Zips Stop Falcons in MAC Opener

Sunday, March 7

Akron, Ohio

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

2-3-0, 0-1-0MAC

Akron

2-0-1, 1-0-0MAC

Bowling Green

Akron

Jensen Lukacsko v Kentucky - March 2 2021

Photo by: Grace Bradley/UK Athletics

March 07, 2021 | Men's Soccer

Box Score BGSU-Akron Stats

BGSU wraps up five-match road swing to begin 2021

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Athletics

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron scored twice in the first half on Sunday afternoon (March 7), and the Zips topped the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team, 2-0, in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.

The Zips, ranked seventh in the nation in the Top Drawer Soccer top-25 poll and 25th in the College Soccer News rankings, took the lead on a penalty kick with 28 minutes gone, then recorded a second goal in the final minute of the opening half at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Falcons (2-3-0, 0-1-0 MAC) outshot the hosts by an 8-6 count after halftime, but could not cut into the two-goal deficit.

GOALS / KEY MOMENTS
• 3' | The Falcons possessed the ball in the UA end of the field, and Chris Sullivan, near the top of the 18, slid the ball to Nathan Masters on his left. Masters played a pass between two UA defenders to the onrushing Kale Nichols, who took a touch and then beat Zip goalkeeper Will Meyer with a high shot to the far corner. But, the assistant referee's flag was raised, and the goal was nullified due to an offside call.
• 19' | BGSU nearly had a scoring chance, as Nichols slid a ball toward Kyle Cusimano, but the ball was knocked away by an Akron defender just before the Falcon freshman could reach it.
• 24' | Akron's Federico Serra settled a left-side cross and quickly hit a shot that caromed off of the outside of the right post and bounded away.
• 28' | GOAL | An Akron cross was blocked by a sliding BGSU defender, but the whistle blew, as it was ruled the ball hit the defender's hand, and a penalty kick was awarded. Serra converted that PK to give the Zips the lead.
• 45' | GOAL | The Zips doubled that lead as Tonny Temple headed home a cross by Nick Scott with 30 seconds left before halftime.
• 50' | Early in the second half, the Falcons played a diagonal ball into the Akron end. The ball was deflected to Nichols, who settled it and, from the 18-yard line, hit a line drive. But, the hard shot whizzed just over the crossbar.
• 54' | The Zips' Pol Hernandez was shown a red card, and the Falcons took the ensuing free kick from near midfield.
• 57' | BGSU goalkeeper made a diving save on a Will Jackson shot.
• 68' | A shot by Jacob Erlandson was blocked at the top of the 18, and several minutes later, a redirection by Nichols also was blocked.
• 75' | The Falcons won a corner, and off of that Chris Sullivan kick, Erlandson put a header on frame, forcing Meyer into a leaping save.
• 81' | Erlandson got his head on another Sullivan corner kick, this time redirecting it toward the far (left) side of the six-yard box. Nichols headed it back toward the right post, but Meyer was able to make the save.
• 83' | The Falcons put the ball into the net for the second time on the afternoon, but the goal was waved off, also for the second time. Sullivan played a diagonal ball into the box. Erlandson and a defender vied for the ball, and as another Zip attempted to whirl and kick it out of danger, Nathan Masters blocked the clearing attempt with a lunging effort, blocking the ball into the net. But, a foul was called against the Falcons on the play.
• 87' | Masters ran on to a ball on the left side of the six-yard box. But, it was deflected just before the sophomore hit it, and his shot went wide.
• 90' | With less than a minute to go, Erlandson again got his head on a right-side diagonal ball, but Meyer was able to make the save.

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Zips had advantages of 12-8 in total shot attempts and 5-3 in shots on goal. BGSU was not credited with a shot in the opening half, but outshot the hosts by an 8-6 count in the second half.
• Logan Kowalczyk made three saves in goal for the Falcons, while Will Meyer had three stops for the Zips.
• The Falcons had a narrow 3-2 advantage in corner kicks, while the Zips were whistled for 14 fouls to BG's 13. Akron also had three yellow cards and one red card, while BGSU was shown a pair of yellow cards on the day.
• Despite the loss on Sunday, the Falcons have a record of 20-12-3 over the last 35 matches, dating to late in the 2018 season. Eight of those 12 setbacks have come by a single goal.

UP NEXT
• For the Falcons, the Akron match wrapped up a stretch of five consecutive road games, the last three against nationally-ranked teams. BGSU will open the home portion of the schedule next Sunday (March 14), facing undefeated SIUE. That match will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium, and will be streamed via WBGU-TV.
• Following the SIUE matchup, BGSU will head back out on the road to face West Virginia (March 17) and Northern Illinois (March 21).

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.