BGSU women’s soccer (10-3-9, 4-1-7) season came to a close on Friday night at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, losing 1-0 to the Western Michigan Broncos (16-3-3, 10-1-1) in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship via a second-half goal from WMU’s Heidi Thomasma.
Bowling Green conceded with 30 minutes left to go in the contest, after a recycled corner-kick led to a left-footed cross from Drew Martin into the box that found the head of Thomasma to give the Broncos their second straight MAC Tournament title.
“I think we had a really good performance in general today, especially in the first half, I thought we were excellent,” said BGSU head coach Chris Fox postgame. ” Our game is just about moments, and Western [in] that moment, they scored off a corner as they’ve been doing all season long. We were prepared; it was just that second phase, it got us.”
The Falcons outshot the Broncos 6-4 on the night, with each side recording three shots on goal.
Bowling Green’s sixth-year forward Ellie Pool had an opportunity in the final minutes of the match to equalize, but couldn’t put the shot on target. Moments later, junior forward Emma Stransky nearly got on the end of a cross that was initially spilled from Western Michigan goalkeeper Reagan Sulaver.
Sophomore goalkeeper Payton O’Malley made two saves for the Orange and Brown while Sulaver had three stops.
Three Falcons earned All-MAC Tournament Team selections, which included O’Malley and juniors Taylor Green and Audrey Oliver.
Bowling Green finishes the 2025 season with the fewest in program history, only losing three times in 22 games.
Despite the championship loss, Fox and the Falcons are excited and looking towards the future of the program.
“We’re still a young group, we’re returning almost everybody next season,” said Fox. I think all of these opportunities and gains and things like this are all just experience, and for them a learning opportunity. I’m just excited about the future and what we’re building. We’ll be back.”
