Cochrane Stadium
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COCHRANE STADIUM One of the many resources available to the Falcon men’s soccer team is the ability to play on one of the Midwest’s finest fields. Mickey Cochrane Stadium, known nationally as one of the country’s outstanding soccer facilities, has become even better in recent years thanks in part to a multiple-phase project designed to enhance the current complex. The facility’s improvements included the installation of lights at the Cochrane Stadium complex, giving the BGSU men’s and women’s teams the opportunity for home games under the lights. The lights project allows more flexibility in scheduling, and also has enhanced the already- impressive atmosphere at home matches. The money for the $400,000 project was raised through donations, with nearly all of the funds donated by men’s soccer alumni, who have a proud history of over five decades at the University. The lights project was completed in the fall of 2011, and both the men’s and women’s teams hosted night matches in late October of that year. Additionally, several Ohio High School Athletic Association girls soccer tournament games have been held at Cochrane under the lights. The men’s program played every home match under the lights during the 2018 season, and the 2019 schedule calls for every home contest to begin at 7:00 p.m. In 2010, via donations raised by both the men’s and women’s programs, World Cup-style goals were added, as well as wind screens and covered benches. The athletics department also made upgrades to the scoreboard. Just prior to the debut of the women’s team, an upgrade to the field saw the construction of 700 permanent seats on the west side of the main playing area. The stadium renovation project, financed entirely with private funds, was officially dedicated on Sept. 10, 1995, prior to the men’s soccer home opener. A Caroline Palmisano (center), a BGSU student and the daughter of Gary Palmisano, was on hand at the final home game of the 2008 season (Nov, 1, 2008), as the Gary Palmisano Soccer En- dowment was formally announced. The late Gary Palmisano was a player, an assistant coach and a head coach at BGSU, and also was a driving force behind soccer being recognized as a MAC sport. Many former Falcon players made gifts to complete the endowment, and the first scholarship in Gary’s name was awarded in the fall of 2009. 44 • BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY • 2019 MEN’S SOCCER • 44 COCHRANE STADIUM Dave Kindl (10) scores against Kentucky in the MAC Tourna- ment’s championship-game win in 1996. BGSU’s 4-0 win gave the Falcons the league tourney title for the second-straight year, and the Falcons would go on to win the ‘97 tournament crown as well. spacious press box was finished a month later. With the addition of portable bleachers from the old grandstand, the complex can seat up to 1,500 spectators, with plenty of additional space to accommodate the standing- room-only crowds that have become more and more common during the Nichols Era. The initial phase of the plan, which was finished in 1993, consisted of the main playing field being completely enclosed with fencing, landscaped with shrubbery, and decorated with signage. New flag staffs and team benches were also added over the course of the season. Phase II began in 1994 with the installation of a new scoreboard and additional signage. The field renovation project was originally conceived in 1988 by former Falcon men’s head coach Gary Palmisano who passed away in December, 1994. Under his guidance, hard work, and patience, his vision Large crowds have become commonplace at Cochrane Stadium, as Eric Nichols and his staff have helped to enhance the overall game-day atmosphere surrounding a BGSU home men’s soccer match. The Falcons are 12-4-8 at Cochrane over the last three seasons (2016- 18), for a .667 winning percentage in that time. 45 • BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY • 2019 MEN’S SOCCER • 45 COCHRANE STADIUM / FACILITIES became a reality with the initiation of Phase I. “Gary wanted the Falcons to have the finest soccer facility available, one that would make each game an event to be enjoyed not only by the players, but also by all those who support BG soccer,” said Jean-Marie Wolf Palmisano, wife of the late Gary Palmisano. “He envisioned a stadium to enclose Cochrane Field, a stadium to celebrate the great game of soccer.” Cochrane Stadium, dedicated Oct. 11, 1980, in honor of BGSU’s first men’s varsity soccer coach, has been the home of the Falcon men since 1966 and has also been the site of the United States Youth Soccer Association’s Olympic Development Program Region II camps for several