Falcons Open Spring Schedule with 1-1 Draw at XU

Saturday, March 23

Cincinnati, OH

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Xavier

March 25, 2013 | Men's Soccer

By: CINCINNATI, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team opened the spring schedule over the weekend, battling host Xavier University to a 1-1 tie Saturday afternoon (April 23) in Cincinnati.

In the first spring contest for both teams, the Falcons and Musketeers played three 30-minute periods at the XU Soccer Complex, with a total of 18 different players seeing action for BGSU.

The Falcons nearly broke on top in the opening period, as Danny Baraldi rang a shot off the crossbar. The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the second period, but the Brown and Orange answered roughly five minutes later, as Ryan Comiskey headed home a cross from Ryan Snashall.

"This spring, we set out to test ourselves against the best competition we could get," said BGSU head coach Eric Nichols. "Xavier certainly qualifies, as they have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three years, having beaten Kentucky last fall before losing to the eventual national champion (Indiana).

"There was certainly some rust, and some things that we need to clean up, but that is to be expected in the first game of the spring. Xavier put us under some pressure, and were able to expose some areas where we need to improve. But, we were able to keep them in check, and we created some chances ourselves.

"We will take what we learned from this game, both the good things and the bad things, and continue to work to get better."

BGSU's spring schedule continues on April 6, when the Falcons take on Oakland University at Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich. The next day (April 7), Nichols and the Falcons will host Ajax FC, with that match scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.