They always say, ‘There’s a first time for everything,’ and the BGSU men’s soccer (9-4-2, 3-3-1) team has a chance to become the first team to beat the No. 14 ranked Western Michigan Broncos (10-0-6, 2-0-4) this season, in their regular-season home finale at Cochrane Stadium.
These two programs have met 57 times, dating back to 1971. The Falcons have battled the Broncos many times in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play over the year. Friday night will mark the second-ever Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) matchup between them.
Bowling Green has not beaten Western Michigan in a decade. If BG wins against WMU, it’ll be the first time since Nov. 1, 2014. Despite the recent stretch, the Orange and Brown lead the all-time series 28-23-6. Last season, the Broncos defeated the Falcons 1-0 in Kalamazoo.
BOWLING GREEN
After starting MVC play 3-0, the Falcons find themselves winless in their last four conference games and are coming off a disappointing 1-0 loss to Evansville on the road.
The Falcons currently sit in fifth place in The Valley, tied with Western Michigan on 10 points. A win is needed on Friday, and possibly some help for the Orange and Brown to hold a top-four spot in the MVC and to host a home tournament game.
Bowling Green are unbeaten at home this season with six wins and one draw. It’s no secret that Orange and Brown have had a tough stretch to close out the season, but now, to get into the top four of the MVC, BG needs to beat a program that has given them a lot of trouble in the past.
A win against the 14th-ranked team in the country would be arguably the biggest win for the Falcons since their 2021 NCAA Tournament victory over Louisville.
Could we be in store for another historic win?
We’re about to find out.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Broncos have not lost a regular-season game in 37 matches. Want me to say that again?
Western Michigan has not suffered a defeat since their deep NCAA Tournament run last season, losing in a penalty kick shootout 4-2 to Notre Dame. Their last regular season loss was on Oct. 13, 2022, losing 1-0 to Akron.
Head coach Chad Wiseman has had back-to-back historic seasons coaching the Broncos and is now looking to make it a third.
Western Michigan has scored the most goals in the MVC with 37 on the year and has only conceded 11 goals, which is also tied for best in the Valley.
Coming off a 0-0 draw against Bradley, the Broncos will also look to put their stamp on the game early and come away with three big points.
FALCON FOUR PLAYERS TO WATCH
Forward #21 – Trace Terry, Bowling Green
Big games call for big moments. Terry is coming back after missing Evansville due to a red card suspension. His role on set-pieces and hold-up play will be critical for the Falcons if they want to come away with a shock win.
Goalkeeper #33 – Brendan Graves, Bowling Green
Against an elite attack like Western Michigan, Graves will need to come up with key saves to help lead the Falcons to victory. In what could be his last game at Cochrane Stadium, the Perrysburg native will need another big performance in front of the home fans.
Midfielder #3 – Owen Smith, Western Michigan
Smith came to Kalamazoo after spending four seasons at Oakland University, he currently leads the nation in assists with 13 and has three goals on the year as well. He is one of the best chance creators in the nation, certainly someone to keep an eye on for the Broncos.
Midfielder #27 – Carson Hodgson, Western Michigan
Hodgson is another dynamic midfielder for the Broncos, who has six goals and five assists on the year. A hard-working player, Hodgson’s engine is going to be key for Western Michigan against the Orange and Brown.
