Falcons Battle Bearcats to Scoreless Draw Sunday in Cincinnati

Sunday, August 23

Cincinnati, Ohio

4 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

2-0-1, 0-0-0

Cincinnati

1-1-1, 0-0-0

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

Minah Syam | Aug. 16, 2026, v Robert Morris

Photo by: Hailey Pettit-Mastroianni, BGSU Athletics

August 23, 2026 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BGSU is unbeaten after three matches for the first time in a quarter century

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University women's soccer team kept a clean sheet for the third time in as many matches this season, as the Falcons battled the University of Cincinnati to a scoreless draw on Sunday (Aug. 23). The non-conference match was held at Gettler Stadium.

The Falcons, now 2-0-1 on the season, are unbeaten after three matches for the first time in 25 years and only the third time in program history.

The Bearcats (1-1-1) had all three shot attempts in the game's first 45 minutes, including a shot by Lexi O'Shea that was cleared off of the goal line by senior captain Taylor Green with just under 10 minutes gone. With almost 20 minutes elapsed, Falcon junior goalkeeper Lexi Grundler made a leaping save, deflecting a Joy Kimwemwe shot off of the post before the BG defense cleared the ball away.

Early in the second half, the Falcons thought they had broken on top, as senior Ella Kane played a nifty through ball to classmate Lizzie Bultynck, who hit a shot from the right side of the 18-yard box that beat UC 'keeper Amber Brandon to the far post. However, the flag was raised indicating an offside call, and the decision was upheld after a video review.

BGSU went over 68 minutes without an official shot attempt, but the Falcons were on the front foot for much of the final 20-plus minutes of the match. Nifty work by Alexis Tsaprailis saw the junior keep possession of the ball near the end line, before her shot/cross was blocked out for a corner kick. Off of that corner, Green's header at the far post went just wide.

Several minutes later, Brandon was able to make a save on sophomore Quinn O'Neil, who was in on goal after a Tsaprailis pass. And, mere moments after that, the Falcons threatened again.

In the 76th minute, junior Minah Syam played senior Isabella Mazzaferro down the right side, and Mazzaferro put a cross into the box. O'Neil rose to meet the ball, but her header went over the bar.

The Bearcats were credited with narrow advantages of 5-4 in total shot attempts and 4-2 in shots on goal. Grundler and fellow junior Payton O'Malley combined for the shutout, with Grundler making one save in the first half and O'Malley stopping two shots after halftime.

BGSU had a 5-2 lead in corner kicks in the match.

NOTE OF THE DAY
• The Falcons, as mentioned, are undefeated after three matches for the first time in a quarter century, and only the second time in program history. The 2001 team also began the year at 2-0-1.
• That '01 club was unbeaten through the first five matches of the season, starting the year with a 3-0-2 mark that included wins over Green Bay, Samford and Ohio State and draws against Michigan State and Toledo.
• The 1998 team is the only squad in program history to start the year with a 3-0-0 mark, before losing to West Virginia in the fourth contest of the season.

ALSO NOTEWORTHY
• The Falcons have started the season with three consecutive shutouts for the first time in program history. The 2015, 2016 and 2020 teams each had two clean sheets to begin the season.
• The school record for consecutive shutouts (at any time of the season) is five, originally set in 2008 (Sept. 28-Oct. 12) and matched ten years later (Sept. 16-30, 2018).
• Cincinnati leads the Falcons, 4-1-3, in the all-time series, but the teams have now played back-to-back 0-0 draws. Last year's meeting at Cochrane Stadium Aug. 31, 2025) also failed to produce a goal.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons, after playing to a draw with a Big XII Conference opponent on Sunday, will host a Big Ten Conference foe next weekend. BGSU will face Michigan next Sunday (Aug. 30), with first touch set for 3:00 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium. Admission is free to all BGSU women's soccer home matches.

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.