BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green (1-0) Captain Joey Apel and Vice-Captain Phil Tracey combined for 20 pts to secure the Falcon's Home Opener against Michigan (1-1) on Friday afternoon. The Falcons won 47-12 in the opener. The victory saw the Falcons extend their win streak on the newly named Roger Mazarella Rugby Field.
 
"Good start, just a little bit ill disciplined in the first half. Said Head Coach Tony Mazarella. Just some things that need to be ironed out, and I'm looking forward to correcting those and having an even better game next week."
 
In this year's first game, Bowling Green managed a solid win after a dominant second half. The Falcons began the first half with a try after six minutes. Shortly after the Falcons would concede and fall behind Michigan. However, Vice-Captain Phil Tracey would punch one back and with a conversion from Joey Apel would regain the lead for the Falcons. Unfortunately the Wolverines were able to score and make the conversion to tie the game 12-12 going into half time.
 
"With it being the first game of the season we definitely had some nerves. We came out a little shaky in the hands, but I think by the time that second half came around, we were able to knock some rust off. We were a little more cohesive as a team. We were able to play our game, however, our pattern got a little creative." Said Captain Joey Apel. "Everyone was running harder, making their passes, and it ended up working out really well for us. We went 12 and 12 in the first half. Then there were 35 unanswered points in the second half, which is pretty big for us, especially with a competitive team like Michigan. We were really able to take that next step in the second half and really put it to them."
 
In the second half the Falcons bounced back and took control of the game. BG scored 35 unanswered points which saw four different Falcons, Harvy Harris, Gary Brammer, Logen Van Hoose, and Zach Szepiela score their first try of the season and Tracey scoring his second.
 
Additionally, the second XV tasted victory against Michigan's second XV with a 19-8 victory to open their season. Freshman Isaac Radke led the way with 9 pts through his first try for BG and 4 pts for three conversion attempts. James Hayes and Luke Clinton also helped the Falcons achieve victory scoring one try each. Overall, the second XV put on a good showing only allowing a single try (5 pts) and penalty kick (3 pts) to help secure the first two-win weekend of the season for the Club
 
NOTABLES

• Senior Phil Trecey scored twice to become the Falcons leading Try scorer with 2 (10pts).
• Junior Joey Apel slotted 5 of 6 for 10 pts from conversions with an 83% conversion rate to become joint leading points scorer with Tracey.
• Six different Falcons secured their first Try of the season: Phil Tracey x2, Harvey Harris, Joe Romshe, Zach Szepiela, Logen Van Hoose, Gary Brammer x1.
• Freshman Joe Romshe leads the Falcons with a 100% Conversion % (1 for 1) followed by Joey Apel with 83% (5 for 6).

Bowling Green (1-0) will play their MAC Conference Home Opener against Cincinnati (1-1) at 2pm on Saturday, September 7th at Roger Mazarella Rugby Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
1st XV
Bowling Green 47, Michigan 12

• Falcons opened up with a bang, scoring in the opening 6 minutes through Freshman Joe Romshe (5-0).
• Michigan followed up with a try and made conversion (5-7).
• Senior Phil Tracey regained the Falcons their lead and Apel slotted his conversion (12-7)
• Michigan punched one back, however missed their conversion (12-12)
• Phil Tracey once again returned the lead to the Falcons for the final time and Apel made his second conversion (19-12).
• (Junior) Harvey Harris scored and Apel made his third conversion (26-12).
• Gary Brammer scored and Apel made his fourth conversion (33-12).
• Freshman Logen Van Hoose scored and Apel made his fifth conversion (40-12).
• Grad Student Zach Szepiela scored and Romshe made the conversion (47-12).
• Final Score 47-12

2nd XV
Bowling Green 19 , Michigan 8

• James Hayes scores his first try of the season as Isaac Radke misses the first conversion attempt (5-0).
• Luke Clinton follows with his first try of the season. Isaac Radke scores his first conversion (12-0).
• Isaac Radke scores his first try of the season and slots the conversion (19-0).
• Michigan slots a penalty kick (19-3)
• Michigan punch in their only try of the game and miss the conversion (19-8)
• Final Score 19-8