Butera, Falcons Silence Chippewas Saturday Afternoon

Saturday, September 26

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

5-1-3, 1-0-2

Central Michigan

2-7-1, 0-3-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Bowling Green	0	1	1
Central Michigan	0	0	0

Emme Butera at Central Michigan | Sept. 26, 2026

Photo by: Julia Bice, CMU Athletics

September 26, 2026 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

BGSU holds CMU to just one total shot attempt in 1-0 road win

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Senior Emme Butera scored early in the second half, lifting the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Central Michigan University Saturday afternoon (Sept. 26), in Mid-American Conference action at the CMU Soccer Complex.

The Falcons (5-1-3, 1-0-2 MAC) dominated possession throughout virtually all 90 minutes on Saturday, and finally broke through in the 56th minute. Ella Kane beat a would-be defender down the right side, and the senior headed into the box and played a short cross. The ball was deflected to Butera, who deposited it into the upper half of the net for her first goal of the season and the fourth of her Falcon career.

The Chippewas (2-7-1, 0-3-0 MAC) won a corner kick in the first minute of the match, and soon after that corner, the hosts attempted a shot that was well off target. That would be CMU's only shot of the afternoon, as the BG defense held the Chippewas without a single attempt for the final 88-plus minutes.

For the match, BGSU had advantages of 17-1 in total shot attempts, 8-0 in shots on goal and 6-2 in corners. Jadia Kershaw made seven saves on the day to keep her side within a single goal, but as mentioned, the Falcon defense never let the hosts up off the mat (or the turf, in this case). Goalkeeper Payton O'Malley was not called upon to make a save in the shutout win.

Butera and Isabella Mazzaferro each had three shots on goal in the match, with Mazzaferro leading all players with four total shot attempts. O'Malley, Butera and defenders Taylor Green, Gabby Lamparty, Jayna Searles and Haley Wolf each played all 90 minutes on Saturday.

Here's Emme Butera's game-winning goal this afternoon at CMU...#AyZiggy 🟠⚽️🟤 pic.twitter.com/311QEm7dfL
— BGSU Women's Soccer (@BGSU_WSoccer) September 27, 2026

NOTEWORTHY
• The Falcons extended several impressive streaks on Saturday. BGSU was the only NCAA Division-I program in the nation to go the entire 2025 season without ever allowing more than one goal in a match. BG's streak – the longest in the nation – is now at 32 games. The last time the Falcons allowed multiple goals in a match came in the final 2024 regular-season contest, at Kent State (a 4-2 loss on Oct. 31, 2024).
• And, BGSU is now unbeaten in the last 13 road matches (7-0-6). The Falcons, 3-0-2 on the road this season, have not lost a true road game since a 1-0 setback at Ohio in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 MAC Tournament (Nov. 3, 2024).
• Senior Emme Butera's goal, as mentioned, was her first of the season and the fourth of her career. She now has 18 points, tops among all active Falcons.
• For Butera, Saturday's game-winning goal was the first of her career.
• BGSU has nine goals on the season, and they have been scored by eight different players. Only Taylor Green has scored multiple goals on the year.
• Butera is now tied with Green for the team points lead, as both fourth-year Falcons have four points this fall.
• The Falcons have kept six clean sheets in nine matches this season. BGSU has a team goals-against average of just 0.33.
• Payton O'Malley, who has played in eight of those nine matches, has a GAA of just 0.40 this season. She now has 14 career complete-match shutouts, and has lowered her career GAA to 0.78.
• BGSU trails the all-time series with Central Michigan, 15-14-2, but the Falcons have won nine of the last 10 meetings. BG has captured four of the last five matches vs. the Chippewas in Mount Pleasant.

Gallery: (9-26-2026) 092626 wsoc at CMU - Julia Bice

UP NEXT
• The Falcons return home to begin the month of October. BGSU will face the league-leading University of Massachusetts on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 1). First touch is set for 3:00 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium, and admission is free. UMass is 9-1-0 overall and a perfect 3-0-0 in the MAC.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will return to Michigan next weekend, facing defending conference champion Western Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 4. That match will begin at 1:00 p.m.

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.