
Photo by: Nathan Kubala, BGSU Athletics
Belmont Squeezes Past BGSU, 2-1, Saturday Night
October 14, 2023 | Men's Soccer
Falcons return home to face UIC Wednesday night
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Belmont University goal midway through the second half gave the host Bruins a 2-1 victory over the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team Saturday night (Oct. 14). The Missouri Valley Conference match was held at E.S. Rose Park.
Alberto Anaya scored for the Falcons (5-5-3, 2-2-0 MVC), canceling out Brock Kiper's early goal for the Bruins (7-4-2, 3-2-0 MVC) and tying the score at 1-1 after less than 20 minutes of play. But, Ayden von Essen scored what proved to be the winner in the 66th minute.
Anaya's goal was a gorgeous free kick from approximately 22 yards out after Eli Shope was fouled. Anaya curved his kick over the BU defensive wall and under the crossbar in the 20th minute. It was his first goal of the season and the ninth of his career.
The match marked just the second time the teams have met, and the first since 2011.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The hosts got on the board with just under four minutes gone, as Brock Kiper gave the Bruins the lead. Kiper headed into the penalty area on the right side, cut the ball back to his left and fired a low shot that found the far corner of the net.
• BGSU's first shot came off the boot of Eli Shope in the 17th minute. Shope took a pass from Alberto Anaya and hit a shot from distance, but the effort was wide left.
• The Falcons equalized in the 20th minute, with the two aforementioned players involved. Shope was fouled in the center of the field, approximately 22 yards from goal. Anaya took the ensuing free kick, and curved his shot over the Belmont wall and past BU goalkeeper Grant Calvert.
• In the 27th minute, the Falcons were able to string several passes together in the Belmont end. Jake Bergin took an Anaya pass and slid the ball out left to Andrew Shaffer. Shaffer crossed the ball into the penalty area, but a header by Taylor Dyson went wide right. Just one minute later, a Dyson serve from the right side just missed connecting with a teammate on the left side of the six-yard box.
• With almost exactly an hour gone, Gus Peacock dispossessed a BU player and found Shaffer near the 18-yard line. Shaffer in turn found Trace Terry, shot hit a shot in the box that was blocked out of play for a corner kick.
• Jane Lane, just into the match, made several nifty moves on the right side of the field and slid a cross into the box from near the end line with 10 minutes left before the half. Shaffer met that cross with a quick one-timer, but his shot was stopped by Calvert. Then, just 60 seconds later, a turnaround shot by Michael Saunders went just wide of the left post (although diving BGSU 'keeper Brendan Graves did appear to have the goal covered).
• Five minutes into the second half, Anaya worked a combination play with Bergin before sliding a pass to Shope near the top of the 18. Shope's quick turnaround shot, however, was stopped by Calvert. Just over a minute later, BG won the ball back and Anaya hit a hard shot from distance that just missed finding the upper right corner.
• A long ball by Mads Christensen was flicked toward goal by Kyle Cusimano in the 59th minute, but Calvert was able to grab it before a BG attacker could get a touch on the ball.
• The Bruins retook the lead in the 66th minute, as Ayden von Essen took advantage of a BGSU defensive misplay and slid a shot just inside the left post.
• With just under 20 minutes remaining, Anaya was fouled just outside the penalty area. This time, his free kick glanced off of a Belmont player's head in the wall. The ensuing corner kick curved on frame and Calvert was forced to push it wide of the far post. The Bruins were able to eventually clear the ball after the next corner.
• BGSU threatened in the final few minutes, earning a corner in the last minute of play, but the Falcons could not net the equalizer.
STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons had advantages of 9-6 in total shot attempts and 7-2 in corner kicks. Each team was credited with four shots on goal.
• Grant Calvert had three saves for the Bruins, with Brendan Graves making two stops for the Falcons.
• For Alberto Anaya, Saturday night's first-half goal was his first of the season, but the ninth of his BGSU career. He now has 30 points in 42 career matches for the Orange and Brown, leading current Falcons in both career goals and points.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons will return home for a midweek matchup with UIC on Wednesday (Oct. 18). First touch is set for 7:00 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium. The Flames, who recently spent several weeks in the United Soccer Coaches national poll, are coming off of a decisive 5-1 home victory over Evansville on Saturday evening.
• Then, BGSU returns to the road next weekend, taking on Drake next Sunday afternoon (Oct. 22). That match begins at 2:00 p.m. ET.
FOR MORE INFORMATION...
• For more information on the BGSU men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMSoccer), Instagram (bgfalcons and bgsumsoccer) and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
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Alberto Anaya scored for the Falcons (5-5-3, 2-2-0 MVC), canceling out Brock Kiper's early goal for the Bruins (7-4-2, 3-2-0 MVC) and tying the score at 1-1 after less than 20 minutes of play. But, Ayden von Essen scored what proved to be the winner in the 66th minute.
