BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Lexi Czerwien scored five minutes into the second half for Bowling Green, with what would prove to be the game-winning goal, as the Falcons claimed a 2-1 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 5) at Cochrane Stadium. 

NIU and Bowling Green went into halftime tied at one after Isabel Struble (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Mount Pleasant) scored for the Huskies with nine seconds left before the intermission. 

"Obviously, disappointed with the result," said NIU head coach Michael O'Neill. "We worked all week to try to get back to winning ways, so this is a difficult way to be leaving Ohio. In terms of the run of the game, I felt like we started really well in the first 20-25 minutes. We were on the front-foot, created some really good chances and got in some good areas but lacked a little bit of quality and composure to capitalize in those moments. 

"The second half was more even, I thought both teams pressed on. One ball in the box and (Bowling Green) gets the second goal early (in the half). We created enough chances but right now there is a bit of a mental block in front of goal. We are trying our hardest to figure it out, but unfortunately, its between the ears and those are the fine margins and things are not falling our way unfortunately."

NIU (6-4-3, 0-3-2 MAC) started the contest brightly and Alyssa Stephenson (Oakville, Ontario) had a chance to open the scoring in the second minute after creating a turnover and forcing a save by Bowling Green goalkeeper Payton O'Malley from a tight angle. 

In the 21st minute, Kelsi McLaughlin (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) went on a mazy run from midfield into the box before having a chance saved by O'Malley. 

Reegan Kingpavong (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring just past the half-hour mark as Jordyn Saddler (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper) floated a cross into the box. The ball ping-ponged into the feet of Kingpavong near the penalty spot but O'Malley did well to get down low to her left to make the save. 

Bowling Green (6-3-2, 3-1-1 MAC) broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute as Emma Stransky got the slightest of touches on a ball floated into the box and it was just enough to redirect it into the net, giving the home side a 1-0 advantage. 

Seconds before halftime, the Huskies were level on Struble's second goal of the season. A free kick from near midfield was flicked on by a pair of Huskies as Katie Bennett (Liverpool, England/Carmel Sixth Form) had the first touch before Aubrey Robertson nodded it into the path of Struble who slotted past O'Malley from the top of the six-yard box to pull NIU level at the interval. 

The Falcons went back in front in the 50th minute. Bowling Green's Lilly Boebel lofted a ball into the six-yard box where NIU goalkeeper Ary Purifoy (Machesney, Park, Ill./Harlem) and Bowling Green's Brynn Gardner collided going for the ball. The referee allowed play to continue and Lexi Czerwien tapped the ball into an open net to put Bowling Green back in front, 2-1. 

NIU was right back on the front-foot following the goal as Abby Zipse (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) skimmed the top of the crossbar just 30 seconds after the Falcon goal. 

The visitors continued to press for an equalizer as McLaughlin played a back heel into the path of Tyra King (Menifee, Calif./Metea Valley) in the 82nd minute, but King fired her shot into the side-netting as Bowling Green claimed the victory. 

NIU will return to action on Thursday, Oct. 10, as the Huskies host Kent State. Kickoff against the Golden Flashes is scheduled for 1 p.m.