DETROIT, Mich. – The Bowling Green University women's soccer team, trailing at the half, exploded for four second-half goals to post a 4-1 win over the University of Detroit Mercy on Thursday night (Aug. 28). The non-conference match was held at Titan Field.

Ellie Pool scored a pair of goals, including what would prove to be the game winner, while Isabella Mazzaferro and Emma Stransky each found the back of the net as well.

Payton O'Malley had one save in goal as the Falcons moved to 3-1-0 on the season.

BGSU had advantages of 16-3 in total shot attempts, 7-2 in shots on goal and 9-1 in corner kicks in the win.
 

NOTE OF THE NIGHT: POOL PARTY
• Ellie Pool, as mentioned, had a pair of goals in Thursday night's win. For the sixth-year collegian, it was just the latest round of success vs. the Titans. She has played against UDM four times in her career, and has scored five goals and 11 points in those four games. She has had a total of 17 shot attempts in the four matches -- all wins. Let's break it down, game by game...

"ALWAYS, ALWAYS, WE REMEMBER (ELLIE POOL'S SUCCESS AGAINST) THE TITANS" 
Season  Result Shots-SOG  G-A=Pts. Notes                             
2021*   W 6-1     5-3     2-1=5    Had the game-winning assist       
2022    W 1-0     4-1     0-0=0                                      
2023    W 2-1     1-1     1-0=2    Had the game-winning goal         
2024    W 3-1     (Did not play -- injured)                          
2025    W 4-1     7-3     2-0=4    Had the game-winning goal         
* while at Toledo                                                    

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Titans took the lead with just over a half hour gone. Abbey Lodato stole the ball in the BGSU end of the field and hit a shot from distance. That shot, from the right side, found the lower-left corner of the goal, caroming off the post and into the net.
• The hosts took that lead into the half, but BGSU had a 12-1 advantage in shots in the second stanza, scoring on four of those 12 shots.
• The Falcons tied the match at the 52:20 mark, with three juniors combining for the goal. Michelle Hochstadt's corner kick found Gabby Lamparty in the goalmouth. Lamparty knocked the ball back across the six-yard box to Isabella Mazzaferro, who was stationed near the left post. Mazzaferro knocked the ball past UDM 'keeper Chantelle Symes for the first goal of her BGSU career.
• Just over eight minutes later, the Falcons took the lead for good. Payton O'Malley's outlet pass found Emme Butera, and the junior played a long ball ahead to Ellie Pool on the left side of the field. Pool let the ball bounce once on the turf, then chipped a shot over Symes and into the far side of the net. That goal would prove to be the winner.
• With just under 11 minutes remaining, Emma Stransky gave the Falcons a two-goal lead. The junior hit a turnaround shot from the top of the 18-yard box. Symes was able to get her fingertips on the ball, but was unable to keep it from finding the upper portion of the net.
• Pool was arguably the most dangerous player on the field for most of the night, as the sixth-year collegian fired seven shots – more than double UDM's team total. She put an exclamation point on the Falcons' win with a goal in the final minute of play. Ella Kane crossed the ball from the right side, and Stransky hit a shot that was blocked, but Pool cleaned up the rebound, knocking it into the back of the net for her second goal of the evening.

NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons scored four goals for the first time in nearly two years, since a 5-1 victory over Central Michigan at Cochrane Stadium on Oct. 19, 2023.
• Thursday marked the first time the Falcons scored at least four goals on the road in nearly three seasons, since a 7-1 victory at Eastern Michigan on Oct. 23, 2022.
• Ellie Pool's game-winning goal was her fourth as a Falcon, and her second against Detroit Mercy. She also scored the winner in BGSU's last trip to the Motor City, a 2-1 victory two years ago (Aug. 31, 2023).
• Emme Butera now has four career assists, and all four have come on game-winning goals. Butera has eight career points at BGSU.
• Pool's multi-goal game was her first as a Falcon.
• It was the first two-goal game by a BGSU player since ... the Falcons' last match with UDM. Last season, Lauren Mahoney had a brace in a 3-1 BG victory over the Titans at Cochrane Stadium (Aug. 15, 2024).
• Pool now has eight goals and 21 points as a Falcon. A transfer from Toledo, she has 16 goals and 43 points in 60 career matches.
• Isabella Mazzaferro's goal on Thursday was her first as a Falcon and the 10th of her collegiate career. The transfer from Niagara has 28 career points in 39 matches.
• Michelle Hochstadt now has seven assists at BGSU, tops among active Falcons.
• Emma Stransky scored a goal for the second consecutive match. She now has nine goals and 23 points in her BGSU career.
• The Falcons are now 3-0-0 against Horizon League schools this season.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons return home for a Sunday (Aug. 31) matchup vs. Cincinnati. First touch is set for 1:00 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium, and admission is free.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...
• For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer) and Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer), as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.