The Bowling Green men’s soccer team won for the first time in exactly one year Friday as they defeated Michigan 2-0 at Mickey Cochrane Stadium.

That’s right Friday’s win coincidentally came on the one-year anniversary of the team’s last victory, when the Falcons topped Defiance in their final exhibition match Aug. 26, 2004.

The regular season, however, didn’t turn out the way they had expected.

The Falcons had a 2-0 preseason record but crumbled when the games counted, finishing with a 0-18 record in the regular season.

This year, BG coach Fred Thompson hopes his team will enter the season more humble, more focused, and mostly, more improved.

Thompson didn’t quite expect to see his team play this well against such an elite opponent like they did Friday.

BG’s victory came against a formidable Michigan team which was ranked 23rd in the nation last year.

Freshman Kyle Williams put the Falcons ahead, 1-0, when he scored off of a Justin Kim assist with 13 minutes to go in the first half. Williams’ header gave the Falcons considerable momentum heading into intermission.

BG’s defense was able to hold the Wolverines throughout the game despite being out-shot by a near 2 to 1 margin. David Belfort’s goal in the final two minutes of the game sealed the victory for the Falcons.

Three Falcon goalies split time in shielding one of the nation’s top offenses from last year. Brandon Decker started the match in goal, followed by Paul Shoemaker, and Brent Petkus, each playing 30 minutes respectively.

Thompson was elated at his team’s effort Friday.

‘We came out and had a great team effort,’ he said. ‘All the guys came out and worked together and we got it done in sync on both offense and defense.’

‘My back four was solid, and provided the cushion our offense needed to get the scores we needed,’ Thompson continued.

Midfielders Kim and George Davis, also a freshman, drew praise from Thompson for their significant contributions to the team’s success against the Wolverines.

‘They’re freshmen and it amazes me that they are already becoming contributors this early and leaders on the team,’ Thompson said. ‘I was very impressed, and they proved that they can play at the college level against a hard opponent.’

With the first victory of the 2005 campaign in the books, the Falcons will begin their regular season with six consecutive road games.

And Thompson certainly doesn’t want a repeat of what happened after last season’s exhibition slate. The Falcons will travel to Green Bay, Wisc. this weekend for games against Sacred Heart at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Eastern Illinois at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

‘Though as good of a victory as it was, we have to show we can compete on a consistent basis in the regular season,’ he said. ‘Hopefully, we will be even better as a team on Saturday, and we will get results as we become better together.’