Spartans Wear Down Short-Handed Falcons, 3-0

Monday, August 28

East Lansing, Mich.

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Michigan State

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Bowling Green

Michigan St.

Amer Dedic (photo courtesy MSU Athletics)

August 28, 2023 | Men's Soccer

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Two Late Goals Lead to Misleading Final Scoreline

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University scored two goals in the final nine minutes, breaking open a close game and downing the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team, 3-0, Monday night (Aug. 28). The non-conference matchup was held at DeMartin Stadium.

Efosa Emovon scored late in the first half to give the Spartans (1-0-0) the lead. The Falcons (1-1-0) were assessed a red card several minutes later, and played the final 46-plus minutes of the match a man down.

Despite being short-handed, BGSU hung within a goal until the 82nd minute, when MSU doubled the lead on a counterattack. The Spartans would tack on an insurance goal several minutes later.

MSU had a 13-8 advantage in total shots and a 7-2 lead in shots on goal. Brendan Graves made four saves, including several stellar stops, on the evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Midfield play marked the start of the match, as each team had taken just one shot by the midpoint of the first half.
• After an BGSU giveaway in the 29th minute, MSU's Jonathan Stout fired a hard shot near the top of the 18-yard box. But, Brendan Graves made an impressive save on the curving shot.
• Almost immediately, Eli Shope hit a hard shot at the other end of the field. But, MSU goalkeeper Zac Kelly was able to get a glove on the ball to tip it wide of the net.
• The Spartans scored in the 37th minute. Off of a Jeremy Sharp corner kick, Josh Mason got his head on the ball at the far post and nodded it into the goalmouth. Efosa Emovon was able to get a knee on the ball and trundled it over the line to give the home team the lead.
• In the 44th minute, the Falcons were shown a red card, and BGSU was forced to play a man down for the remainder of the match.
• Early in the second half, the Falcons took a corner kick. The ball was knocked out of the box to Nathan Masters, who hit a hard shot, but the effort was blocked.
• In the 63rd minute, a flick-on after a long ball put Trace Terry into the box on the left side. Terry hit a hard half-volley from a bad angle, putting the ball on frame, but Kelly was able to make the stop.
• After a foul and a yellow card on the Spartans in the 68th minute, Masters blasted a free kick from distance, and the shot went just inches wide of the left goalpost.
• MSU nearly doubled the lead on a counter attack several minutes later. Graves came off of his line to knock the ball away from one Spartan attacker, but it went to Sharp near the top of the box. With a BG defender converging on him, Sharp put his shot over the bar.
• Graves made a nice save on a Jake Spadafora shot with 13 minutes to go, but four minutes later, MSU got a second goal. Jack Guggemos made a long run into the box, then slid a pass to Spadafora for a one-time finish.
• The Spartans closed the scoring several minutes later. Graves punched a corner kick out of the box in traffic, but it went to Jack Zugay, who fired it back toward goal. Colin Arce redirected the ball into the net.

One team tonight! @BGSUMSoccer playing for each other, their coaches, and this great University! #beatMSU @bgsu @BGSU_Athletics So proud of them today! #character pic.twitter.com/4Ob7ItomJH
— Derek van der Merwe (@vandermerwe63) August 28, 2023

UP NEXT
• The Falcons return to the road later this week, heading to Pittsburgh for a Thursday night (Aug. 31) matchup with Duquesne. First touch is set for 7:00 p.m.

• Then, BGSU begins a three-match homestand by hosting Michigan on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 4). That contest is set for a 3:00 p.m. start at Cochrane Stadium, and admission is free.

• That homestand continues with matchups vs. DePaul (Sept. 8) and Northern Kentucky (Sept. 12), before BG heads to Kalamazoo to begin Missouri Valley Conference play with a Sept. 16 contest against Western Michigan.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS
• For more information on the BGSU men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMSoccer), Instagram (bgfalcons and bgsumsoccer) and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.