyler Wall took a pass from his brother, Travis, and placed a shot under Smoker, who was forced to leave his line. But, Deal was able to get to the ball and clear it off the line for a 'team save.'

The Bishops had several chances in the early going of the second half, but Jordan Halloran's hard shot went over the bar, and another shot a few minutes later was just wide of the left post.

The Brown and Orange had several close calls that did not show up in the final stats, as Deal's diagonal ball was just out of reach of a lunging Jacob Lawrence, and Chris Jurtovski's cross was broken up by the OWU 'keeper in traffic.

Midway through the half, senior Gavin Dozier got his head on another long free kick by Deal, but the shot was directly at the goalie. Only a moment later, Dozier played a centering ball of his own, but it was just out of Lawrence's reach.

Barker had several chances in the late going, as all three of his shot attempts came in the game's final 12 minutes. A shot by Max Weston was blocked by a Bishop defender, with the rebound coming to Barker. His follow try was deflected, and the 'keeper was able to grab the ball with eleven-and-a-half minutes on the clock.

With eight minutes remaining, Barker took a pass from Dozier and sent the ball back into the middle, but it was just out of the reach of both Dozier and Josh Velazquez. Only a minute later, Dozier found Barker with another pass. This time, Barker wound and fired, and had a lot behind his shot. But, his half volley was blocked by a lunging defender before it had a chance to head for the far post.

Each team had a few final chances, as OWU saw a shot sail high with under three minutes remaining, and another Barker shot was blocked in the final minute of play. Ott made five saves for the visitors, while Smoker had the lone stop among the three Falcon 'keepers.

BGSU plays one more exhibition before the games start to count. The Falcons will head to Cleveland to face Cleveland State on Wednesday (Aug. 26) night. That match will begin at 7:00 p.m. at CSU's Krenzler Field. The regular season begins on Tuesday, Sept. 1, when the Falcons host Marshall University in a 1:00 p.m. start at Cochrane.