BGSU women’s soccer (2-1-0) earned its second win of the season, taking down Cleveland State Vikings (1-2-0) by a final score of 2-1 to conclude its three-game home stand to start the 2025 season.
Bowling Green’s junior forward Emma Stransky and junior defender Gabby Lamparty found their way on the boxscore for the Orange and Brown; the two goals were enough to defeat Cleveland State and earn their second win.
Both teams battled for possession in the opening quarter-hour, each struggling to create early opportunities.
The first big chance in the first half came for Cleveland State in the 19th minute, with Tanji Sarver forcing sophomore goalkeeper Payton O’Malley to make her first save of the match.
Bowling Green found the opening goal from a cross by junior forward Ella Kane that found the head of Stranksy, who redirected off CSU’s Elise Boyd into the back of the net.
Junior midfielder Emme Butera nearly got herself on the scoresheet with a shot that sailed just over the crossbar. Just a few minutes later, sophomore Lauren Mahoney took a left-footed shot that curled right into the hands of former Falcon goalkeeper Hayleigh Lewis for her second save.
The Falcons’ second goal came off a corner kick from Butera that found the head of Lamparty, who rose above everybody in the penalty box to make it 2-0 Bowling Green.
Midway through the second half, Kane put in a cross inside the six-yard box for freshman Mia Gatz, whose header just went over the bar.
Cleveland State pulled one back in the 72nd minute from a ball off a free-kick that was clear only to the top of the 18, which was smashed into the back of the net by senior midfielder Mayra Sesmas.
In the 80’s, the Falcons went direct, with a long-ball finding Stranksy who made a run on the left-wing and almost snuck a shot by Lewis, but she was able to push the ball out for a BG corner.
The Vikings, in search of an equalizer in the 87th minute, had another free-kick that was delivered to four Viking players to the back-post, but the ball was covered up by O’Malley.
Bowling Green will now open the road portion of their schedule, taking on Detroit Mercy on Thursday, Aug. 28, with kick-off at 7:00 p.m.
