Falcons Blank Huskies, 1-0, to Earn MAC Tournament Home Game

Saturday, November 9

Bowling Green, OH

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

11-6-1, 2-3-0

Northern Illinois

7-9-1, 2-3-0

Northern Ill.

Bowling Green

Photo by: Isaiah Vazquez/BGSU Athletics

November 09, 2019 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Final Stats MAC Tournament Bracket BGSU-NIU Highlights Vinny Worner Interview Eric Nichols Interview

BGSU and NIU will meet on Tuesday at Cochrane Stadium

By: BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Junior Vinny Worner's goal in the 10th minute proved to be all the offense that the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team would need, as the Falcons downed Northern Illinois University, 1-0, on Saturday night (Nov. 9). The Mid-American Conference contest, the final regular-season match for both teams, was held at Cochrane Stadium.

With the win, the Falcons (11-6-1, 2-3-0 MAC) moved into a tie for fourth place in the final MAC standings. BGSU is deadlocked with the Huskies (7-9-1, 2-3-0 MAC) at that spot, but the Falcons win the tiebreaker by virtue of the head-to-head results. The teams will meet again at Cochrane on Tuesday (Nov. 12), in the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament.

Sophomore Matt Walters and senior Charlie Maciejewski drew assists on Worner's winner. Maciejewski stole the ball from a Huskie player on the right side of the field, and slid a pass ahead to Walters. Walters took one touch as he streaked toward the end line, then played a low cross back toward Worner.

From the right side of the six-yard box, Worner hit a quick one-timer that beat NIU goalkeeper Martin Sanchez to the near side.

That proved to be the only goal the Falcons would need, although both teams had solid chances over the remaining 80-plus minutes. Senior goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia made four saves in the win, with all coming in the second half, to earn his 10th shutout of the season. Mwembia is the first Falcon 'keeper with a double-digit shutout total since BGSU Hall-of-Famer Scott Vallow in 1998.

Sanchez made four stops, all in the opening half, for the visitors. His four saves included a diving stop of a BG penalty kick late in the first half.

The winner of Tuesday's BGSU-NIU match will advance to the MAC Tournament semifinals on Friday (Nov. 15), taking on top-seeded Akron at Akron.

FALCON NOTES

The Falcons' total of 11 wins is the program's highest since 2014, when BGSU went 14-6-1. BG ends the regular season with a home record of 5-2-0, and the Falcons have scored 17 goals inside Cochrane Stadium this season to date.
Senior Anthony Mwembia, as mentioned, now has 10 clean sheets on the season, the highest total by a BGSU player in 21 years. In his career, Mwembia now has 29 career shutouts, the second-highest total in school history. He trails only Scott Vallow (42 career shutouts) on that BG list.
Junior Vinny Worner's goal on Saturday night was his second of the season, and his second in as many MAC matches at home. Worner capped the scoring in BG's 3-0 win over West Virginia two weekends ago. He has matched his goal total for last season.
Senior Charlie Maciejewski picked up his fourth assist on the season on the Worner goal, increasing his season point total to six.
Sophomore Matt Walters had the primary assist on the goal, for his third helper of the year. Walters now has five points this season to date.
Senior Chris Brennan made his first match appearance in just over a month. Brennan was injured in the second half of the Falcons' win at IUPUI on Oct. 8. He played 40 minutes off the bench against the Huskies.
Mwembia, Walters, Achille Robin, Tom Wrobel and Chris Sullivan played all 90 minutes against the Huskies. Through the end of the regular season, Robin is the lone Falcon to have played every minute of every match.

FINAL STATISTICS

The Falcons had a 13-8 advantage in total shot attempts and a slim 5-4 edge in shots on goal. Both BGSU's Anthony Mwembia and NIU's Martin Sanchez made four saves. All four of Sanchez's saves came in the first half, while Mwembia made all four of his saves after halftime.
NIU had six corner kicks to BGSU's four, and each team committed eight fouls.
BGSU has now posted double-digit shot totals in five of the last six matches.
Charlie Maciejewski led the Orange and Brown with five total shots and two on goal.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Saturday's match was the final regular-season contest in the MAC. BGSU, as mentioned, will host Northern Illinois for the second time in four days, as the teams will meet in MAC Tournament quarterfinal-round action.
The BGSU-NIU winner will advance to the semifinal round to face top-seeded Akron on Friday (Nov. 15).

MAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Nov. 12 -- Quarterfinals
No. 6 West Virginia at No. 3 SIUE, TBA
No. 5 Northern Illinois at No. 4 Bowling Green, TBA

Friday, Nov. 15 -- Semifinals (at Akron, Ohio)
SIUE/WVU winner vs. No. 2 Western Michigan, 3:00 p.m.
BGSU/NIU winner at No. 1 Akron, 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 17 -- Championship (at Akron, Ohio)
Semifinal winners, 1:00 p.m.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS

For more information on the men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on twitter (BGSUmenssoccer), Instagram, (bgsumenssoccer), and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as right here on the web at BGSUFalcons.com.