Battle of I-75 Ends in a 1-1 Draw Thursday Night

Thursday, October 15

Bowling Green, Ohio

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

6-2-5, 2-1-4

Toledo

5-4-5, 1-2-4

Team	1	2	Final F
Toledo	0	1	1
Bowling Green	0	1	1

Emme Butera | Goal v Toledo | Oct. 15, 2026 - 5491

Emme Butera (4) scored a world-class goal in Thursday night's "Battle of I-75"

Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics

October 15, 2026 | Women's Soccer

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Butera's Second-Half Banger is Part of a 24-Shot BGSU Barrage

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Senior Emme Butera scored a spectacular goal on a second-half free kick, as the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team battled the University of Toledo to a 1-1 draw Thursday night (Oct. 15). The latest 'Battle of I-75' was held at Cochrane Stadium.

The Falcons (6-2-5, 2-1-4 Mid-American Conference) held a 24-7 advantage in overall shot attempts, including a 16-5 lead in the second half. BGSU also had advantages of 10-4 in shots on goal and 7-2 in corner kicks.

But, only 45 seconds after Butera's banger, the Rockets (5-4-5, 1-2-4 MAC) got the equalizer, with Morgan Spitler scoring after a defensive giveaway.

Spitler's unassisted goal came at the 68:01 mark. Following that goal, the Falcons had a 7-2 advantage in shots over the remaining 21-plus minutes.

In the final 10 minutes of the match, BGSU had six shots, including three on goal, and four corner kicks, while the visitors had zero shots and zero corners.

Junior Payton O'Malley made three saves in goal for the Falcons, while Paige Dornheggen had nine stops for the Rockets.

The Falcons had an 8-2 lead in shots in a scoreless first half, with Dornheggen making four saves prior to the intermission. Arguably the best chance for either team came after a diagonal ball by fifth-year Falcon Jayna Searles with five minutes to go. Senior Gabby Lamparty got her head on that ball at the far post, but her shot was grabbed by the UT 'keeper.

Just past the hour mark, it was the Rockets who nearly broke the scoreless draw early in the second half. Gabby Anulare's shot from several yards beyond the top of the penalty area hit the top left corner of the goal, where the post meets the crossbar, and caromed away.

Five minutes later, however, the Falcons got on the board. Senior Lexi White was fouled by a UT defender while attempting to serve a ball into the box, and Butera took the ensuing free kick. From over 30 yards out, Butera blasted a shot that glanced off the bottom of the crossbar and went into the net. The spectacular strike came at the 67:16 mark.

But, 45 seconds later, Spitler took advantage of a BGSU miscue and tied the score. Spitler stole the ball just outside the top of the 18, took a dribble and fired a shot from approximately 15 yards out. O'Malley got her hand on the ball, but was unable to keep the wide-open shot from finding the upper half of the net.

The Falcons, as mentioned, dominated play over the final 10 minutes, but could not find the go-ahead goal. Among BG's six shots were a pair just seconds apart. After a BG corner kick, Lamparty got a head on the ball at the near post, with Dornheggen in position to make a point-blank save. Lamparty was first to the rebound and slid the ball back to junior Haley Wolf, but Wolf's hard shot from near the top of the 18 was grabbed by the UT 'keeper.

Kane led all players with six shot attempts – just one shy of the Rockets' team total – while Butera had four shots and freshman Olivia McCuen three.

What a banger by Bowling Green's Emme Butera tonight! @ESPNAssignDesk #SCtop10 #AyZiggy 🟠⚽️🟤 https://t.co/AnSx1CqOjX
— BGSU Women's Soccer (@BGSU_WSoccer) October 16, 2026

NOTEWORTHY
• BGSU tied a season high with 10 shots on goal, and the Falcons' total of 24 shot attempts was BG's second highest this season. BG had 25 total shots, including 10 on goal, against Detroit Mercy on Sept. 10.
• The Falcons' total of seven corner kicks was BG's second highest this season, trailing only that UDM match (nine).
• Senior Emme Butera's goal on Thursday night was her third of the season. She leads the Falcons in both goals and points (eight).
• The goal was the sixth of Butera's career, the most of any active Falcon. She also leads current team members in assists (10) and points (22).
• BGSU is now unbeaten in the last eight meetings with Toledo, having gone 5-0-3 since the Rockets' last win over BG back in 2017.
• Freshman Olivia McCuen made the first start of her young collegiate career. McCuen, who had come off the bench to see action in 11 of the first 12 matches of the season, played a career-high 64 minutes vs. the Rockets, and had three shot attempts including one on goal.
• Sophomore Mia Gatz was also in the starting lineup for the first time this season, and the second time in her collegiate career. Gatz, who had played a total of 61 minutes over four matches this season, was on the pitch for a career-high 40 minutes on Thursday night. She had two shot attempts, including one on frame.

Gallery: (10-15-2026) 101526 wsoc v Toledo - Drake Harlett

UP NEXT
• The Falcons head to Northeast Ohio on Sunday (Oct. 18), taking on Kent State in a 1:00 p.m. start.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will return to Cochrane Stadium to meet Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 24. That match is also set for a 1:00 p.m. first touch.

REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE (all times Eastern and p.m.)
Sun., Oct. 18 – at Kent State, 1:00
Sat., Oct. 24 – BUFFALO, 1:00
Thu., Oct. 29 – at Miami, 7:00
Sun., Nov. 1 – OHIO, 1:00

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.