Broncos Blank BG, 2-0, in Kalamazoo

Wednesday, November 2

Kalamazoo, Mich.

4:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

5-5-5, 3-2-2

Western Michigan

13-2-1, 5-1-1

Bowling Green

Western Mich.

Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics

November 02, 2022 | Men's Soccer

Box Score BGSU-WMU Stats

Falcons close regular-season schedule at home vs. NIU Sunday night

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team, playing a man down for nearly two-thirds of Thursday afternoon's (Nov. 2) match, fell to host Western Michigan University, 2-0. The Mid-American Conference matchup was held at the WMU Soccer Complex.

The Broncos (13-2-1, 5-1-1 MAC) got on the board via a penalty kick early in the second half, then doubled the lead just over five minutes later.

Brendan Graves made four saves for the Falcons (5-5-5, 3-2-2 MAC), while Hunter Morse was credited with seven stops for the Broncos.

The loss was the Falcons' first multiple-goal setback in nearly 12 months.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons were active early, as Sergi Martinez fired a hard shot from distance that went over the bar just 16 seconds into the match.
• In the 10th minute, WMU's Dylan Sing lifted the ball to Charlie Sharp on the six-yard line. Sharp's quick header was on frame, but BGSU goalkeeper Brendan Graves made a diving save.
• Kale Nichols and the Falcons had a chance in the 16th minute. Martinez crossed the ball from the right side. Nichols settled the pass and hit a low shot toward the far post, but WMU goalkeeper Hunter Morse was able to make a diving stop of his own.
• Midway through the period, Martinez was tripped up after a long run toward the 18. The ball rolled to Kyle Cusimano, who put his shot just wide of the far post.
• Several minutes later, Jonathan Robinson was carded as he tripped Eli Shope from behind. Martinez played the ensuing free kick, and his short diagonal ball found the head of Nichols, who put a shot on frame. BUt again, Morse was there to make the save.
• Cusimano was shown a red card in the 32nd minute after a challenge at midfield, forcing the Falcons to play with 10 men.
• With seven minutes left in the opening half, Joey Akpunonu took a free kick from midfield, and put the ball on goal, but Morse was able to grab the long shot out of the air.
• Five minutes into the second half, the Broncos' Carson Hodgson hit a shot from inside the box, but Amer Dedic blocked it out for a corner kick. Off of that kick, however, another Hodgson shot was blocked, but a handball call on the Falcons meant that a penalty kick was awarded to the hosts.
• Daniel Nimick took that PK for the Broncos, and converted to give WMU a 1-0 lead at the 50:32 mark.
• Graves made a great save in the 55th minute, tipping Sharp's header over the crossbar, and the Falcons successfully dealt with the ensuing corner kick.
• However, just under two minutes later, the Broncos doubled the lead. Mike Melaragni scored on a shot from just outside the box after a turnover near midfield.
• The Broncos had a close call, as a shot by Sing hit the bar and bounced down, but did not cross the line, and BGSU cleared the ball out of danger.
• In the 68th minute, an Alberto Anaya corner kick was knocked out of the penalty area. Shope put a hard shot on frame, but Morse was able to make the save.
• With 15 minutes to go, Nimick got an open header off of a left-side cross, but Graves made the stop.
• The 82nd minute saw the Falcons put the ball into the box, but a shot by Trace Terry went just wide of the near post.

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• WMU had a 19-12 lead in total shot attempts and a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks. BGSU had a 7-6 lead in shots on goal.
• Brendan Graves made four saves in goal for the Falcons, while Hunter Morse had seven stops for the Broncos.
• BG has now held the opponent scoreless in the first half in 15 of the last 16 matches, dating to last November.
• BGSU has outscored the opponents, 6-1, in the first half this season to date.
• With WMU's two second-half goals – one on a PK – the Falcons allowed more than one goal in a match for the first time since last year's NCAA Championships second-round contest at Indiana.
• Jensen Lukacsko played in the 86th match of his BGSU career, and has now made 83 career starts as a Falcon. He has moved into a tie for second place on the BGSU list for games played. If Lukacsko takes the field in the Falcons' next match, he will tie the school record of 87 matches played, currently owned by Zach Buescher (2017-21).
• Lukacsko is now fourth in career matches started. Buescher holds that record as well, with 87.
• The Falcons now have a record of 41-25-12 over the last 78 games, dating to midway through the 2018 season. Sixteen of the 25 setbacks in that time have come by a single goal.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons close the regular-season schedule on Sunday evening (Nov. 6), hosting Northern Illinois. That match begins at 6:00 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium and will be televised by BCSN in the Toledo area as well as streamed on the BCSN App and on ESPN3.

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.