BOWLING GREEN, OHIO - The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team bounced back from a tough loss with a convincing 3-1 victory over Bradley on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Mickey Cochrane Stadium, which was packed with enthusiastic fans cheering on their team.
The Falcons, currently ranked outside the top ten but showing promising form, improved their record to 5-6-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play, snapping a two-game winless streak with their first league victory. Nokkvi Hjorvarsson broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, giving BGSU a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. The goal was a testament to the team's growing confidence and cohesion.
Bradley, struggling with a 2-5-5 record and 0-2-1 in conference, pushed hard to equalize in the second half. However, the Falcons' defense held strong, and Trace Terry doubled the lead in the 62nd minute, assisted by Ryko Bodurov. The Bradley visitors were not giving up, but BGSU's goalkeeper made several crucial saves to keep his team ahead. By the 70th minute, Terry had struck again, this time without an assist, to make it 3-0. The Falcons were in control now, outshooting Bradley 23-16 and earning six corner kicks to their opponents' five.
Bradley's persistence finally paid off in the 81st minute when Bennett Painter scored, assisted by Ryko Bodurov and Trace Terry - an unusual turn of events as both Bodurov and Terry were involved in the play, though Terry's involvement was more of a precursor to the actual assist from Bodurov. Despite the late goal, the damage was done, and BGSU held on for the win. The final score read 3-1 in favor of the Falcons, who were buoyed by a lively crowd that added to the electric atmosphere at Cochrane Stadium.
The match statistics told the story of a closely contested game that BGSU ultimately controlled. The Falcons outshot Bradley 23-16 and had 11 shots on goal compared to Bradley's 5. BGSU's efficiency in front of goal was impressive, converting three goals from their 23 attempts. Bradley, on the other hand, made their chances count to some extent, scoring once from five shots on target out of 16 total shots. The yellow cards were evenly distributed, with both teams receiving two cautions each.
For BGSU, the victory marked their first win in the current conference season, and it came at a crucial time, boosting their morale and confidence. With this win, they end their current streak at W1. Their next challenge is Drake, a team that will undoubtedly test their resolve and defensive capabilities. The Falcons will need to maintain their form and build on this momentum if they are to achieve their season goals.
Bradley, on the other hand, will look to regroup and bounce back against UCF. Their current losing streak now stands at L1, and they will be keen to get back to winning ways. The loss to BGSU was a hard one, but it highlighted areas where they need to improve, particularly in defense and converting chances into goals.
The win was a statement from BGSU, showing that they are capable of putting together a strong performance when it matters. As they prepare for Drake, they will be looking to build on this victory and continue their upward trajectory. With players like Nokkvi Hjorvarsson and Trace Terry leading the charge, the Falcons have the talent and the drive to make a push for a successful season.