Falcons Top UMass, 3-1; BGSU Punches Ticket for MAC Tournament

Wednesday, October 29

Amherst, Mass.

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

9-2-8, 4-1-7

Massachusetts

5-8-4, 3-6-2

Bowling Green

Massachusetts

Photo by: UMass Athletics

October 29, 2025 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)MAC Tourn. Bracket Support BGSU Women's Soccer

Falcons will face Buffalo in Saturday's quarterfinal round in Columbus

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

AMHERST, Mass. – The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team scored early in each half on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 29), and the Falcons went on to a 3-1 win over the University of Massachusetts in Mid-American Conference action at Rudd Field.

Junior Emma Stransky scored in the eighth minute for the Falcons (9-2-8, 4-1-7 MAC), who will be the sixth seed for the upcoming MAC Tournament. BGSU will face third-seeded Buffalo on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 1) at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.

Stransky's strike was the earliest goal in a game this season for the Falcons.

BGSU doubled the lead on an own goal just 79 seconds after halftime, and Lexi White put an exclamation point on the decision with a goal in the 71st minute.

The Minutewomen (5-8-4, 3-6-2 MAC) got on the scoreboard on a Caroline Dickson goal with just over 11 minutes left in the match.

BG had advantages of 15-10 in total shots, 7-5 in shots on goal and 9-2 in corner kicks. Payton O'Malley made four saves for the Orange and Brown, while Leah Nisenfeld had five stops for the hosts.

We will see you in Columbus on Saturday afternoon!#AyZiggy | 🟠⚽️🟤 pic.twitter.com/9gsWba1MTX
— BGSU Women's Soccer (@BGSU_WSoccer) October 29, 2025

NOTEWORTHY
• The Falcons remain undefeated on the road this season. BGSU is 4-0-4 in true road matches.
• Junior Emma Stransky now has team-leading totals of eight goals and 17 points on the season.
• BGSU has scored the first goal of a match seven times this season. Stransky has been the goal-scorer on six of those seven occasions.
• Stransky's goal on Wednesday, which came at the 7:34 mark, was the Falcons' earliest goal in a match this season. BGSU had not scored within the first 15 minutes of a game all season prior to the UMass contest.
• Stransky now has 36 points, including 15 goals, in her BGSU career. She is now 18th in school history in career points, and she is tied for 14th on the goals list.
• BGSU scored multiple goals in a match for the sixth time this season, but the first time in just over a month (since a 4-0 win over Central Michigan on Sept. 28).
• Junior Lexi White's goal was her second of the season, and also the second of her BGSU career. She found the back of the net in a 1-1 draw with Western Michigan on Sept. 21.
• Redshirt freshman Minah Syam picked up her third assist of the season on Stransky's goal, while redshirt sophomore Audrey Oliver recorded her first career assist on the goal by White (Oliver's high-school teammate). Oliver and White each now have five career points.

BIG PLAYS / THINGS THAT HAPPENED
• Just over a minute into the match, Quinn O'Neil nearly stole an errant backpass, but a defender was able to shield her from the ball, giving UMass goalkeeper Leah Nisenfeld a chance to pick it up before O'Neil could get a shot off.
• GOAL – The Falcons took the lead with just over seven minutes gone. Minah Syam took a pass from O'Neil and headed into the box with a defender on each side of her. Syam was nearly dispossessed, but as she fell to the ground, the redshirt freshman was able to knock the ball toward the right post, and Emma Stransky tapped it home from close range.
• With three minutes remaining in the first half, the Falcons successfully defended a UMass free kick in BG's defensive end of the pitch. After the Falcons cleared the ball, Lizzie Bultynck blocked a UMass pass near midfield. The junior headed toward goal with a defender matching her stride for stride, and hit a shot from distance that forced Nisenfeld into a diving stop, as the 'keeper was just able to tip the ball wide of the left post.
• GOAL – Just over one minute into the second half, the Falcons doubled the lead. Off of an Emme Butera corner kick, Gabby Lamparty headed the ball back across the goalmouth. Stransky headed a shot on frame that was blocked by a defender, and Taylor Green headed the rebound back toward goal. Nisenfeld made a dive to block that shot, but it then deflected off of a defender and crossed the goal line.
• In the 62nd minute, a nifty pass by Syam found Ellie Pool on the left side of the box. The sixth-year collegian hit a hard shot that was saved at the near post.
• Soon after, Macy Graves stole a pass and headed in on Payton O'Malley all alone, but her shot went just wide of the right post.
• GOAL – Lexi White and the Falcons added to the lead with 20 minutes to go. White took a pass from her former high-school teammate, Audrey Oliver, and perfectly slotted a shot into the far lower corner of the net to give BG a 3-0 advantage.
• GOAL – The hosts got on the board in the 79th minute. Off of a long free kick, Caroline Dickson headed the ball into the penalty area. Graves and a host of Falcons converged on the ball, with nearly everyone going to the ground. The ball rolled past the group, where Dickson ran onto it and fired a shot into the far corner of the net.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will be the sixth seed for the MAC Tournament, and BGSU will face third-seeded Buffalo on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 1). First touch is set for 1:00 p.m. at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.
• The BGSU-UB survivor will advance to face second-seeded Miami on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 4). That game will also begin at 1:00 p.m. at Historic Crew Stadium.
• The complete tournament schedule is listed below.

2025 MAC WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
(all times Eastern [ET]; all matches at Historic Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio)
QUARTERFINALS – Saturday, November 1
Game 1 – No. 3 Buffalo vs. No. 6 Bowlnig Green, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 2 – No. 4 Ball State vs. No. 5 Kent State, 4:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

SEMIFINALS – Tuesday, November 4
Game 3 – UB/BGSU Survivor vs. No. 2 Miami, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 4 – BSU/KSU Survivor vs. No. 1 Western Michigan, 4:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

FINAL – Friday, November 7
Game 5 – Semifinal Survivors, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

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.