Bowling Green State University Athletics
Ellie Pool (left) & Brynn Gardner
Pool, Gardner Join Falcon Program
January 14, 2022 | Women's Soccer
Defending MAC Champions Add a Transfer From Toledo & an Early Enrollee
Bowling Green State University women's soccer head coach Jimmy Walker and his staff have announced the addition of Ellie Pool to the Falcon program. Pool, a transfer from the University of Toledo, has joined the four-time defending Mid-American Conference champions.
Additionally, Brynn Gardner, one of eight signees in the Falcons' recruiting class that was announced early last month, has joined the program early. Both Pool and Gardner are enrolled at BGSU for the Spring 2022 semester and will take part in spring practices and matches for the Falcons.
Pool, a native of Toledo (Sylvania Southview H.S.), comes to BGSU after playing two seasons with the Rockets. She started all 27 of UT's matches during that time, with totals of eight goals, five assists and 21 points.
Pool tied for the team scoring lead with four points in seven contests in the spring 2021 season. She started all seven matches and was named to the MAC's All-Freshman Team. Pool's first collegiate goal came against Western Michigan, and she had a two-assist match against Northern Illinois.
Pool played 540 of the team's 653 total minutes last spring.
In the fall of 2021, Pool earned All-MAC Second-Team honors for the Midnight Blue and Gold. She started all 20 matches and led the team in scoring as the Rockets went 10-6-4 overall and 5-4-2 in the MAC. Pool posted team-leading totals of seven goals and 17 points, and she tied for second on the club with three assists.
Pool played 1,723 of the Rockets' 1894 total minutes on the season, ranking fourth on the club and leading all forwards. She paced the team in total shots (47) and shots on goal (22), and scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Central Michigan.
In non-conference play, Pool had a five-point match vs. Detroit Mercy, with two goals and an assist, and she added an assist on the lone goal in a win at Illinois State.
Pool then led the team in goals (four) and points (nine) during MAC play, with goals vs. Western Michigan, Miami and Eastern Michigan in addition to CMU, and an assist in a win at Akron. Her final goal of the season came at Kent State in the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament.
Pool, a four-year letterwinner at Southview, was the Northern Lakes League co-Player of the Year – sharing that honor with Emilie Gardner – as a senior in 2019. A three-time All-NLL First-Team selection with the Cougars, Pool played club ball with Pacesetter Soccer Club.
Ellie will be a great addition to our attacking unit at BGSU," said Walker. "Ellie is a competitor, a good athlete, knows the MAC inside out and is someone that still has a lot of potential growth over the next few years.
"Ellie also has good technical ability and an eye for goal! Â Ellie was a standout player in Northwest Ohio during her high school and club career and someone our staff is very familiar with. Â Ellie loves to compete and aligns with our culture here at BGSU."
Gardner, who as mentioned was part of the Falcons' fall 2021 signing class, is a native of Whitehouse, Ohio (Anthony Wayne H.S.). A forward, she earned four letters for coach Lori Williams, and was a two-time All-Ohio First-Team selection. In December of 2021, she was named a United Soccer Coaches All American, becoming the first player in AWHS history to earn that honor.
Gardner scored 51 goals and added 38 assists in her career, and helped the Generals to a four-year record of 67-8-10, including an NLL mark of 25-0-3. Anthony Wayne won the league title in all four of her seasons with the program.
Gardner was the NLL Player of the Year in each of her last two seasons, and earned all-league first-team honors both years as well. A two-year team captain, Gardner helped AW advance to the state semifinals in each of her last three seasons. She recorded double-digit goal totals in each of those three years, including 19 as a senior.
Gardner has played club ball for Pacesetter, helping that team to a pair of state titles. She joins her sister, the aforementioned Emilie, on the BGSU women's soccer roster.
"Brynn is a very talented addition to our program that will add to our attacking unit," said Walker. "She has been a standout player in Northwest Ohio in both club and high school soccer and we feel she will be ready to contribute right away.
"Brynn is a very good athlete with a good soccer IQ and technical ability and will be a good fit for BG and the MAC. Â Brynn also fits very well into our culture at BGSU with her competitive drive."
---
The Falcons went 11-7-3 overall and won the MAC regular-season title with an 8-2-1 league mark in the fall of 2021. BGSU captured both the league's regular-season and tournament crowns for the fourth-straight season, and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in as many years.
The Falcons have records of 58-26-11 overall, 39-9-2 in MAC regular-season matches and 48-10-4 in all games vs. conference foes since the start of the 2017 season.
Since the beginning of the 2018 campaign, BGSU is 45-19-10 overall, 33-5-1 in MAC regular-season action and 40-5-3 in all games vs. league opposition.
