Falcons, Jaguars Battle to Scoreless Draw in Thursday's Opener

Thursday, August 26

Bowling Green, OH

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

0-0-1, 0-0-0

IUPUI

0-0-1, 0-0-0

IUPUI

Bowling Green

Photo by: Larry Clapper

August 26, 2021 | Men's Soccer

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BGSU is now unbeaten in 10-straight matches at Cochrane

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team had a lopsided advantage in nearly every statistical category on Thursday evening (Aug. 26), but the Falcons settled for a scoreless draw with IUPUI. The match, the regular-season opener for both teams, was held at Cochrane Stadium.

The Falcons, the defending Mid-American Conference champions, outshot the Jaguars by a 24-4 count, and BGSU had an 8-1 advantage in shots on goal.

BGSU had eight total shots in the two overtime periods, while holding the Jaguars without a single shot attempt during that time.

The Falcons had a 10-1 lead in corner kicks on Thursday night as well.

Logan Kowalczyk made one save on the night, picking up his sixth shutout in 13 starts in his collegiate career. For the visitors, Quinn McCallion and Lucas Morefield combined to make eight saves.

BGSU is now unbeaten in the last 10 matches at Cochrane Stadium. Each of the last seven home matches has been decided by one goal or fewer, with the last six contests at Cochrane requiring overtime

NOTE OF THE NIGHT
• BGSU, as mentioned, has now played six consecutive overtime matches at Cochrane Stadium. The last home match that did not require more than 90 minutes came on Nov. 9, 2019, when the Falcons downed Northern Illinois by a 1-0 score.
• Just three days later (Nov. 12, 2019), BGSU topped NIU in OT in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals. Then, all four of the Falcons' home matches in the 2020(-21) season went to overtime.
• In those six matches, the Falcons are 4-0-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• BGSU had a 4-1 advantage in shots in the first 45 minutes, but the Falcons put three of those four shots on frame. In their respective BGSU debuts, Sergi Martinez and Alberto Anaya each put shots on goal within the first 10 minutes of the match, and off of an Anaya free kick, Jacob Erlandson's header was saved by IUPUI goalkeeper Quinn McCallion with just under six minutes left before the intermission.
• IUPUI's only shot on goal came off of a throw-in with time running down in the opening half. Tommy Patacca's flick-on was saved by BGSU's Logan Kowalczyk.
• Kale Nichols put a shot on frame in the 57th minute, and Joey Akpunonu had his effort stopped by McCallion just over two minutes later. BGSU had a 12-3 lead in shot attempts in the second half.
• Roberto Fernandez Garrido played 14 minutes in the second half, but certainly made his presence felt. Off of a short Nichols cross, Fernandez Garrido put a header just wide of the near post with just over 68 minutes gone.
• Then, Fernandez Garrido got his head on another ball, this time from Kyle Cusimano, but that shot was saved by a diving Lucas Morefield, who had entered the game only 12 minutes earlier.
• A shot by Nichols, off of an Anaya pass, was blocked out for a corner kick with just under 13 minutes left in regulation.
• In the second overtime, Akpunonu put a pair of shots just wide of the far post in the final two minutes. The second shot was just off the mark with 15 seconds to go.

QUOTING COACH NICHOLS
"I thought we lacked a lot of what we usually do. Our intensity, our combativeness, our urgency ... I thought we actually played good soccer, but we lacked the things it takes to win a game like this and break it open."

"They (IUPUI) are tough to break down, and at the same time they can be dangerous on the counter. I thought our back line was really sharp. They stayed dialed in, and they didn't give IUPUI any chances."

"I love this team. I love the character of this team, I love their soccer ... there are so many things I like about this team. But, I am a bit taken back with our approach to this game tonight. Winning games in college soccer is tough, and we weren't up to the challenge tonight. I'd say we got what we deserved."

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• BGSU is unbeaten in the last 10 matches at Cochrane Stadium, having gone 8-0-2 in that time. The Falcons' last home loss was a 4-3 OT setback vs. Cincinnati on Sept. 17, 2019.
• BG, as mentioned, had a 24-4 advantage in shots on Thursday night. Eight of the Falcons' starters had at least one shot attempt, with seven of those eight players firing two or more shots in the match.
• Unofficially, the Falcons had possession of the ball for roughly two-thirds (67%) of the contest.
• The Falcons now have a record of 25-14-5 over the last 44 matches, dating to late in the 2018 season. Ten of the 14 setbacks in that time have come by a single goal.
• BGSU is 9-2-2 at home since the beginning of the 2019 season, and the Falcons are now 21-6-10 at Cochrane since the start of the 2016 campaign. BG has a home record of 33-10-11 since the beginning of 2014.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons now travel to Spokane, Wash., for a Sunday-night matchup with Gonzaga. That contest will begin at 7:00 p.m. local time (10:00 p.m. ET) at Luger Field.

Gallery: (8-26-2021) M.Soccer v IUPUI - Aug 26 2021

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.