Bowling Green, Ohio - The Bowling Green Men's Rugby Team 7-2 Overall, 5-1 MAC) makes it past No. 3 Western Michigan (3-3 MAC) in the first round of the MAC Tournament. The Falcons have now made it to their 47th consecutive tournament final. BG will now travel to Louisville for the MAC Final at Hayes Kennedy Park, Saturday, November 8th at 1:00 PM.

The last time these two teams faced in the MAC Semifinal was in the 2022 MAC Semifinal. That matchup ended with a 31-15 victory for the Falcons, however Western was no pushover. The Broncos have proved themselves to be a team that has the ability to be a thorn in the Falcon's side. The Falcons can be relieved that they managed to keep it together and make their way to another MAC Final. 

Bowling Green's convincing result last weekend against Western Michigan locked the Falcons into a rematch with Western the following weekend for the MAC Semifinal. The Falcon rugby team hosted the No. 3 Seed Broncos in the MAC Semifinal. The weekend's result was fairly similar to the previous week, a 36-7 win for the Falcons. As a result, the Falcons advanced to the MAC Final for the 47th straight year. All American eight man Phil Tracey has made the switch to hooker seamless. Tracey managed four tries this weekend against the Broncos. Senior Lock Zach Szepiela contributed with a single try. Fullback Joey Apel pitched in with three conversions and one try. 

NOTABLES

• Falcons have now reached their 47th consecutive MAC Final

• Bowling Green will travel for the finals of the MAC Tournament on Saturday November 8th at 1 pm at Hayes-Kennedy Park in Louisville, Kentucky.

Bowling Green (7-2 Overall, 5-1 MAC) will continue to the finals of the MAC Tournament on Saturday, November 8th at Hayes-Kennedy Park in Louisville, Kentucky at 1 pm against the No. 1 Seed team Louisville (6-0 MAC). Both teams will be fighting for the opportunity to lift the MAC Trophy.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

1st XV

Bowling Green 36, Western Michigan 7

• Kickoff

• Hooker Phil Tracey scores (5-0)

• Fullback Joey Apel converts (7-0)

• Fullback Joey Apel scores (12-0)

• Fullback Apel convert (14-0)

• Western Michigan scores (14-5)

• Western Michigan converts (14-7)

• Halftime: (14-17)

• Lock Jacob Eicholtz scores (19-7)

• Hooker Tracey scores (24-7)

• Hooker Tracey scores (29-7)

• Hooker Tracey scores (34-7)

• Fullback Apel converts (36-7)

• Final Score: 36-7