For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @BGSUWSoccer), Instagram (bgsuwsoccer) and Facebook (bgsuwsoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
Â
Additionally, Brynn Gardner, one of eight signees in the Falcons' recruiting class that was announced early last month, has joined the program early. Both Pool and Gardner are enrolled at BGSU for the Spring 2022 semester and will take part in spring practices and matches for the Falcons.
Pool, a native of Toledo (Sylvania Southview H.S.), comes to BGSU after playing two seasons with the Rockets. She started all 27 of UT's matches during that time, with totals of eight goals, five assists and 21 points.
Pool tied for the team scoring lead with four points in seven contests in the spring 2021 season. She started all seven matches and was named to the MAC's All-Freshman Team. Pool's first collegiate goal came against Western Michigan, and she had a two-assist match against Northern Illinois.
Pool played 540 of the team's 653 total minutes last spring.
In the fall of 2021, Pool earned All-MAC Second-Team honors for the Midnight Blue and Gold. She started all 20 matches and led the team in scoring as the Rockets went 10-6-4 overall and 5-4-2 in the MAC. Pool posted team-leading totals of seven goals and 17 points, and she tied for second on the club with three assists.
Pool played 1,723 of the Rockets' 1894 total minutes on the season, ranking fourth on the club and leading all forwards. She paced the team in total shots (47) and shots on goal (22), and scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Central Michigan.
In non-conference play, Pool had a five-point match vs. Detroit Mercy, with two goals and an assist, and she added an assist on the lone goal in a win at Illinois State.
Pool then led the team in goals (four) and points (nine) during MAC play, with goals vs. Western Michigan, Miami and Eastern Michigan in addition to CMU, and an assist in a win at Akron. Her final goal of the season came at Kent State in the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament.
Pool, a four-year letterwinner at Southview, was the Northern Lakes League co-Player of the Year – sharing that honor with Emilie Gardner – as a senior in 2019. A three-time All-NLL First-Team selection with the Cougars, Pool played club ball with Pacesetter Soccer Club.
Ellie will be a great addition to our attacking unit at BGSU," said Walker. "Ellie is a competitor, a good athlete, knows the MAC inside out and is someone that still has a lot of potential growth over the next few years.
"Ellie also has good technical ability and an eye for goal! Â Ellie was a standout player in Northwest Ohio during her high school and club career and someone our staff is very familiar with. Â Ellie loves to compete and aligns with our culture here at BGSU."
Gardner, who as mentioned was part of the Falcons' fall 2021 signing class, is a native of Whitehouse, Ohio (Anthony Wayne H.S.). A forward, she earned four letters for coach Lori Williams, and was a two-time All-Ohio First-Team selection. In December of 2021, she was named a United Soccer Coaches All American, becoming the first player in AWHS history to earn that honor.
Gardner scored 51 goals and added 38 assists in her career, and helped the Generals to a four-year record of 67-8-10, including an NLL mark of 25-0-3. Anthony Wayne won the league title in all four of her seasons with the program.
Gardner was the NLL Player of the Year in each of her last two seasons, and earned all-league first-team honors both years as well. A two-year team captain, Gardner helped AW advance to the state semifinals in each of her last three seasons. She recorded double-digit goal totals in each of those three years, including 19 as a senior.
Gardner has played club ball for Pacesetter, helping that team to a pair of state titles. She joins her sister, the aforementioned Emilie, on the BGSU women's soccer roster.
"Brynn is a very talented addition to our program that will add to our attacking unit," said Walker. "She has been a standout player in Northwest Ohio in both club and high school soccer and we feel she will be ready to contribute right away.
"Brynn is a very good athlete with a good soccer IQ and technical ability and will be a good fit for BG and the MAC. Â Brynn also fits very well into our culture at BGSU with her competitive drive."
---
The Falcons went 11-7-3 overall and won the MAC regular-season title with an 8-2-1 league mark in the fall of 2021. BGSU captured both the league's regular-season and tournament crowns for the fourth-straight season, and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in as many years.The Falcons have records of 58-26-11 overall, 39-9-2 in MAC regular-season matches and 48-10-4 in all games vs. conference foes since the start of the 2017 season.
Since the beginning of the 2018 campaign, BGSU is 45-19-10 overall, 33-5-1 in MAC regular-season action and 40-5-3 in all games vs. league opposition.
For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @BGSUWSoccer), Instagram (bgsuwsoccer) and Facebook (bgsuwsoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
Â
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's SoccerChris Fox Post-Match Interview (Oct. 12, 2025)
Sunday, October 12
Off The Pitch: Emma Stransky (Oct. 10, 2025)
Saturday, October 11
Chris Fox Post-Match Interview (Oct. 5, 2025)
Sunday, October 05
Off The Pitch: Lizzie Bultynck (Oct. 3, 2025)
Saturday, October 04