Broncos Get Past Falcons, 1-0, in MAC Tournament Final

Friday, November 7

Columbus, Ohio

7:30 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

10-3-9, 4-1-7

Western Michigan (Final)

16-3-1, 10-1-1

Bowling Green

Western Mich.

November 07, 2025 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Final Stats (PDF)Support BGSU Women's Soccer Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

BGSU concludes season with fewest losses in program history

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Western Michigan University scored with just over 30 minutes to go Friday evening (Nov. 7), and the Broncos captured the Mid-American Conference Tournament title with a 1-0 win over the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team at Historic Crew Stadium. The top-seeded Broncos (16-3-1 [10-1-1 MAC]) captured the league tourney title for the second-straight season.

The Falcons (10-3-9 [4-1-7 MAC]), the sixth seed for the six-team tournament, lost for just the third time in 22 matches this season.

BGSU had a 6-4 advantage in shot attempts, with each team putting three shots on goal. Reagan Sulaver made three saves for the Broncos, while sophomore Payton O'Malley had two stops for the Falcons.

With 30:03 remaining in the second half, the Broncos' Heidi Thomasma headed home a short cross from Drew Martin for what would prove to be the winning goal.

O'Malley and juniors Taylor Green and Audrey Oliver were named to the MAC's All-Tournament Team.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT
• The Falcons, as mentioned, finished the season with an overall record of 10-3-9. BGSU's total of three losses is the fewest in a full season in program history (The 2020-21 team went 6-1-1 during a season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

ALSO HIGHLY NOTEWORTHY
• The Falcons allowed a total of only 13 goals in 2025, another school record-low (other than the COVID-19 shortened season). BGSU did not allow more than one goal in any of this season's 22 matches.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• In the ninth minute, Taylor Green cleared a ball out of BG's end, with nearly all 20 field players clustered around midfield. The ball was played into space, and Ellie Pool ran onto it and hit a shot that went just wide of the far post
• With three minutes remaining before halftime, Audrey Oliver's pass found Lexi White on the left side of the box. White put a shot toward goal, but it was grabbed by Reagan Sulaver.
• Three seconds shy of the hour mark, the Broncos got on the board. After a WMU corner kick was headed back toward the corner, Drew Martin played the ball back into the center of the box, where Heidi Thomasma headed it home.
• In the 87th minute, Pool won a ball from a Bronco defender and Sulaver in the box, but her shot went just over the crossbar.
• With just over a minute to go, Ella Kane hit a hard, low cross/shot into the box. Sulaver made a diving effort to block the ball, but gave up a rebound. But, with Emma Stransky in the area, the Broncos were able to clear the ball away.

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. 6 Bowling Green 1, No. 3 Buffalo 0 (2-OT)
Game 2 – No. 4 Ball State 0, No. 5 Kent State 0 (2-OT) (BSU 5-4 via PKS)

SEMIFINALS – Tuesday, November 4
Game 3 – Bowling Green 0, No. 2 Miami 0 (2-OT) (BGSU 4-3 via PKs)
Game 4 – No. 1 Western Michigan 1, Ball State 0

FINAL – Friday, November 7
Game 5 – Western Michigan 1, Bowling Green 0

MAC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Addie Chester, Ball State
Kate Pallante, Ball State
Payton O'Malley, Bowling Green
Audrey Oliver, Bowling Green
Taylor Green, Bowling Green
Dominque Popa, Miami
Shae Taylor, Miami
Drew Martin, Western Michigan
Meredith Vance, Western Michigan
Heidi Thomasma, Western Michigan (Tournament MVP)
Ava Beckett, Western Michigan

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.