TOLEDO — Senior forward Ellie Pool (Sylvania Southview) scored just over two minutes into the match to set the tone as the Bowling Green State University women’s soccer team topped the University of Toledo, 2-0, on Thursday night in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams at Paul Hotmer Field.

Pool’s goal was her second of the season, and she now has a team-high five points on the year. Both of Pool’s goals this fall have been game-winning goals. She also scored the winning goal in BG’s victory at Detroit Mercy.

In her career, Pool now has totals of 12 goals and 31 points. She scored 22 points in 27 games in her two seasons with the Rockets. Pool has scored four goals since joining the Falcons. Three of those four goals have been game winners.

BGSU sophomore forward Brynn Gardner (Anthony Wayne) also scored for the Falcons (3-4 overall), converting a second-half penalty kick to double the BGSU lead.

Pool, in her second year with the Falcons after transferring from Toledo, knocked home the game-winning goal with just over two minutes gone.

Gardner’s cross was blocked by a UT defender, but Maya Dean deflected the ball to Pool, who hit a half volley from the six-yard line for what proved to be the winning goal.

Gardner found the back of the net herself, knocking home a penalty kick after freshman Emma Stransky was fouled by UT goalkeeper Brielle Young in the penalty area. Gardner made no mistake on her PK, slotting the ball into the corner in the 63rd minute.

For Gardner, she took – and made – the first penalty kick of her Falcon career. She has two goals this season, and now has eight goals and 23 points in 25 career matches at BGSU.

Madison Vukas and Lili Berg shared the shutout in goal, with Vukas making two first-half saves while Berg made one stop in the second period. Young had five saves for the Rockets (3-4-1).

The Falcons had advantages of 13-8 in total shot attempts and 7-3 in shots on goal. Madison Vukas and Lili Berg combined to make three saves en route to the shutout, while Brielle Young had five stops for the Rockets.

BGSU had a slim 2-1 lead in corner kicks. Berg has now been a part of 26 shutouts in 55 matches as a Falcon. Vukas lowered her goals-against averages to 1.43 this season and 1.17 in her collegiate career.

BGSU trails Toledo, 15-11-5, in the all-time series, but the Falcons are unbeaten in the last five matches. BG is 4-0-1 since the Rockets’ last series win in 2017.