Buckeyes Weather Storm, Knock BG From Unbeaten Ranks

Friday, September 13

Bowling Green, OH

7:30 PM -- TIME CHANGE

Bowling Green State University

3-1-1, 0-0-0

Ohio State

4-1-0, 0-0-0

Ohio St.

Bowling Green

Photo by: Elsye Jones, BGSU Mkt. & Comm.

September 13, 2019 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Final Stats BGSU-OSU Photo Gallery (Elsye Jones)BGSU-OSU Photo Gallery (Larry Clapper)Coach Nichols Post-Match Interview Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

OSU tops Falcons, 2-1, in late-night futbol at Cochrane

By: by Brad Bohlke, BGSU Athletic Communications

After nearly a two-hour delay due to weather the No. 25-ranked Bowling Green State University men's soccer team dropped their first match of the season 2-1 to Ohio State University Friday night (Sept. 13). The loss snaps the Falcons' four-match unbeaten streak to start the season as they now fall to 3-1-1 on the season.

Chris Brennan got the scoring started quickly, finding the net just over two minutes into the match. Sophomore Kale Nichols brought the ball down the left side of the 18-yard box, beating his would-be defender and taking the ball to the end line. Nichols played a short cross in to Brennan who fired straight away into the left side of the net to put the Falcons up, 1-0.

During a scramble on the left side of the field, Falcon goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia challenged for the ball, and was caught out of the box in the 30th minute of the match. The ball ended up on the feet of Devyn Etling who quickly struck a shot from roughly 40 yards away. Etling's shot found the vacated net to tie the score, 1-1.

A give-and-go connection between Jack Holland and Etling resulted in Holland netting a goal in the 63rd minute that would prove to be the game winner.

The Falcons had a 5-2 advantage in shot attempts in the second half, but could not find the equalizer. The Buckeyes could not take a breath, however, until a shot by sophomore Zach Buescher whizzed just wide of the left goalpost as the final seconds ticked away.

The match, scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m., was delayed several times due to storms that passed through the area. The contest did not actually get underway until 9:07 p.m., and it did not end until after 11:00 p.m.

COACH NICHOLS POST-MATCH INTERVIEW

NOTES AND NUMBERS
• Friday marked the Falcons' first loss to Ohio State in Bowling Green since September 20, 2007.
• Chris Brennan's third-minute goal was the third time in five matches this season that the Falcons have scored within the first ten minutes of a match.
• Brennan picked up his second goal of the season and is now tied with Chris Sullivan for the team lead. Brennan has recorded at least one point in four of the five matches this season.
• Freshman Michael Montemurri started his second straight match and also played all 90 minutes for the second time in his collegiate career. Montemurri recorded one shot on the night.
• Sophomore Kale Nichols picked up his first career point with the assist on Brennan's goal.
• Anthony Mwembia made four saves in tonight's match. Mwembia, who has played all 470 minutes of the season, is now up to 13 saves on the year. Mwembia tied his season high for saves tonight, matching the four-save total he recorded in the season opener at Duquesne.
• Achille Robin again played all 90 minutes for the Falcons. He remains the only field player to play in every minute of every match this season.
• Ohio State outnumbered BG in shots (12-9), corner kicks (10-1) and fouls (13-8) on the night.

CHRIS BRENNAN scored his second goal of the season tonight (well, last night) vs. OSU, with a nifty assist by KALE NICHOLS... pic.twitter.com/9s4hzLUw4F
— BGSU Men's Soccer (@BGSUmenssoccer) September 14, 2019

HOW IT HAPPENED
• 3' | GOAL | Kale Nichols took the ball up the left side of the field all the way down to the end line and crossed it back to Chris Brennan. Brennan hit a quick one-timer, firing the ball into the back of the net for the goal. 1-0 BG.
• 12' | A nice save by the OSU 'keeper kept Zach Buescher from doubling the BG lead, on Buescher's first of a team-high three shots in the game.
• 16' | OSU recorded their first shot on goal of the match, but Anthony Mwembia secured the ball easily for his first save of the night.
• 29' | GOAL | Mwembia played the ball outside of the box on the left side, but it ended up on the feet of Devyn Etling who fired a shot from nearly 40 yards away, into the vacated net. 1-1.
• 36' | Ohio State found the ball in a dangerous spot in the BG box and got a shot near the left side, but Achille Robin headed the ball away to get the Falcons out of danger.
• 43' | The Buckeyes fired a shot off the bar on a shot just outside the box.
• 51' | Michael Montemurri put the first shot of the half for the Falcons on goal, but was saved by OSU goalkeeper Parker Siegfried.
• 57' | Etling fired a hard shot that was tipped over the BG goal for a corner kick.
• 63' | GOAL | Jack Holland and Etling played a give-and-go outside of BG's box as Etling fed the ball short into Holland who fired it into the net from the top of the box. 2-1 OSU.
• 69' | Matt Walters strode down the right side of the field and shot the ball into the net outside of the box, but the Falcons were called offside in the process.
• 90' | In the final seconds of the match, Buescher got possession of the ball just outside the box and quickly hit a hard shot, but the ball rolled just wide of the left post, and time ran out before the Buckeyes needed to take the ensuing goal kick.

WHAT'S NEXT?
• The Falcons will continue a three-match home stretch at Cochrane on Tuesday (Sept 17) vs. Cleveland State (Sept. 17). Then, Cincinnati will come to town next Saturday (Sept. 21) as part of the men's soccer program's Alumni Weekend. All of the Falcons' home matches will be played under the lights at 7:00 p.m.

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