Anaya's goal was a gorgeous free kick from approximately 22 yards out after Eli Shope was fouled. Anaya curved his kick over the BU defensive wall and under the crossbar in the 20th minute. It was his first goal of the season and the ninth of his career.
The match marked just the second time the teams have met, and the first since 2011.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The hosts got on the board with just under four minutes gone, as Brock Kiper gave the Bruins the lead. Kiper headed into the penalty area on the right side, cut the ball back to his left and fired a low shot that found the far corner of the net.
• BGSU's first shot came off the boot of Eli Shope in the 17th minute. Shope took a pass from Alberto Anaya and hit a shot from distance, but the effort was wide left.
• The Falcons equalized in the 20th minute, with the two aforementioned players involved. Shope was fouled in the center of the field, approximately 22 yards from goal. Anaya took the ensuing free kick, and curved his shot over the Belmont wall and past BU goalkeeper Grant Calvert.
• In the 27th minute, the Falcons were able to string several passes together in the Belmont end. Jake Bergin took an Anaya pass and slid the ball out left to Andrew Shaffer. Shaffer crossed the ball into the penalty area, but a header by Taylor Dyson went wide right. Just one minute later, a Dyson serve from the right side just missed connecting with a teammate on the left side of the six-yard box.
• With almost exactly an hour gone, Gus Peacock dispossessed a BU player and found Shaffer near the 18-yard line. Shaffer in turn found Trace Terry, shot hit a shot in the box that was blocked out of play for a corner kick.
• Jane Lane, just into the match, made several nifty moves on the right side of the field and slid a cross into the box from near the end line with 10 minutes left before the half. Shaffer met that cross with a quick one-timer, but his shot was stopped by Calvert. Then, just 60 seconds later, a turnaround shot by Michael Saunders went just wide of the left post (although diving BGSU 'keeper Brendan Graves did appear to have the goal covered).
• Five minutes into the second half, Anaya worked a combination play with Bergin before sliding a pass to Shope near the top of the 18. Shope's quick turnaround shot, however, was stopped by Calvert. Just over a minute later, BG won the ball back and Anaya hit a hard shot from distance that just missed finding the upper right corner.
• A long ball by Mads Christensen was flicked toward goal by Kyle Cusimano in the 59th minute, but Calvert was able to grab it before a BG attacker could get a touch on the ball.
• The Bruins retook the lead in the 66th minute, as Ayden von Essen took advantage of a BGSU defensive misplay and slid a shot just inside the left post.
• With just under 20 minutes remaining, Anaya was fouled just outside the penalty area. This time, his free kick glanced off of a Belmont player's head in the wall. The ensuing corner kick curved on frame and Calvert was forced to push it wide of the far post. The Bruins were able to eventually clear the ball after the next corner.
• BGSU threatened in the final few minutes, earning a corner in the last minute of play, but the Falcons could not net the equalizer.
STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons had advantages of 9-6 in total shot attempts and 7-2 in corner kicks. Each team was credited with four shots on goal.
• Grant Calvert had three saves for the Bruins, with Brendan Graves making two stops for the Falcons.
• For Alberto Anaya, Saturday night's first-half goal was his first of the season, but the ninth of his BGSU career. He now has 30 points in 42 career matches for the Orange and Brown, leading current Falcons in both career goals and points.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons will return home for a midweek matchup with UIC on Wednesday (Oct. 18). First touch is set for 7:00 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium. The Flames, who recently spent several weeks in the United Soccer Coaches national poll, are coming off of a decisive 5-1 home victory over Evansville on Saturday evening.
• Then, BGSU returns to the road next weekend, taking on Drake next Sunday afternoon (Oct. 22). That match begins at 2:00 p.m. ET.
FOR MORE INFORMATION...
• For more information on the BGSU men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMSoccer), Instagram (bgfalcons and bgsumsoccer) and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
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Team Stats
BGS
BEL
Goals
1
2
Shots
10
6
Shots on Goal
4
4
Saves
2
3
Corners
7
2
Fouls
14
5
Scoring Plays

Brock Kiper (5)
Assisted By: Riley Clothier
GOAL by BEL Kiper, Brock Assist by Clothier, Riley.
03:39

Alberto Anaya (1)
GOAL by BGS Anaya, Alberto.
19:14

Ayden von Essen (1)
Assisted By: Michael Saunders
GOAL by BEL von Essen, Ayden Assist by Saunders, Michael.
65:22
Game Leaders
Players
Players Mentioned
Off The Pitch: Bennett Painter (Sept. 3, 2025)
Thursday, September 04
Eric Nichols Post-Match Interview (Sept. 1, 2025)
Monday, September 01
Bennett Painter Post-Match Interview (Aug. 21, 2025)
Friday, August 22
Eric Nichols Post-Match Interview (Aug. 21, 2025)
Friday, August 22