Mastodons Rally for 2-1 Win Tuesday night

Tuesday, October 25

Fort Wayne, IN

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

9-5-2

Fort Wayne

8-8-0

Bowling Green

Fort Wayne

Senior Joe Sullivan scored the first goal of Tuesday night's match (Larry Clapper photo)

Photo by: Larry Clapper

October 25, 2016 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Fort Wayne responds after Sullivan's game-opening goal

By: FORT WAYNE, Ind. (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Oscar Uyamadu's goal with just under 13 minutes to go lifted host Fort Wayne to a 2-1 win over the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team Tuesday night (Oct. 25). The non-conference game was held at the Hefner Soccer Complex.

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Senior Joe Sullivan had given the Falcons, now 9-5-2, the lead in the 18th minute, but the Mastodons (8-8-0) knotted the score on a Jacob Murphy goal just under four minutes later.

Freshman Chris Brennan and sophomore Tate Robertson earned assists on Sullivan's goal. Robertson began the play by winning the ball at midfield. He fought off a defender and played a ball ahead to Brennan, who was headed toward the end line. Brennan beat a defender as he entered the box, and played a low right-side cross to Sullivan. Sullivan, in the center of the area near the six-yard line, showed good composure, settling the ball, waiting for IPFW goalkeeper Raphael Kotzock and a defender to commit, and firing the ball into the center of the net.

BGSU fired a total of 20 shots, including nine on goal. Both totals tied for the Falcons' second-highest figures this season to date. Fort Wayne was credited with 18 shots, matching a season high for a BG opponent.

The Falcons started fast, putting four shots on goal in the first eight minutes. Three of those shots came in a span of roughly five seconds in the fifth minute of the match. Senior Jacob Roth lofted a long ball toward the penalty area from near midfield. Brennan headed the ball on frame, but Kotzock was able to get a hand on it. The ball fell to senior Pat Flynn, who was in traffic in the center of the box. Flynn quickly got a shot off, but Kotzock blocked that shot. As the 6-foot-7 'keeper tried to grab the ball, Flynn got his boot on it again, but that shot was blocked by Kotzock as well.

With just under eight minutes gone, Brennan received a throw-in from redshirt sophomore Bismark Agyeman, made a run along the left side and hit a low shot that was saved. Brennan got the ball back near the end line and won a corner kick, but the 'Dons were able to deal with that kick.

Fourteen minutes in, junior Brad Macomber slid a pass to Sullivan, who headed down the middle of the field. But, Sullivan's through ball was blocked just before it could reach the onrushing Brennan. Just over three minutes later, however, Brennan and Sullivan indeed would connect on a pass, leading to the game's first goal.

However, the Mastodons would tie the contest with exactly 21 minutes gone. Will Hunt played a ball from just outside the box, and the pass/shot was deflected. The ball went directly to Murphy near the far post, and he made the most of his good luck, depositing the ball just inside the near post.

Freshman Robert Miller III, who checked into the match just after the tying goal, very nearly untied the contest less than four minutes later. Brennan slid a pass ahead to Miller, who uncorked an absolute blast of a shot. But, the ball rang off of the near post and caromed all the way out of the 18-yard box.

With under 18 minutes left in the half, the hosts looked to get something going, but sophomore Moe Mustafa blocked a shot in the box, and a rebound try sailed well over the goal. Two minutes later, Falcon freshman goalkeeper made a diving effort to his left to grab a soft header by Murphy.

Robertson took a pass, made a short run and hit a hard shot from distance in the 34th minute, but Kotsock was able to get to the ground to make the save. With five minutes left in the period, a long free kick by Roth sailed into the box, glanced off the top of the crossbar and went out of play for a Fort Wayne goal kick.

Just over a minute later, off of a corner kick, Roth lofted a ball into the box toward Miller, but the assistant referee's flag was raised, and the play was whistled dead due to an offside call. Less than a minute after that, BG had won the ball back, but a shot by junior Keaton Reynolds was blocked, and Miller's rebound try was also stopped by a defender representing the program formerly known as IPFW.

In the final seconds of the period, Uyamadu hit a hard shot, but Mwembia made the stop and the teams went into the halftime break knotted at 1-1.

