Wright State Scores Late to Capture I-75 Cup

Tuesday, September 19

Dayton, Ohio

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

3-3-2, 0-1-0

Wright State

2-2-3, 1-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Bowling Green	0	0	0
Wright State	0	3	3

September 19, 2023 | Men's Soccer

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Raiders take 3-0 win in Dayton Tuesday night

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

DAYTON, Ohio – Wright State University scored in the 79th minute to break a scoreless draw, and the Raiders went on to a 3-0 win over the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team Tuesday night (Sept. 19), in non-conference action at Alumni Field.

The win gives the Raiders (2-2-3) possession of the I-75 Cup, a traveling trophy that goes to the winner of the match between WSU and the Falcons (3-3-2) each year.

Henry Hutchinson knocked a ball home to give the hosts the lead, and the Raiders added two more goals in the last three-plus minutes after the Falcons pushed numbers forward. Felix Ezekwuka scored on a counterattack in the 87th minute, with Cole Werthmuller closing the scoring with a penalty kick in the 89th minute.

Despite the deceiving scoreline, Brendan Graves played well in net for the Falcons, making six stops on the night.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• That Falcons' only shot attempt of the entire first half came just 14 seconds into the match. BGSU moved the ball downfield, and Bennett Painter fired a low shot that was deflected by a defender and was grabbed by WSU goalkeeper Alessandro Malterer.
• In the third minute, pressure on Malterer by Nathan Masters resulted in a Falcon corner kick. BGSU actually got back-to-back corners, but the Raiders were able deal with both of them.
• A BG turnover led to a quick hard shot by Cole Werthmuller, but the shot was hit directly at Falcon goalkeeper Brendan Graves.
• Neither team had a shot attempt for close to 20 minutes, before WSU's Kobe Perlaza got his head on a free kick. But, his shot sailed well over the crossbar.
• In the 36th minute, the Raiders looked to have a scoring chance, but Mads Christensen stole the ball and was fouled as he headed out of the penalty area.
• Then, Anthony Hernandez played a pair of long passes forward. First, he nearly found Trace Terry, but the ball was knocked out for a throw-in. BG got the ball back, and Hernandez put a long ball forward to Masters on the right side of the pitch. This time, Malterer was forced to come out of the penalty area to boot the ball well out of bounds.
• Late in the half, Uche Odemena won the ball for the hosts, and played it ahead to Henry Hutchinson. Hutchinson cut the ball back and fired a shot in the box, but Graves made a diving stop to tip the ball wide for a corner kick.
• Off of the ensuing corner kick, Perlaza headed the ball back across the box from the far side. But, Graves deflected the ball with one hand, then grabbed it out of the air.
• Early in the second half, Roman Kedgley put a hard curving shot on frame, but Graves saw it all the way and made the stop.
• Several minutes later, the Raiders won a corner kick. Kyle Blasingame deflected the ball out of the box, and Chris Geddis blasted a shot back toward the goal, but it was blocked by Masters before it reached the penalty area.
• In the 71st minute, the hosts had a good chance after a long free kick, but Hutchinson's shot was high.
• Two minutes later, Hernandez played a ball forward to Masters, who in turn found Andrew Shaffer. Shaffer, on the left side of the penalty area, cut the ball back and fired a shot, but Malterer made the stop.
• In the 76th minute, Taylor Dyson hit a ball from the right side that glanced off of the crossbar. Less than a minute later, Hernandez was fouled just outside the penalty area, and Dyson's free kick went just wide right.
• In the 79th minute, the Raiders got on the scoreboard. The ball was played into the box and ping-ponged around the penalty area for quite some time before Hutchinson knocked it home. The unassisted goal came at the 78:23 mark.
• Graves made saves on Mounir Azzam and Reece Allbaugh in the next few minutes, and Terry put a ball on frame that was parried by the WSU 'keeper. Malterer and Masters collided going for the rebound, and the ball went out of play.
• With the Falcons putting numbers forward, WSU went on a counterattack. Jacob Adams slid a pass to an open Felix Ezekwuka, who fired a shot into the net to double the WSU lead with just 3:30 to go.
• Then, a foul was called on BGSU in the penalty area with 1:21 to go, and Cole Werthmuller scored on the ensuing PK. Graves nearly stopped the shot with a headlong dive.

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons had more than 50 percent of the possession on the night, but WSU had a 14-5 advantage in shots. Graves made six saves in the game, with Malterer making one stop.
• Each team had three corner kicks, and WSU committed 18 fouls to the Falcons' eight. The Raiders were assessed three of the game's four yellow cards.
Freshman Bennett Painter made his first collegiate start on Tuesday night. A total of 17 different Falcons now have started at least one match this season to date.
• BGSU's starting lineup featured four freshmen and a total of six first-year Falcons. Two of BGSU's three substitutes also are in their first season with the program.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons now prepare for the program's first-ever Missouri Valley Conference home match when Bradley comes to Cochrane Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 23). First touch is set for 7:00 p.m., and admission is free.

• Then, the Orange and Brown will be at home for a second consecutive Saturday (Sept. 30), taking on Evansville in another 7:00 p.m. start at Cochrane.

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.