By Nicholas Huenefeld

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

Perrysburg grad Brendan Graves has experienced a lot of individual and team success in his career with the BGSU mens soccer team, and he returns for his fifth season with one goal in mind — to win another ring.

“I’m pretty excited,” Graves said. “We had a lot of different stuff going on (last year) with trials and tribulations, but we were still able to push through and had a pretty good season.

“We still want to accomplish a lot more this year, but last season was a testament to how tough we are and how strong our culture is.”

Graves points to the amount of players his team is returning, which should fuel success.

“If you come to a game, you’re going to see a bunch of guys who are really hungry and eager to win,” he said. “We’re just going to bring it, not just for the fans, but each other and especially the alumni. We’re a full head of steam right now.”

Graves, who is entering his third full season as the team’s starting goalkeeper, played every second of every match in 2023 for the second-straight year.

He recorded 84 saves, registered a pair of clean sheets and had a 1.67 goals-against average while the Falcons went 7-8-3 overall. He finished ninth in the nation in total saves.

Graves recorded one of the best seasons by a goalkeeper in BGSU history in 2022, being named the MAC’s co-goalkeeper of the year and earning First Team All-MAC recognition.

In 16 matches for the 6-5-5 Falcons, he posted seven shutouts and allowed just 10 goals, two of which came on penalty kicks.

“We were really solid (my junior year), especially defensively,” Graves said. “We left ourselves a little bit short, I think. Our team was incredible. Looking back, we probably could have done better in some areas, but it’s hard to put your head down about a season like that, especially with the team we had.”

In his second year on campus in 2021, Graves began his emergence, starting the final six matches of the season. The Falcons earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament, where he helped BGSU post a 1-0 win over Louisville on the road.

“I appreciate our coaches and goalkeeping staff for trusting me to be able to step in, especially at that point in the season,” Graves said. “Once you get a couple games under your belt and the guys around you, the culture we have at BG, your confidence just grows from there.

“From then on, you just keep tweaking stuff and building and staying sharp. A lot of it has to do with the coaches and my teammates around me helping me build that confidence.”

With his postseason performance for the 11-6-3 Falcons, Graves became just the second goalkeeper in program history to record a shutout in the NCAA Tournament, joining BGSU Hall-of-Famer Scott Vallow.

“That’s something that I’m going to be telling my grandkids about,” Graves said. “It was awesome. It was cool going into that stadium (against Louisville). I’ve never been in a stadium like that – super nice facility, ACC team. I was like, wow, this is different than what I’m used to.”

Graves came to BGSU as a four-year letter winner from Perrysburg, where he posted 25 career shutouts and was named First Team All-Ohio and even earned All-American recognition.

“(Going into college), I wasn’t really expecting a whole lot,” Graves said. “I just wanted to perform and succeed. Looking back, I’ve accomplished some things I didn’t think I would have, like MAC co-goalkeeper of the year. I was never thinking about that when I was in high school. I’ve been blessed.”

Graves earned a bachelor’s in business analytics and intelligence last year, and he is working toward an MBA as part of grad school.

“(My career) has been incredible,” Graves said. “I’ve been able to do some amazing things athletically. My soccer career has taken me so many places, given me so many opportunities, things I’ve never seen before. It’s almost indescribable is how I would put it.”

BGSU opens their season Aug. 23 against Wright State at 7 p.m. inside Cochrane Stadium.