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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Tailgates, Team Spirit & Big Saves: The O'Malley Effect at BG
September 30, 2025 | Women's Soccer
A big reason for BGSU women's soccer's success so far in 2025 has been the play of sophomore goalkeeper Payton O'Malley.
Only in her second collegiate season, Payton O'Malley took over the starting job from former Falcon goalie Madison Vukas in the middle of the 2024 season. Since then, the No. 1 shirt has been hers to lose.
However, she didn't always play the No. 1 position in soccer. Growing up, she started as a goalscorer.
"I was a striker to begin with, so I love scoring goals. But funny story, we didn't really have a goalkeeper and no one volunteered, so I kind of just volunteered and I stuck with it," said Payton O'Malley.
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Payton O'Malley grew up in Pittsburgh, playing youth soccer at multiple levels. She even returns to her hometown during the offseason to compete in the USL W League.
"At first, I started at Century FC in Pittsburgh, and then I switched to Beading Soccer Club, and then I went back to Century," said Payton O'Malley. "Now for summer team play, I played for Steel City."
As Payton O'Malley's trajectory pointed towards the collegiate game, Bowling Green quickly entered the picture.
"I knew from an early age I wanted to play at the division one level," she said. "They started talking to me very early in my recruiting process."
The sense of community and commitment of the coaching staff worked together to win Payton O'Malley over.
"How much attention and passion they put into getting to know me as a person, trying to learn different aspects about me, and then me learning different aspects about the team, I just kind of fell in love with it," Payton O'Malley said. "I fell in love with the community here at BG. Like everyone knows everyone, which is a part I love, and the campus is beautiful."
As Payton O'Malley entered her freshman year at Bowling Green, it didn't seem like the Falcons would have to call her number often. When Vukas went down, her name was next up on the depth chart.
Unexpectedly getting thrown into Mid-American Conference (MAC) action during the middle of the season can be daunting at first, but Payton O'Malley knew she had the support of her teammates.
"I'd say I was a little bit nervous. There's a lot on the line, but I had a great group of girls surrounding me still doing that, pushing me every single day, having my back every single day," said Payton O'Malley. "Even though that nervousness was there. I'd say it kind of turned it more into passion. Especially going into this year. Got a little bit of experience underneath my belt and yeah, I just feel really good about this year."
What many may not know about Payton is her family's athletic background. Her father, Brian, played football at Washington & Jefferson. Her middle brother, Donovan, played and captained the football team at Fairmont State. While her oldest brother, Michael, wrestled at Edinboro University.
What's it like growing up with two older athletic brothers? A lot of arguments. But also, a lot of support.
"A lot of fighting. There's a lot of competition because they're kind of cut from the same stone, and they hate to lose too," said Brian O'Malley, "but you know, as older brothers. Keeping her focused with the ups and the downs. [Help] give that positive reinforcement."
Besides, the brothers knew who the best athlete was in the family. Even if they didn't want to admit it.
"They knew she was the better athlete. Oh, they knew," said Michelle O'Malley. "They used to tell us all the time. They go, 'we know she's the better athlete.'"
This season, Brian and Michelle O'Malley have taken charge of helping lead the tailgate before every home and away match for the team. Which started with an invite by current junior defender Taylor Green, and former players Lexi Czerwien and Jaden Frigerio's parents.
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Coyle Withrow
Bowling Green, OH - BGSU Women's soccer parents host a tailgate for the parents pregame at Cochrane Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.
"So we were new to the program last year, and we sort of were invited by the Greens, Czerwien's, and Frigerio's. They were doing this, and they welcomed us in, and then other parents kind of came in; it just grew from there," said Brian O'Malley. "Then, kind of with the playoffs and coming into this year, we had a little bit of focus on what we wanted to do, and our tailgate is just to bring all the parents together. Kind of congregate, have a few laughs, and then get ready to go in and have a good time for the game."
The O'Malleys do more than just help with festivities before matches. They have also supported the program during their away matches in a multitude of ways.
Their help has not gone unnoticed by head coach Chris Fox.
"They've been great. That was one of the big things you wanted to add as a program this year to add a little bit more organization to the parent stuff, like we have such a great group of parents that tailgate can watch us home and away, provide meals for the players after the game," said Fox. "We have tailgates after every away game and then mini tailgates after a home game. They're organizing the meals to make sure we're getting good nutrition and whatnot, following games. But then, also the communication among the parents. So it just keeps the bigger community going alive, organized, and all of these things that obviously help your program. Really grateful for what the O'Malleys do and obviously all of the parents as a whole."
What does Payton O'Malley think of the tailgates? Short answer: She loves it.
"At first, I thought it was hilarious. My dad gets so motivated and into it, but so does my mom. Honestly, she loves setting up and getting all the parents to come over, eat some food, make everyone really ecstatic before the game," said Payton O'Malley. "At first, I thought it was hilarious and a little bit like, 'come on, what are we doing?' But no, they get everyone so pumped up before the games, and that's the stuff we need."
Despite growing up in a house full of boys, that has had a major impact on Payton O'Malley. She lists her mother, the only other female in her immediate family, as a massive influence on her.
"I would definitely have to say my mom," said Payton O'Malley. Even though I do come from a family of athletes where it's mainly all the guys in my family, she was really athletic in high school, just never wanted to continue, but she's always just been there trying to be like an ear that I can kind of lean into after the long days here."
Even simple things, like game night with the family, Michelle O'Malley made Payton O'Malley work for everything. Why? Because it made her a better person.
"She's always just helped me with my confidence, but also, anything's been easy in life. So, like board games and stuff when we were younger, she'd never let me win, which I think was great for me because it just showed how much I need to work for something, and it wasn't just an easy win, which I loved. And [it] made me a better soccer player now that I look back on it."
It's safe to say Payton O'Malley has made her mother proud for everything she's accomplished up to this point.
"I'm most proud of her because at a young age, she was told by many people she wasn't big enough. She wasn't fast enough. All the things she was told about why she was young, very young. She didn't care," said Michelle O'Malley. "She's like, 'I'm going to do this…I'm going to do this.' We just sat back and watched her work really hard, like, how can you not be proud of that?"
Not even two full years into his collegiate career, Payton O'Malley has made her mark in Bowling Green. With only more room to grow from here, the sky is the limit.
"I'm really happy with Payton. She's a competitor, I think that's one of the biggest things for her, she's highly competitive," said Fox. "I just think her growth as a whole has been fantastic, and I honestly believe she's growing game by game and just wanna see that continue for her because when Payton's doing well, the team's doing well."
