Broncos Hold Off Falcons, 1-0, in MVC Opener

Saturday, September 16

Kalamazoo, Mich.

4 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

3-2-2, 0-1-0

Western Michigan

5-1-1, 1-0-0

Bowling Green

Western Mich.

Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics

September 16, 2023 | Men's Soccer

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Graves ties season & career best with 10 saves

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – A Western Michigan University goal just under an hour into the match held up, as the Broncos held off the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team, 1-0, Saturday afternoon (Sept. 16). The match, the first-ever Missouri Valley Conference match for both teams, was held at the WMU Soccer Complex.

Dylan Sing scored for the Broncos (5-1-1, 1-0-0 MVC), who outshot the Falcons (3-2-2, 0-1-0 MVC) bya 20-7 count.

Brendan Graves made 10 saves, including nine in the first half, for the Orange and Brown.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Brendan Graves, as mentioned, made nine saves in the first half alone, including highlight-reel stops on Charlie Sharp and Carson Hodgson.
• In the 21st minute of the match, Graves made a nifty save on an effort by Sharp, and the BG 'keeper pounced on the rebound before a Bronco player could arrive.
• Three minutes later, Tom Cooklin fired a shot from near the 18-yard line, but Graves again was up to the task.
• With just over 12 minutes left before the half, Graves made an incredible save on Dylan Sing. Sing got his head on a right-side cross and put a hard shot on frame. But, Graves got a hand on the point-blank shot, tipping the ball up into the air and turning to grab it as it headed toward the goalmouth.
• With just under seven minutes remaining in the half, Hodgson volleyed a shot out of the air and put it on frame, but it was hit directly at Graves.
• The Falcons had only two shot attempts in the first half, but BG applied additional pressure in the second period. Trace Terry had an effort blocked several minutes into the period, and with about 10 minutes gone in the half, Eli Shope got the ball on a counterattack. Shope took the ball into the penalty area, but his effort was blocked as well.
• But, the Broncos took the lead in the 58th minute. Hodgson played a low cross into the box from the left side, and Sing redirected the ball home.
• With 16 minutes to go, Graves made a nice save on a turnaround effort by Sing in the box.
• At the other end of the park, Terry played a low cross into the box with 10 minutes to go, but WMU 'keeper Ethan Brandt went to the ground to grab the ball. Then, with five minutes left, Terry chipped a ball into the danger zone, but Brandt grabbed it just before Shope could arrive.
• Just over three minutes remained when a Shope throw-in was deflected out to Nathan Masters, who fired a shot that went just wide right.
• Bennett Painter got his head on a cross with 2:18 to go, but his shot was off target as well. BGSU applied pressure over the remaining time, but the Broncos were able to hang on for the win.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will renew the battle for the I-75 Cup with a trip to Wright State on Tuesday (Sept. 19). First touch is set for 7:00 p.m. in Dayton.

• BGSU's first-ever MVC home match is set for next weekend, when Bradley comes to Cochrane Stadium next Saturday (Sept. 23) at 7:00 p.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...
• 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.