Thursday, October 29
Oxford, Ohio
7 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
7-3-6, 3-2-5
2
at
2
Miami
8-6-4, 4-2-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Miami (OH) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Minah Syam (left) scored the tying goal, off of an Isabella Mazzaferro cross, in the 86th minute at Miami
Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics
October 29, 2026 | Women's Soccer
Falcons rally from a pair of deficits Thursday night
OXFORD, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team rallied from a pair of deficits, scoring late in each half en route to a 2-2 draw against Miami University on Thursday night (Oct. 29). The Mid-American Conference match was held at Bobby Kramig Field.
Senior Lizzie Bultynck scored for the second-straight match for the Falcons (7-3-6, 3-2-5 MAC), while junior Minah Syam also found the back of the net.
The RedHawks (8-6-4, 4-2-4 MAC) took the lead on an Averie Bierker goal in the 25th minute of the match, but Bultynck answered with just 1:16 remaining before halftime.
Then, after Kayla Perfect headed home a cross for the hosts just past the hour mark, Syam settled a right-side cross from senior Isabella Mazzaferro and perfectly placed a curving shot into the upper-right-hand corner of the net. Syam's goal came with just 4:27 remaining in the match.
BGSU had advantages of 10-5 in total shot attempts, 4-2 in shots on goal and 5-1 in corner kicks.
The draw, combined with Thursday's other results around the conference, leaves BGSU in seventh place in the MAC standings entering the final day of the regular season. The Falcons are one point shy of sixth-place Eastern Michigan, two points behind a trio of third-place teams and three points back of second-place Massachusetts.
BGSU hosts Ohio on Sunday (Nov. 1) at Cochrane Stadium, needing a result to keep the Falcons' chances for a MAC Tournament berth alive. Six teams will qualify for the league tourney.
Miami, as mentioned, took the lead with just over 24 minutes gone. MU's Katie O'Malley stole the ball deep in the BGSU end of the field, near the top of the 18-yard box. In all alone on BGSU goalkeeper Payton O'Malley, Katie O'Malley forced the BG 'keeper to commit, then slid a pass to Bierker, who put the ball into the vacated net.
But, with just 76 seconds remaining before halftime, Bultynck and the Falcons tied the score. Fifth-year Falcon Jayna Searles began the sequence, playing a ball to freshman Olivia McCuen down the right sideline in the Miami defensive end of the field. McCuen ran onto the ball and hit a low cross. A defender got a boot on the ball, but Bultnyck quickly fired a shot from approximately 12 yards out that found the right side of the net, just inside the post.
The RedHawks again took the lead, just past the hour mark. Millie Cook's right-side cross found the head of the onrushing Perfect, who put the ball back across the face of goal and into the right side of the net.
BGSU once again found the tying goal late in a half. With under five minutes to go, freshman Mia Ugarte played the ball out wide to Mazzaferro. The senior settled the ball, then put a cross into the penalty area. That cross bounced past a pair of players, one from each team, and found Syam near the 18-yard line.
Syam quickly settled the ball with her left foot and hit a shot with her right. The curving shot found the upper right corner of the net, with the 'postage-stamp' goal tying the score at 2-2.
NOTEWORTHY
• Senior Lizzie Bultnyck scored her third goal of the season, and her second goal in as many games. Bultnyck now has seven career goals at BGSU, tops among active players.
• Bultynck has six points this season to tie for third on the team, and she now has 18 career points on the seven goals and four assists.
• Junior Minah Syam scored her second goal, both this season and in her BGSU career, and is in second place on the Falcons with seven points in 2026. She now has nine career points after recording a pair of assists in '25.
• All seven of Syam's points this season have come in MAC matches. She leads the team in scoring in conference games.
• Senior Isabella Mazzaferro had an assist for the second-straight game. She now has six points this season, tying her with Syam for third on the team in scoring.
• Mazzaferro now has 13 points as a Falcon, with four goals and five assists. And, she has career totals of 12 assists and 38 points, including her two seasons at Niagara.
• Freshman Olivia McCuen picked up her second assist of the year in Thursday night's match. She now has four points this season, all coming in MAC play.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons will end the regular-season slate on Sunday (Nov. 1), hosting Ohio University at Cochrane Stadium. First touch is set for 1:00 p.m., and admission is free.
• When the smoke clears after Sunday's matches, the Falcons hope to be one of the six teams left standing when the MAC Tournament bracket is announced. The league tournament begins with quarterfinal-round matches on Saturday, Nov. 7. All MAC Tournament contests will be held at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus.
REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE (all times Eastern and p.m.)
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.
Senior Lizzie Bultynck scored for the second-straight match for the Falcons (7-3-6, 3-2-5 MAC), while junior Minah Syam also found the back of the net.
The RedHawks (8-6-4, 4-2-4 MAC) took the lead on an Averie Bierker goal in the 25th minute of the match, but Bultynck answered with just 1:16 remaining before halftime.
