Bowling Green women’s soccer (1-0-0) goes on the road for the first time this season, facing the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (1-1-0) on Thursday, Aug. 20, at Oakland Soccer Field in Rochester, Michigan. 

The Falcons began their season at Cochrane Stadium on Sunday with a 2-0 win over the Robert Morris Colonials, highlighted by goals from Isabella Mazzaferro and team captain Taylor Green. 

The Golden Grizzlies have already played two games this season, beating Mercyhurst University 3-0 in their season opener and losing to the Akron Zips 3-0 on Sunday, August 16. 

Bowling Green faced off against Oakland in their home opener last season, taking the victory 1-0 at Cochrane Stadium courtesy of a goal from now-senior forward Ella Kane.  

Scouting Bowling Green 

The Falcons started their season off on Sunday, August 16, beating Robert Morris 2-0 in front of a large crowd at Cochrane Stadium and securing their sixth straight home-opening win. 

Head coach Chris Fox rotated deep into his bench during the game, featuring 19 different Falcons on the pitch. Notably, freshmen Olivia McCuen and Mia Ugarte earned their first collegiate appearances. 

Mazzaferro and Green found the net for the Falcons, giving them their first goals and points for the year, respectively. For Green, it was only her second goal of her career. 

Besides the goalscorers, the offensive pressure was visible for the Falcons as they recorded 15 shot attempts with seven on-goal. However, they didn’t score until the 75th minute. 

This will be Bowling Green’s second non-conference matchup of the year. They have four more remaining before Mid-American Conference (MAC) play, facing Cincinnati, Michigan, Kentucky, and Detroit Mercy in the coming weeks. 

Scouting Oakland 

The Golden Grizzlies have been on the road to start the season, beating Mercyhurst University 3-0 in their first game in Erie, Pennsylvania, before losing 3-0 against Akron in Akron, Ohio. 

In the loss against Akron, there was an hour-long weather delay in the 22nd minute that halted play. After the break, Akron came out and scored two quick goals in the 33rd and 42nd minutes, giving them the leg up on the Golden Grizzlies. 

The Oakland keeper, Norah Schmidt, made nine saves for the Gold and Black, keeping them within reach before Akron scored an insurance goal in the 77th minute.

Last season, Oakland finished sixth in the Horizon League with an overall record of 4-8-8 and a conference record of 2-2-6. The Golden Grizzlies have five more non-conference games before Horizon League play, three of those coming against MAC teams.

Falcon Four Players to Watch 

Taylor Green (Bowling Green – Defender, No. 22) 

The senior defender and team captain scored her first goal of the season off a set-piece in the team’s home opener against Robert Morris.

Challenged to score more goals this season by head coach Chris Fox, Green has already tied her career high for goals in a season and looks to add to that total.  

Ella Kane (Bowling Green – Forward, No. 13) 

The forward had multiple great opportunities in 55 minutes during the home-opening win against Robert Morris. 

Last season, Kane produced two goals and two assists for the Falcons – now she looks to get on the scoresheet for the first time this season. 

Brae Cole (Oakland – Defender/Midfielder, No. 25) 

The Golden Grizzlies’ leading scorer last year, the fifth-year senior has failed to get on the scoresheet throughout the first two matches of this young season. 

Kept out of the lineup last match against Akron, Cole is looking to get back into the starting lineup and find her form for the rest of the season. 

Lily Boebel (Oakland – Defender/Midfielder, No. 29) 

The Medina, Ohio, native originally played her collegiate soccer at BGSU before transferring to Oakland before her junior year. 

Last season, Boebel only appeared in seven matches off the bench for the Falcons. This year, with Oakland, she has already picked up four shots on goal in 149 minutes, earning starts in her first two matches.