Late CMU Goal Downs Falcons, 2-1

Friday, October 18

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

6-5-3, 3-3-2

Central Michigan

5-6-4, 3-2-3

Bowling Green

Central Michigan

Goal Celebration - Brynn Gardner at CMU - Oct. 18, 2024

Photo by: Lauren Verellen, CMU Athletics

October 18, 2024 | Women's Soccer

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By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A goal with just under four minutes to go lifted host Central Michigan University to a 2-1 win over the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team Friday evening (Oct. 18). The Mid-American Conference match was held at the CMU Soccer Complex.

Brynn Gardner scored for the Falcons (6-5-3, 3-3-2 MAC), who dominated much of the second half. After the Chippewas (5-6-4, 3-2-3 MAC) took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break, BGSU was on the front foot after the break, and broke through on the Gardner goal in the 52nd minute.

Isabelle Gilmore and Emma Stransky had assists on the Gardner goal, and the Falcons kept threatening to take the lead for much of the second stanza. But, the game remained tied for the next 35 minutes, before Lauren Walker's goal against the run of play gave the hosts the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Chippewas got on the board in the 22nd minute. Claudia Muessig stole a BGSU pass on the left side of the field and immediately fired a shot. The arcing ball went over everyone and found the far upper corner of the goal.
• Soon after, Emily Hollar was fouled after receiving a through ball. The foul was deemed to have occurred just outside the 18-yard line on the left side. Emme Butera's free kick toward the far side of the six-yard box found Taylor Green, but her shot knocked away by a Chippewa defender. CMU goalkeeper Allison LaPoint was able to grab the ensuing corner kick in traffic.
• The opening half featured just six total shot attempts – three for each side – with Muessig's effort the only shot on goal for either team in the first 45 minutes.
• The Falcons had several shots on goal in the first eight minutes of the second half, however. In the 51st minute, a corner kick was played short, and Haley Wolf put a serve into the box from the left side. Taylor Green put a header on frame, forcing LaPoint to tip the ball over the crossbar.
• But, less than a minute later, the Falcons had equalized. After another BGSU corner kick, Isabelle Gilmore put a ball into the box. Emma Stransky's flick-on sent the ball along, and it fell near the left goalpost, where Brynn Gardner knocked it home.
• Less than a minute after that, Emme Butera blasted a free kick on frame from distance, but LaPoint was able to make the stop.
• Stransky turnstiled a would-be defender and brought the ball along the end line. She slid a low cross into the box, but it was just out of reach of Hollar.
• Two minutes later, Stransky made another run, getting past a Central player and cutting the ball back. Lexi Czerwien knocked it into the net, but it was ruled that the ball had gone over the end line just before Stransky's pass.
• Central Michigan took the lead with just under four minutes to go, Against the run of play, a diagonal ball from the left side found the boot of the onrushing Lauren Walker, who hit a one-timer that proved to be the game winner with 3:49 remaining.
• BGSU had the ball in the CMU end for much of the remainder of the time, but could not find the equalizer, and the Chippewas came away with the victory.

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons had advantages in shot attempts (15-7), shots on goal (6-2) and corner kicks (4-2). BGSU had a 12-4 lead in second-half shots.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will close the home portion of the regular-season schedule on Thursday evening (Oct. 24). BGSU will face Eastern Michigan in a 7:00 p.m. start at Cochrane Stadium, and admission is free.

• Then, the Orange and Brown will wrap up regular-season play with back-to-back road trips to Northeast Ohio. BGSU will face Akron on Sunday, Oct. 27, before traveling to Kent State for a contest vs. the Golden Flashes on Thursday, Oct. 31.

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