Then, after Kayla Perfect headed home a cross for the hosts just past the hour mark, Syam settled a right-side cross from senior Isabella Mazzaferro and perfectly placed a curving shot into the upper-right-hand corner of the net. Syam's goal came with just 4:27 remaining in the match.
BGSU had advantages of 10-5 in total shot attempts, 4-2 in shots on goal and 5-1 in corner kicks.
The draw, combined with Thursday's other results around the conference, leaves BGSU in seventh place in the MAC standings entering the final day of the regular season. The Falcons are one point shy of sixth-place Eastern Michigan, two points behind a trio of third-place teams and three points back of second-place Massachusetts.
BGSU hosts Ohio on Sunday (Nov. 1) at Cochrane Stadium, needing a result to keep the Falcons' chances for a MAC Tournament berth alive. Six teams will qualify for the league tourney.
Miami, as mentioned, took the lead with just over 24 minutes gone. MU's Katie O'Malley stole the ball deep in the BGSU end of the field, near the top of the 18-yard box. In all alone on BGSU goalkeeper Payton O'Malley, Katie O'Malley forced the BG 'keeper to commit, then slid a pass to Bierker, who put the ball into the vacated net.
But, with just 76 seconds remaining before halftime, Bultynck and the Falcons tied the score. Fifth-year Falcon Jayna Searles began the sequence, playing a ball to freshman Olivia McCuen down the right sideline in the Miami defensive end of the field. McCuen ran onto the ball and hit a low cross. A defender got a boot on the ball, but Bultnyck quickly fired a shot from approximately 12 yards out that found the right side of the net, just inside the post.
The RedHawks again took the lead, just past the hour mark. Millie Cook's right-side cross found the head of the onrushing Perfect, who put the ball back across the face of goal and into the right side of the net.
BGSU once again found the tying goal late in a half. With under five minutes to go, freshman Mia Ugarte played the ball out wide to Mazzaferro. The senior settled the ball, then put a cross into the penalty area. That cross bounced past a pair of players, one from each team, and found Syam near the 18-yard line.
Syam quickly settled the ball with her left foot and hit a shot with her right. The curving shot found the upper right corner of the net, with the 'postage-stamp' goal tying the score at 2-2.
Lizzie Bultynck tied the match at 1-1 late in the first half! #AyZiggy 🟠⚽️🟤 https://t.co/WQEyPlK3Gk
— BGSU Women's Soccer (@BGSU_WSoccer) October 30, 2026
Minah Syam's tying goal late in the second half! #AyZiggy 🟠⚽️🟤 https://t.co/Dn34r8oREc
— BGSU Women's Soccer (@BGSU_WSoccer) October 30, 2026
NOTEWORTHY
• Senior Lizzie Bultnyck scored her third goal of the season, and her second goal in as many games. Bultnyck now has seven career goals at BGSU, tops among active players.
• Bultynck has six points this season to tie for third on the team, and she now has 18 career points on the seven goals and four assists.
• Junior Minah Syam scored her second goal, both this season and in her BGSU career, and is in second place on the Falcons with seven points in 2026. She now has nine career points after recording a pair of assists in '25.
• All seven of Syam's points this season have come in MAC matches. She leads the team in scoring in conference games.
• Senior Isabella Mazzaferro had an assist for the second-straight game. She now has six points this season, tying her with Syam for third on the team in scoring.
• Mazzaferro now has 13 points as a Falcon, with four goals and five assists. And, she has career totals of 12 assists and 38 points, including her two seasons at Niagara.
• Freshman Olivia McCuen picked up her second assist of the year in Thursday night's match. She now has four points this season, all coming in MAC play.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons will end the regular-season slate on Sunday (Nov. 1), hosting Ohio University at Cochrane Stadium. First touch is set for 1:00 p.m., and admission is free.
• When the smoke clears after Sunday's matches, the Falcons hope to be one of the six teams left standing when the MAC Tournament bracket is announced. The league tournament begins with quarterfinal-round matches on Saturday, Nov. 7. All MAC Tournament contests will be held at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus.
REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE (all times Eastern and p.m.)
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.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's SoccerTeam Stats
BGU
MOH
Goals
2
2
Shots
10
5
Shots on Goal
4
2
Saves
0
2
Corners
5
1
Fouls
8
9
Scoring Plays
Averie Bierker (4)
Assisted By: Katie O'Malley
GOAL by MOH Bierker, Averie Assist by O'Malley, Katie.
24:23
Lizzie Bultynck (3)
Assisted By: Olivia McCuen
GOAL by BGU Bultynck, Lizzie Assist by McCuen, Olivia.
43:44
Kayla Perfect (6)
Assisted By: Millie Cook
GOAL by MOH Perfect, Kayla Assist by Cook, Millie.
60:23
Minah Syam (2)
Assisted By: Isabella Mazzaferro
GOAL by BGU Syam, Minah Assist by Mazzaferro, Isabella.
85:33
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Wednesday, October 28
Saturday, October 24
Saturday, October 24
Saturday, October 24