Cochrane Stadium

The Bowling Green State University women’s soccer program is a quarter century old, but a rich soccer tradition already existed at the University upon the team’s debut in 1997. One of the many resources available to the women’s program is the opportunity to play on one of the Midwest’s finest fields.

Mickey Cochrane Stadium, known nationally as one of the country’s outstanding soccer facilities, has become even better in recent years thanks in part to a multiple-phase project designed to enhance the current complex.

One of the most recent phases of the improvements was the installation of lights at the Cochrane Stadium complex, giving both the men’s and women’s soccer teams the opportunity for home games under the lights. The lights allow for more flexibility in scheduling and enhance the atmosphere at home matches. The money for the $400,000 project was raised through donations, with nearly all of the funds donated by men’s soccer alumni, who have a proud history of over five decades at the University. The lights project was completed in the fall of 2011, and the first night game was the women’s soccer match vs. Western Michigan on Oct. 21, 2011.

In 2010, via donations raised by both the men’s and women’s programs, World Cup-style goals were added, as well as orange wind screens and covered benches that enhanced the appearance of the Cochrane Stadium complex. The athletics department also made upgrades to the scoreboard in time for the season that fall.

Just prior to the debut of the women’s team, an upgrade to the field had seen the construction of 700 permanent seats on the west side of the main playing area. The stadium renovation project, financed entirely with private funds, was officially dedicated on Sept. 10, 1995, prior to the men’s soccer home opener. A spacious press box was finished a month later. With the addition of portable bleachers from the old grandstand, the complex can seat up to 1,500 spectators.

The initial phase of the plan, which was finished back in 1993, consisted of the main playing field being completely enclosed with fencing, landscaping with shrubbery, and signage decoration. New flag staffs and team benches were also added over the course of the season. Phase II began in 1994 with the installation of a new scoreboard and additional signage.

The field renovation project was originally conceived in 1988 by former Falcon men’s head coach Gary Palmisano, who passed away in December of 1994. Under his guidance, hard work, and patience, his vision became a reality with the initiation of Phase I. Cochrane Stadium, dedicated Oct. 11, 1980, in honor of BGSU’s first men’s varsity soccer coach, has been the home of the Falcons men’s soccer team since 1966 and has also served as the site of the United States Youth Soccer Association’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region II camps. Additionally, Cochrane has hosted several high school girls soccer regional tournament games in recent years.

The Falcons definitely have an ideal situation for their players to improve their skills, with the availability of multiple outdoor practice fields in addition to the Cochrane Stadium pitch. The programs also utilize the Field House and its 100-yard indoor turf room and 200-meter track wing for winter conditioning.

Prior to the 1997 campaign, a new practice field was added to the complex. That field was resodded and a sprinkler system was added in preparation for BGSU’s inaugural season of women’s soccer.

The Sebo Athletic Center, located in the north end zone of Doyt L. Perry Stadium, provides all BGSU student-athletes a place to reach their potential. The building features an expanded sports medicine and rehabilitation facility as well as a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning area for student-athletes in all 18 varsity sports.

In 2005, Cochrane was the home of the MAC Women’s Soccer Tournament’s semifinal and championship rounds for the first time. After winning the regular-season title, BGSU advanced past Toledo in the tourney’s quarterfinal round to earn the right to host the subsequent rounds. After downing Miami in the semifinals, the Brown and Orange advanced past Kent State via penalty kicks in the regionally-televised championship match.

The 2017 team earned the right to host a MAC Tournament quarterfinalround matchup and proceeded to capture a thrilling come-from-behind win over Buffalo.

In 2018, Matt Fannon’s Falcons captured the MAC regular-season title, earning the right to host the league tournament. BGSU downed Eastern Michigan and Ohio to advance to the championship match, and after battling Ball State to a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes of action, the Brown and Orange came from behind during the penalty-kick phase to win the championship before a capacity crowd.

