Ella-to-Bella Connection Sends Falcons to the Semifinals, 1-0

Saturday, November 1

Columbus, Ohio

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

10-2-8, 4-1-7

Buffalo (Quarterfinals)

12-5-2, 8-3-1

Bowling Green

Buffalo

Isabella Mazzaferro (7) scored the double-OT winner as BG topped Buffalo

November 01, 2025 | Women's Soccer

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Mazzaferro's "Golden Goal" leads BGSU past Buffalo

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Junior Isabella Mazzaferro scored just over 106 minutes into the match, lifting the Bowling Green State University women's soccer team to a 1-0, double-overtime victory over the University at Buffalo Saturday afternoon (Nov. 1). The match, a Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinal-round contest, was held at Historic Crew Stadium.

With the win, the Falcons (10-2-8 [4-1-7 MAC]), the number-six seed for the six-team tournament, advance to Tuesday's (Nov. 4) semifinal round to face second-seeded Miami University.

Fellow junior Ella Kane provided the assist on Mazzaferro's winner. Kane and sixth-year collegian Ellie Pool worked a combination play near the corner flag on the left side of the field. Kane, facing the sideline, eluded two would-be defenders with a spin move, then worked her way past several more opponents as she brought the ball into the box. She slid a pass to Mazzaferro, who went top shelf for the "Golden Goal" and a trip to Tuesday's semifinal.

The Falcons had slight advantages over the Bulls (12-5-2 {8-3-1 MAC]), the third seed for the tournament, in shot attempts (8-6), shots on goal (2-1) and corner kicks (3-2). Neither team had a shot on goal through the entirety of regulation.

ISABELLA MAZZAFERRO FOR THE WIN ‼️@BGSU_WSoccer | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/yXOAkABW5C
— MACtion (@MACSports) November 1, 2025

Semis secured 👊@BGSU_WSoccer | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/IX1EERcmXp
— MACtion (@MACSports) November 1, 2025

NOTE OF THE DAY
• Isabella Mazzaferro's goal on Saturday was the Falcons' fourth "Golden Goal" in a MAC Tournament match in program history, and BGSU's first in 18 years. BGSU's last tourney OT winner was scored by Corbie Yee in a 2-1 win over Eastern Michigan in the 2007 quarterfinals.

ALSO NOTEWORTHY
• The Falcons are now 22-9-8 all-time in MAC Tournament matches. BG is now 12-2-1 in quarterfinal-round matches, and the Falcons are 4-4-3 in neutral-site matches and 4-3-8 in overtime contests in the league tourney.
• Saturday's win was the Falcons' first MAC Tournament victory in three years, since a 2-0 home triumph over Western Michigan in the 2022 quarterfinals.
• The Falcons are now 5-0-0 all-time against Buffalo in the MAC Tournament.
• Overall, the Falcons now have a 19-10-5 lead over the Bulls in the all-time series. Prior to Saturday, each of the last four meetings had ended in a draw.
• BGSU has now kept eight clean sheets this season.
• The Falcons are 5-0-4 in matches played away from home in 2025 (road and neutral-site matches).

BIG PLAYS / THINGS THAT HAPPENED
• The Falcons held Buffalo to just three total shots, but none on goal, in the first half. But, BGSU did not have any shot attempts in the opening 45 minutes.
• Arguably the Falcons' best chance of the first half came in the waning seconds. Ella Kane played a cross from the right side of the field, that was just over the head of Lizzie Bultynck and Mia Gatz in the penalty area. The ball rolled toward the far side of the field as the final seconds ticked away.
• Just over two minutes into the second half, Emma Stransky stole the ball from a UB player and fired a shot from distance, but the ball sailed just high.
• Six minutes later, Isabella Mazzaferro took a pass and fired a shot from the right side that was blocked out for a corner kick. Gabby Lamparty got her head on the ensuring Emme Butera kick, but her shot went over the bar. BGSU had three shot attempts in the first eight minutes of the second period after finishing the first half without a shot.
• With 20 minutes on the clock, Kane and Mazzaferro worked a nifty combination play to get the ball into the UB end of the field. BG was able to string a few more passes together, and a Jayna Searles cross went just over the heads of several players at the far post and out of play for a goal kick.
• With just over 13 minutes to go, BGSU was awarded a free kick near midfield after several fouls by the Bulls. Butera's long free kick wound up pinging around the penalty area, but the Falcons were unable to get a shot off.
• Just over a minute later, Quinn O'Neil played a cross from the right side, and Stransky got her head on it, but the shot was off target.
• Audrey Oliver was fouled approximately 30 yards from goal with just over seven minutes left, and Butera's ensuing free kick was hit hard, but carried over the goal.
• With 150 seconds remaining, the Falcons were inches offside as Stransky played a through ball into the box.
• Lamparty played lock-down defense on UB's Sarah Woods after a turnover in the final minute, and the junior then knocked the ball away from Woods with just seconds on the clock. The teams headed to overtime.
• The first shot on goal of the entire match came just under three minutes into the extra session. Mazzaferro's cross was gathered by Haley Wolf on the far side of the box. She played it back to Audrey Oliver, who hit a shot from just outside the 18 that was saved by Lexie Thompson.
• Mazzaferro's goal was the first – and only – shot of the second overtime period.

AY ZIGGY 🟠🟤@BGSU_WSoccer | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/Yfgc5m7UL8
— MACtion (@MACSports) November 1, 2025

UP NEXT
• As mentioned, the sixth-seeded Falcons advance to the semifinals, and will face second-seeded Miami on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 4). That game will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Historic Crew Stadium.
• The BGSU-Miami survivor will advance to the championship match, which is set for Friday evening (Nov. 7) at 7:30 p.m.
• The complete tournament schedule is listed below.

2025 MAC WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
(all times Eastern [ET]; all matches at Historic Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio)
QUARTERFINALS – Saturday, November 1
Game 1 – No. 6 Bowling Green 1, No. 3 Buffalo 0 (2-OT)
Game 2 – No. 4 Ball State 0, No. 5 Kent State 0 (2-OT) (BSU 5-4 via PKS)

SEMIFINALS – Tuesday, November 4
Game 3 – Bowling Green r vs. No. 2 Miami, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 4 – Ball State vs. No. 1 Western Michigan, 4:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

FINAL – Friday, November 7
Game 5 – Semifinal Survivors, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

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.