BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Brendan Graves and the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team kept a clean sheet on Saturday night (Oct. 12), as the Falcons battled Drake University to a scoreless draw. The Missouri Valley Conference match was held at Cochrane Stadium.

On Senior Night, Graves made three saves for the Falcons (9-2-2, 3-1-1 MVC). At the other end of the field, Tomas Bukovic made a pair of stops for the Bulldogs (6-3-3, 2-0-2 MVC).

The Falcons remain in second place in the MVC standings, three points behind league-leading Missouri State. BGSU travels to Springfield to face the Bears next weekend.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT
• For Brendan Graves, the shutout was his fourth of the season and the 15th of his BGSU career. He has moved into a tie for ninth place on the school's career shutouts list. Greg Murphy (1989-91) also kept 15 clean sheets in his BG career.

NOTES & NUMBERS
• The stats were very even on Saturday evening. DU had slight advantages of 9-8 in total shots and 4-2 in shots on goal, while BGSU had a 3-2 lead in corner kicks. Each team was whistled for 11 fouls – five in the first half and six in the second. 
 

Gallery: (10-12-2024) 101224 msoc v Drake - Drake Harlett

HIGHLIGHTS
• Neither team had a shot attempt for nearly 18 minutes at the start of the match, but the first one was a dangerous chance for the Bulldogs. After a cross from the left side, a header by Chase Wakefield was directed back across the goalmouth toward the far post. BGSU defender Kyle Cusimano blocked the ball away.
• Just over three minutes later, a long ball was played back to DU 'keeper Tomas Butkovic. Butkovic, stationed just outside the top of the 18-yard box, headed the ball, but did not strike it cleanly. Trace Terry quickly fired a shot out of the air, but his volley of the spinning ball went wide right.
• BG goalkeeper Brendan Graves made a save on a hard shot by Preston Kipnusu midway through the half.
• With 12 minutes to go in the second half, Erich Legut fired a hard shot after a corner kick for the visitors. Graves, however, was in perfect position to make the save.
• Just under six minutes remained when the Falcons took a corner kick. The ball was headed out of the penalty area, but Anthony Hernandez knocked it back into the area, finding Josh Erlandson. Erlandson quickly chested the ball down, turned and fired a hard shot on frame, but Butkovic made a diving save to deflect the ball wide of goal.
• BGSU took anover corner kick, and Butkovic was the first one to touch the curving kick. But, he did not catch the ball cleanly, and it took a bounce toward the net before he was able to collect it.
• BG has one final chance as the clock ticked down in the final minute of play. Kyle Blasingame put a ball into the box toward the onrushing Bennett Painter. Painter and a DU defender vied for the ball as Butkovic came off of his line, but as it bounced high into the air, a handball was called, and the Bulldogs were awarded a free kick. 

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will hit the road for the next two games, beginning with a contest vs. Missouri State next Sunday evening, Oct. 20. That match will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET.

• Then, the Orange and Brown will head to Evansville to face the Purple Aces on Friday, Oct. 25, before closing the home portion of the regular-season schedule on the following Friday (Nov. 1) vs. Western Michigan.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...
• For more information on the BGSU men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMSoccer), Instagram (bgfalcons and bgsumsoccer) and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.