Falcons Fall to Flashes, 2-1, Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, October 18

Kent, Ohio

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

6-3-5, 2-2-4

Kent State

4-8-3, 3-4-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Bowling Green	1	0	1
Kent St.	1	1	2

Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics

October 18, 2026 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Support BGSU WSOC

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

KENT, Ohio – Lila Simon's goal early in the second half lifted Kent State University to a 2-1 win over the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team Sunday afternoon (Oct. 18), in Mid-American Conference action at Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium.

Senior Ella Kane scored for the Falcons (6-3-5, 2-2-4 MAC), tying the game in the 18th minute after the hosts had opened the scoring just over five minutes in.

Abby Breitschuh had registered the first goal of the match for the Golden Flashes (4-8-3, 3-4-1 MAC), with a header after a Samantha Miller corner kick.

Kane and the Falcons equalized just over 12 minutes later. After a KSU goal kick, pressure by senior Lizzie Bultynck forced an errant pass by a defender, with senior Audrey Oliver stepping in front of another KSU player and knocking the ball ahead to Kane.

Kane received the pass just outside the top of the penalty area, won a challenge and slid a pass to junior Minah Syam on her right. Syam quickly slotted a return pass through a pair of defenders to an open Kane, who settled the ball with her left foot and quickly fired a shot with her right foot. Leah Shaffer had come off of her line to attempted to cut down the angle, but Kane put the ball past the lunging KSU goalkeeper and into the right side of the net.

But, just under nine minutes into the second half, the Flashes got the winner, as Simon headed home a right-side cross off the boot of Ali Weibel.

Junior Payton O'Malley made five saves in goal for the Falcons, while Shaffer had three stops for the Golden Flashes.

NOTEWORTHY
• Sophomore Olivia Schneider made her collegiate debut as well as her first collegiate start on Sunday. Schneider played 80 minutes against the Golden Flashes.
• Ella Kane's goal on Sunday was her second of the season, her fourth as a Falcon and the fifth of her collegiate career. Kane had one goal as a freshman at Kentucky in 2023, then scored twice last season in her first year with the Falcons.
• Minah Syam had her second assist of the season and the fourth of her BGSU career.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons return to Cochrane Stadium next weekend, hosting Buffalo on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 24). First touch is set for 1:00 p.m. first touch, and – as is always the case for BGSU home women's soccer action – admission is free.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will end the road portion of the regular-season schedule with a match against Miami on Thursday, Oct. 29. That contest starts at 7:00 p.m. at Bobby Kramig Field.

REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE (all times Eastern and p.m.)
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.