Nine minutes into the second half, Robertson stole the ball and fired a quick shot, but Kotzock was able to make a kick save. Two minutes later, a free kick by Roth was perfectly placed, curving into the box as a host of players from both teams headed toward the end line. Senior Max Auden rose above the crowd to get his head on the ball, but the shot sailed high.

Robertson, who was dangerous all night long, stole the ball again with just over 34 minutes to go. The steal came on the left side of the box, and Robertson quickly played a ball toward the center, but no teammate could reach it and the cross was cleared.

Things got somewhat contentious, as five yellow cards were issued in a three-minute span, and neither team fired another shot until the 63rd minute. That shot, a backheel attempt by Sullivan after a Roth free kick, sailed wide.

Moments later, another Roth free kick was blocked, but Macomber won the ball back, lofting it toward Alexis Souahy in the box. The junior volleyed it out of the air, but the play was nullified due to an offside call.

With just over 15 minutes to go, a long throw-in by Roth sailed into the area. A defender knocked it away, but it went to Robertson, who hit a shot from 20 yards out that grazed a defender and whizzed just wide of the right post. Off of the ensuing corner kick, Roth's diagonal ball reached Souahy in the box, but his one-time effort sailed wide.

Only 12:56 remained when Uyamadu scored what would prove to be the winner, against the run of play. After a throw-in, the Fort Wayne redshirt junior hit a long, curving shot from distance that nestled just under the crossbar in the upper right corner of the net.

Just under 10 minutes remained when Robertson stole the ball approximately 40 yards from goal. He made a run that took him all the way into the box, as he beat several defenders while several others guarded against a pass. As he neared the six-yard box, Robertson hit a hard shot, but it was just wide of the near post.

Two minutes later, Robertson won a corner, and that corner went to Roth on the right side. The senior played a ball into the box, but the Falcons were called for a somewhat questionable foul as Kotsock and a BG player vied for the ball in the air.

WIth six and a half minutes remaining, Robertson found Roth with a pass, and Roth played another diagonal ball into the box. This time, Flynn hit a nifty one-time effort, and put his volley on target, but Kotzock just happened to be in the right spot and was able to block the ball out for a rodner. And, the 'Dons dealt with that corner successfully.

With under four minutes to go, Robertson again led a Falcon foray forward, playing the ball to Brennan on the right side of the box. Brennan crossed it into the center of the goalmouth but Kotzock was able to come up with the ball.

Robertson found junior Keaton Reynolds with a high cross in the box as the clock ticked under three minutes. Reynolds got his head on the ball, playing it toward Flynn at the top of the box. Flynn headed it back to Reynolds, who nodded it toward goal, but the Fort Wayne 'keeper snagged the shot to keep his team in the lead.

Just over two minutes remained when Brennan won the ball and beat a defender or two in traffic. He played a ball toward the far post, but it was just out of Flynn's reach and rolled out for a Fort Wayne goal kick.

With 40 seconds on the clock, Roth took a long throw-in from near the BGSU bench. The ball sailed into the box and glanced off of the head of a leaping defender. Mustafa got his head on the ball, but his shot went wide and Kotsock was able to stall for most of the remaining 30-plus seconds before finally taking a goal kick just before time expired.

BGSU, as mentioned, held a 20-18 lead in shots, and the Falcons put nine shots on goal to the 'Dons' seven. Kotzock made eight saves to earn the win, while Mwembia had five stops.

Robertson had four shot attempts for the Falcons, while Brennan, Flynn and Sullivan fired three apiece. Flynn put all three of his attempts on goal, while Brennan and Robertson had two SOG apiece.

BG allowed more than one goal in a game for the first time since early September and just the second time this season. The only other multi-goal game for a Falcon foe came at Western Illinois (Sept. 10), in another match where the opponent rallied for two goals after Sullivan had scored the first goal of the contest.

A total of 18 different players saw action for coach Eric Nichols on the night, with all 18 playing at least 10 minutes.

The Falcons now return home for the final two matches of the regular season, beginning this weekend. BGSU, currently in first place in the Mid-American Conference standings, will face second-place Akron on Saturday night (Oct. 29). First touch is at 7:00 p.m., and admission is free.