Stransky's Strike Lifts Falcons Past Akron, 1-0

Thursday, September 28

Bowling Green, Ohio

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

4-4-1, 2-0-1

Akron

2-8-0, 0-3-0

Akron

Bowling Green

Photo by: Kemery Aichele, BGSU Athletics

September 28, 2023 | Women's Soccer

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BGSU freshman scores in 79th minute to help Falcons remain unbeaten in conference play

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Freshman Emma Stransky scored a highlight-reel goal in the 79th minute, lifting the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over the University of Akron Thursday night (Sept. 28). The Mid-American Conference match was held at Cochrane Stadium.

With the win, the Falcons (4-4-1, 2-0-1 MAC) remain undefeated in conference play, and BGSU has kept three clean sheets in as many MAC matches.

Freshman Christie Fransen – who was making her collegiate debut – had the assist on Stransky's goal. Fransen's quick throw-in found an open Stransky, and Stransky took two touches and blasted a shot from distance that eluded the diving effort of UA goalkeeper Sara Bower and found the far side of the net.

BGSU outshot the Zips (2-8-0, 0-3-0 MAC) by a 20-5 count, and the Falcons had a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal.

Madison Vukas and Lili Berg each played 45 minutes in goal, and each made two saves for the hosts to combine on a shutout for the third-straight match and the fourth time this season.

Bower had eight stops for the Zips.

Falcons supporting Falcons tonight at @BGSU_WSoccer tonight. Love seeing our student-athletes support each other! What makes Bowling Green great: A caring community. #culture @BGSU_Athletics @bgsu pic.twitter.com/PCPUnmlOJE
— Derek van der Merwe (@vandermerwe63) September 28, 2023

HOW IT HAPPENED – GOALS, HIGHLIGHTS, ETC.
• The Falcons had much of the game's possession, and BGSU more than doubled up Akron in the shots category, but the home team did not break through until just over 11 minutes remained in the contest.
• In the ninth minute, Ellie Pool nearly reached an errant backpass by the Zips, but UA goalkeeper Sara Bower came out of the penalty box to boot the ball away before Pool could arive.
• BGSU had an offensive flurry in the 17th minute, but a shot by Pool was blocked and a Maya Dean blast went just off target.
• Just before the half-hour mark, BGSU was able to string several passes together, with Makenzie Ortman beginning the sequence. Brynn Garder played Lizzie Bultynck into the penalty area on the right side, and Bultnyck hit a low cross that went through the six-yard box. Lexi Czerwien was first to the ball and hit a low shot, but Bower was able to make the save at the near post.
• Less than two minutes later, BGSU was back at it. Czerwien took a Brynn Gardner pass and chipped a ball into the box. Bultynck battled for the ball with an Akron defender before ultimately winning possession and hitting a low shot. But again, Bower was able to block the effort at the near post (this time the right post rather than the left). The UA 'keeper was momentarily shaken up, but was able to remain in the game.
• The next few minutes saw the Zips struggle to clear the ball out of their defensive end. A Katie Cox cross was just out of the reach of Bultynck in the penalty area.
• With 11 minutes and change to go before halftime, Ortman stole an Akron pass. Audrey Oliver slid the ball to Czerwien, who played Bultynck into the box, but an Akron defender was able to knock the ball off Bultynck's boot just before she could get a shot off.
• Two and a half minutes remained in the opening period when Czerwien got her head on a long free kick by Isabelle Gilmore. Czerwien, facing away from goal, did an impressive job to redirect the ball on frame, but the shot rolled directly to Bower.
• Less than a minute into the second half, Lacee Bethea collected the ball after a cross was knocked out of the box. The senior took a touch to her right and hit a shot that rang off the crossbar.
• Four minutes into the half, Brynn Gardner's cross was redirected to Katie Cox. Cox poked the ball through a pair of UA defenders, and – with a defender on her and Bower charging off of her line – the fifth-year Falcon hit a shot as she went to the ground, but the ball went just wide of the right goalpost.
• Several minutes later, after a BGSU corner kick, Taylor Green put the ball back out wide to Pool, and Pool played a nifty cross to Brynn Gardner, who rushed past the UA defense and hit a shot that was just off target.
• Akron won a corner kick in the 57th minute, and Olivia Heskett put the ball into the goalmouth, but Green headed it out of danger before Dean played it off of a UA player for a BGSU throw-in.
• Midway through the half, Rylee Clark and Bethea worked a combination play, with Clark's return pass finding Bethea on the left side. The senior cut the ball back to her right, entered the 18-yard box and hit a shot that only stayed out of the goal due to a headlong dive by Bower. The UA 'keeper tipped the ball wide of the far post. After the ensuing corner kick, Dean went down in the box, but the ball rolled over the end line and another corner kick was awarded.
• Several minutes later, Stransky nearly had a highlight-reel goal (although she would get one later), when she volleyed a Brynn Gardner diagonal ball out of the air, but was unable to put the acrobatic shot on target.
• Less than two minutes after that, Stransky put Dean through, but Akron's Katharina Bilz was able to tip the ball away from the BGSU senior at the last second.
• Stransky went down in the penalty area with 15 minutes to go, but play continued and the ball rolled to Bower.
• But, with just over 11 minutes to go, a Christie Fransen throw-in found an open Stransky, who took two touches and blasted the ball past Bower for what would prove to be the winning goal.

Take a bow, Emma Stransky! First night under the lights 🔥#AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/ltVQjhi4un
— BGSU Women's Soccer (@BGSU_WSoccer) September 29, 2023

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons had a 20-9 lead in shot attempts and a 9-4 margin in shots on goal. BGSU also had a slim 5-4 lead in corner kicks.
• Lili Berg and Madison Vukas each made two saves to combine for the clean sheet. The shutout was BGSU's third in as many matches and fourth of the season.
• Emma Stransky's goal was her second of the season. The freshman is tied for the team lead in both goals and points (five).
• Christie Fransen picked up the first point of her collegiate career with the lone assist on Stransky's goal. Fransen made her BGSU debut on Thursday night, and had played exactly three minutes and four seconds before recording that assist.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons hit the road for the next two matches, beginning with a Sunday (Oct. 1) contest against Ohio University. First touch is set for 1:00 p.m. at Chessa Field.
• Then, BGSU will meet Miami next Thursday (Oct. 5) before returning home to meet Eastern Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 8.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...
• For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer), Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer) and Facebook (bgsuwsoc) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.