BGSU men’s soccer (6-1-1, 2-0-0) defeated the Bradley Braves (3-5-1, 0-2-0) 2-1 in their second Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) game in Peoria, Illinois.

No. 24 Bowling Green’s first shot on goal came just nine minutes into the game by senior midfielder Alberto Anaya, but Bradley’s junior goalkeeper, Drew Berry, saved it by diving down to get it.

In the 15th minute, a pass from sophomore forward Bennett Painter toward Bradley’s goal was intercepted and saved by Berry, causing him to get injured, and was substituted from the game. In came senior goalkeeper Alex Grow for the Braves.

The Falcons scored their first goal in the 21st minute, making it 1-0. Junior forward Trace Terry headed the ball in from a pass coming from the midfield. The Braves defender, Ethan Beauman-Ansah, tried to save it off the goal line, but the ball went over before he could make the clearance.

The game started to look even better for Bowling Green as Bradley would go down to 10 men in the 29th minute as the Braves’ Claudel Ngongang received a red card. Ngongang elbowed Bowling Green fifth-year captain Kyle Cusimano in the eye, causing him to bleed down his face. This is the second red card given to a Bradley player this season.

The Braves, down with this disadvantage, still had no shots on goal until the last five minutes of the first half, when sophomore defender Gus Peacock saved the Braves’ first shot on goal. Keepin’ the scoreline 1-0 in favor of the Falcons going into halftime.

Starting the second half, in the 59th minute, the game began to look up for the Bradley Braves. Sophomore forward DJ Koulai was fouled was committed by Peacock, resulting in the Braves getting a penalty kick. Senior forward Kevin Mejias took the penalty kick, slotting it to the bottom left of the goal, tying the game 1-1.

Bowling Green continued to take shots on Bradley, trying to get the score to 2-1. In the 62nd minute, Terry shot, but it was saved by Grow. At this point in the match, both sides are making many late pushes to get a goal, and fouls continue to be called.

With five minutes left in the game, the Falcons found the game-winner. In the 86th minute, Terry gets on the end of a cross from junior midfielder Andrew Shaffer, leaving the Falcons up 2-1.

As the game moved into its final stages, and the Falcons were up with the lead, the Braves tried to tie it up again, but the Falcons held on for the victory.

With the win, Bowling Green extends their unbeaten run to four games, with three wins and one tie, and moves to 2-0-0 in MVC play.

Up Next, the Falcons return to play at Cochrane Stadium against Eastern Illinois on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Cochrane Stadium.