Leon Scores First Career Goal in U-M's Setback at Bowling Green

Monday, September 4

Bowling Green, Ohio

3:00 PM

Michigan

1-1-2, 0-0-0

Bowling Green

2-1-1, 0-0-0

Michigan

Bowling Green

Michael Leon (Michigan Photography)

Leon Scores First Career Goal in U-M's Setback at Bowling Green

9/4/2023 5:53:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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By: Megan McIntosh

» Michigan suffered its first loss of the 2023 season in a 2-1 setback at Bowling Green.
» Michael Leon scored his first collegiate goal in the effort with a score at the 52-minute mark.
» The Wolverines outshot Bowling Green 14-10 with six shots on goal.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The University of Michigan men's soccer team took its first loss of the 2023 season as it fell to Bowling Green State University 2-1 on Monday (Sept. 4) at Cochrane Stadium.

Michigan (1-1-2) chased the lead twice and was unable to come away victorious despite some late shots in the second half of the contest. Junior Michael Leon scored his first collegiate goal in the second half of action off a long pass from Hayden Evans for the lone goal of the day for the Wolverines.

As a team, U-M outshot BGSU 14 shots to 10 and had six shots on goal with Duilio Herrera putting two shots on frame for the Maize and Blue.

The Falcons (2-1-1) attempted an early run with some quick through balls and corners but a big save from Evans in the 16th minute and the U-M defense warding off back-to-back corners kept the match scoreless. A foul from 20-yards out proved costly for the Wolverines as it allowed BGSU to set up a set piece and head a goal into the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage in the 26th minute.

Michigan looked to counter in the 32nd minute of play as it won back-to-back balls in the midfield and Alex Waggoner fired a shot inside the 18-yard box that went high. U-M came close again before the halftime break with a three-on-two opportunity but was unable to get off a shot and the Wolverines went into the locker room trailing Bowling Green, 1-0.

It was Michigan who came out of the halftime break firing on all cylinders as Herrera found himself on a one-on-one opportunity by the keeper that was saved before Leon broke away from the Falcon defense and fired the ball past the keeper to tie the game at 1-1 in the 52nd minute.

Michigan continued to attack but it was BGSU that found the back of the net for the second time in the contest when a long pass up the right flank resulted in a shot into the far bottom left corner of the net in the 67th minute and gave the Falcons their second lead of the match.

U-M had three straight shots in the 83rd minute -- including one from Waggoner -- that was saved on the goal line by a Falcon defender. Despite late offensive pressure, Michigan was unable to secure an equalizer and took its first loss of the 2023 season.

The Wolverines will continue their four-match road slate when they travel to Omaha, Neb. on Friday (Sept. 8) to take on Creighton at 7 p.m. CT. The match is set to be streamed live on FloSports.com.