Bowling Green women’s soccer traveled to East Lansing on Sunday, for their season opening match against Michigan State.

The nationally ranked Spartans wasted no time, tallying two goals in the first 18 minutes of the match. Justina Gaynor and Kelly Severini each accounted for a first half goal while Zivana Labovic added to the Spartan lead in the 58th minute of the match to make it a 3-0 lead.

Bowling Green created some chances in the second half and freshman Lizzie Bultynck, from Troy, Michigan, scored her first collegiate goal.

The Falcons would fall to the Spartans by a 3-1 score, but there were plenty of positives for Bowling Green. Goalkeeper, Madison Vukas and Defender, Emilie Gardner both made their first collegiate starts. In additon to Gardner and Vukas making their starting lineup debuts, six freshman took the field for Bowling Green for the first time: Christine Erdman, Lizzie Bultynck, Audrey Oliver, Emma Stransky, Emme Butera, and Sammie King.

Next up, the Falcons will travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats on Thursday, August 24, kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. EST.