decades. The Falcons definitely have an ideal situation for their players to improve their skills with the use of two full-size fields and a small-sided training practice area. The soccer programs also utilize the Field House and its 90-yard indoor turf room and 200-meter track wing for winter conditioning. The Sebo Athletic Center, located in the north end zone of Doyt L. Perry Stadium, provides all BGSU student-athletes, including the soccer teams, a place to reach their potential. The building features an expanded sports medicine and rehabilitation facility as well as a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning area for student-athletes in all 18 varsity sports. Additionally, the BGSU men’s soccer team’s locker room, which was recently renovated, gives the program yet another state- of-the-art facility. The locker room is located on the East side of Perry Stadium. In addition to Cochrane Field, the men’s soccer Falcons also enjoy state-of-the-art training (above) and strength and conditioning facilities (right) inside the Sebo Athletic Center, as well as a recently-renovated locker room inside Perry Stadium (top of page) 46 • BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY • 2019 MEN’S SOCCER • 46 BGSU HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES BGSU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES (men’s soccer) • Pete Farrell, 1982 • Bud Lewis, 2000 • Dennis Mepham, 1986 • Rob Martella, 2002 • Neil Ridgway, 1990 • Steve Klein, 2006 • Mickey Cochrane, 1993 % • Scott Vallow, 2009 • Dave Dyminski, 1994 • Gary Palmisano, 1998 % inducted into NSCAA Hall of Fame in 1995 PETE FARRELL Pete Farrell was a standout on both the Falcon soccer and lacrosse teams when those sports were in their early stages at Bowling Green. Born and raised in the Baltimore, Md., area, Farrell came to BG in 1965. He played on the freshman soccer and lacrosse teams in 1965-66, and then was a three-year regular on the varsity team in both sports. Farrell was co-captain of the soccer team as both a junior and senior. In his senior season, he was voted as the team’s most valuable player and was named to the All-Ohio team at his centerback position after helping the Falcons to their first winning season. In his three years on the lacrosse team, Farrell helped the Falcons to a 24-9 record. He was named first team All-Midwest three times, and received honorable mention on the All-America team as a sophomore and junior. As a senior, Farrell was a second team All-America pick, and scored the winning goal in the North-South All-Star game. Pete Farrell – 1982 DENNIS MEPHAM Dennis Mepham played four years of soccer and two years of basketball during his Falcon tenure. He was twice named All-Ohio and All-Mideast, and was a 1979 All-American striker. As a senior, Mepham co-captained the soccer team, while leading the team in scoring as a junior and senior. Upon graduation, he held the school records for goals in a season (11) and career (25). He also had the BG records for points in a season (13) and career (34). Mepham was drafted by the Rochester Lancers of the North American Soccer League in 1980, and played for the Lancers as well as the Rochester Flash of the American Soccer League. He also played outdoors for the Buffalo Storm of the United Soccer League in 1984. Mepham’s professional experience also included a lengthy tenure indoors, as he played with the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980-84, and the Cleveland Force from ‘84 through ‘88. Mepham also saw time with the Cleveland Crunch in the MISL. He was named to the MISL All-Star team on multiple occasions, and also was named to the USL (1984) and ASL (1981-82) All-Star teams. NEIL RIDGWAY Neil Ridgway left BGSU holding almost every record possible. The Dennis Mepham – 1986 Stockport, England, native finished his Falcon tenure as the school’s career leader in assists, with 33, and points, with 107. On the single-season list, Ridgway dished out 17 assists in the 1983 campaign, which at the time was six more than any other player in school history. The team MVP as a sophomore, junior and a senior, Ridgway earned All-Amercan honors in 1982 and 1983 while he was a three-time all-region and All-Ohio pick. Additionally, he was the top midfielder in the state of Ohio in both his junior and senior seasons. Ridgway began his professional career in 1984 with the Memphis Americans of the Major Indoor Soccer League, and also had a lengthy tenure in the American Indoor Soccer Association, which later became the National Professional Soccer League. He played outdoors with the Chicago Sting of the NASL, and his indoor career saw him play for multiple franchises in the AISA and NPSL.