Then, in 2019, the Falcons did it again! BGSU went 10-1-0 in MAC play, becoming the first program in MAC history to post a double-digit conference win total in back-to-back seasons. Once again, the Falcons

In November of 2005, the Falcons hosted the MAC Tournament’s semifinal and championship rounds for the first time in school history. BGSU advanced past Miami and Kent State (above) at Cochrane Stadium to earn the MAC’s automatic bid to the NCAAChampionships.

The Falcons score during the 2019 MAC Tournament quarterfinal-round match vs. Central Michigan at Cochrane Stadium. BG found the net four times in the second half of that win, and the Brown and Orange went on to capture the league tourney title at home for the second-straight November.

The Falcons and their fans celebrated a second-straight MAC Tournament title on the Cochrane Stadium pitch in November of 2019.

captured a quarterfinal-round match at Cochrane, this time defeating Central Michigan to earn the right to host the remainder of the tournament.

BGSU topped Buffalo in the semifinal round, then faced Eastern Michigan in the final. For the second-straight season, the championship match ended in a draw after 110 minutes, and the Falcons again advanced via penalty kicks. Nikhita Jacob converted the decisive PK, and the crowd rushed the field for a championship celebration for the second consecutive November.

In the 2020-21 academic year, the Falcons again competed for a conference crown at Cochrane, downing Ball State, 2-1, in the MAC Championship to return to the NCAA Championships for a third consecutive season.

Overall, the Falcons now have a record of 10-1-4 in conference tournament matches at Cochrane.

FALCON FIRSTS

FIRST WOMEN’S SOCCER MATCH

August 29, 1997, at Kent

FIRST LINEUP

The Falcons took the field at Kent with Lynette Lasanen in goal; Autumn Harris (sweeper), Ashley Enser (left), Mackenzie Williams (right) and Emily Graham (stopper) in the back; Paige Suhay (center), Janice Mentrup (left) and Jamie Eshleman (right) in the midfield; and Stefanie Sizemore (striker), Krista Shamblin (left wing) and Rachel Clark (right wing) up front. Kit Gazley began the second half in goal, and Kerry McKee, Emily McCracken and Kelly Thompson also saw action in the match for the Falcons.

FIRST WIN

In the 1-0 victory at Kent on Aug. 29, 1997, Kerry McKee scored at the 96:43 mark to end the first match in school history. Emily Graham and Janice Mentrup, who had started the play with a giveand-go off a short corner kick, drew assists. The tally is believed to be the first “Golden Goal” (match-ending OT goal) in NCAA Division I women’s soccer history, as 1997 was the first season that a sudden-death overtime was instituted.

FIRST HOME WIN

5-0 vs. Saint Francis (Pa.), Sept. 7, 1997. Five different Falcons found the back of the net, and freshman goalies Kit Gazley and Lynette Lasanen combined for the shutout.

FIRST ROAD WIN

1-0 at Kent, Aug. 29, 1997

FIRST OVERTIME MATCH

1-0 win at Kent, Aug. 29, 1997

FIRST GOAL

Kerry McKee at Kent, Aug. 29, 1997

FIRST ASSISTS

Emily Graham and Janice Mentrup at Kent

FIRST MULTI-GOAL MATCH

see First Hat Trick

FIRST HAT TRICK

Robert Morris, meet Krista Shamblin. Shamblin recorded all three of BG’s goals in a 3-1 win on the road (Oct. 31, 1997). Shamblin, who did not start the contest, played in just over half of the match (54 minutes). She scored at the 37:16 mark to erase a 1-0 RMC lead, then converted a penalty kick at the 71:41 mark for the first twogoal match by a Falcon. Eight minutes later, Shamblin again found the back of the net to complete the hat trick.

FIRST SHUTOUT

1-0 at Kent. Lynette Lasanen played the first half and needed to make just one save. Kit Gazley played the second half and the OT, a total of 51:43. She made three stops en route to the win.

FIRST HOME NIGHT GAME

The lights project at Cochrane Field was completed in October of 2011 and the first night game was a women’s contest vs. Western Michigan on Oct. 21, 2011.