Falcons Fly HIgh Above the Flames, 3-1

Wednesday, October 18

Bowling Green, Ohio

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

6-5-3, 3-2-0

UIC

8-4-2, 3-2-1

Team	1	2	Final F
UIC	1	0	1
Bowling Green	2	1	3

Photo by: Daniel Carlson, BGSU Athletics

October 18, 2023 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)2023 Record Book (PDF)Support BGSU Men's Soccer In The Nest: Brendan Graves

BGSU puts together a complete 90-minute performance to post a key MVC win

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team put together arguably its most complete performance of the season, as the Falcons posted a 3-1 win over UIC on Wednesday night (Oct. 18). The Missouri Valley Conference matchup was held at Cochrane Stadium.

Alberto Anaya had a three-point night for BGSU (6-5-3, 3-2-0 MVC), with the game-winning goal and an assist, while fifth-year Falcons Eli Shope and Nathan Masters also found the back of the net in the win.

With the victory, BGSU remains unbeaten at home this season.

The Falcons had a season-high 27 shots in the win, with no fewer than five different BG players firing at least four shot attempts.

After the home side had had several good chances early on, BG broke through when Shope took a Jake Bergin pass and scored in the 22nd minute.

Bart Muns, one of the top scorers in the conference, capitalized on a defensive miscue to tie the match for the Flames (8-4-2, 3-2-1 MVC) in the 28th minute. But, Anaya capped off a frenetic sequence in the 18-yard box, heading home the rebound after a Trace Terry shot had hit the crossbar in the 35th minute.

In the second half, Masters ran behind the defense to meet an Anaya diagonal ball, putting it over UIC goalkeeper Oren Asher and under the crossbar to put the hosts up by two.

The Flames entered the match ranked 22nd in the nation in scoring offense, and UIC received votes in this week's College Soccer News national poll.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT
• With the win, the Falcons remain unbeaten at home this season. BGSU is now 6-0-1 at Cochrane Stadium.
• BG has won four-straight games at Cochrane, having scored at least two goals in each of those four games. The Falcons have scored three or more goals in each of the last three home contests, all conference wins (3-1 over Bradley, 4-2 against Evansville and 3-1 vs. UIC).
• The Falcons are unbeaten in the last 10 matches at home, having gone 8-0-2 in that time. BG's last home loss was a 1-0 setback to Western Michigan over a year ago (Sept. 27, 2002).

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The wide-open game featured a total of 46 shots, and the Falcons nearly got on the board just two minutes in. Kyle Blasingame played Eli Shope down the right sideline, and Shope centered the ball to Trace Terry. Terry chested it down and hit a half volley as he raced inside the 18-yard box, but UIC goalkeeper Oren Asher was able to make an acrobatic save on the blast.
• Bart Muns, who was dangerous all game long for the Flames, headed a cross just wide with five minutes elapsed.
• In the 14th minute, Shope nearly took advantage of a UIC defensive lapse. With the Falcons pressuring, a defender passed the ball back to Asher, but with a little too much pace for the 'keeper to cleanly play. Asher stumbled momentarily, and Shope charged in and got a foot on the ball, but Asher was ultimately able to keep possession and clear the ball out of danger.
• Less than a minute later, though, Blasingame played Shope through, and only a last-ditch effort by a UIC defender kept the fifth-year Falcon from getting in all alone. Off of the ensuing corner kick, Kyle Cusimano's hard shot was blocked, and Andrew Shaffer's follow-up went over the bar.
• Alberto Anaya was fouled several yards outside the box in the 17th minute, and took a free kick from nearly the same spot where he scored in Saturday's Belmont match. On this occasion, Anaya's hard, low shot whizzed just wide of the right goalpost.
• BGSU broke through in the 22nd minute. Jake Bergin won several challenges near midfield, brought the ball toward the penalty area and found Shope with a pass. Shope knocked the ball past a defender as he raced into the box. Asher was forced to come off of his line in an attempt to cut down the angle, but Shope slid the ball past the 'keeper and into the far side of the net.
• But, just over six minutes later, the Flames would equalize. Joshua Torres played a ball forward, and a BG defensive miscue left Muns wide open. The striker made no mistake from the 18-yard line, sliding the ball into the net.
• But, the Falcons turned up the pressure to retake the lead in the 35th minute. BGSU scored just over 20 seconds after goalkeeper Brendan Graves grabbed a UIC corner kick out of the air. A Graves throw found Shope, who played a diagonal ball toward Anthony Hernandez. A UIC defender barely beat Hernandez to the ball, sliding it toward a teammate near the 18-yard line. Terry pressured that defender, with Hernandez racing onto the ball.
• Hernandez poked it past the charging Asher and hit a shot from the left side that was blocked by UIC's Paul Brauckmann. The rebound came to Terry, who volleyed a blast off of the crossbar. the ball caromed toward the six-yard line, and Anaya was there to head it home just ahead of Asher's diving effort.
• With just over three minutes left before halftime, the visitors threatened to tie the score, but UIC was turned away by the BG defense. Off of a corner kick, Preston Huitron hit a hard shot that was blocked by a Falcon. The rebound came to Muns, who sent a shot toward the far post, but Gus Peacock was there to block the ball near the goal line. The Falcons took a 2-1 lead into the half.
• Six minutes into the second half, Masters was pulled down from behind as he stole the ball from a defender and was poised to head in all alone on the UIC goal. A yellow card was issued to the Flames, and the ensuing free kick was blocked.
• The Falcons had a flurry in the 55th minute after a corner kick, but back-to-back-to-back shots in the box all were blocked by either UIC defenders or Asher. Then, in the 62nd minute, Masters got his head on an Anaya corner kick and put the ball on frame, but Asher made a tremendous leaping save, tipping the ball over the bar.
• Midway through the half, Muns made another bid for the tying goal after a quick throw in. He made a run toward the penalty area and fired a blast that went just wide of the far post.
• With under 20 minutes on the clock, Jake Lane took a pass from Shaffer, eluded a would-be defender on the right side of the box and uncorked a hard shot that forced Asher into a reaction save. Just over 30 seconds later, Shope's hard shot from a tough angle was just wide of the far post.
• With 15 minutes to go, another Shope ball from the right side – a cross this time – was just inches out of reach of a lunging Terry.
• But, with 13 minutes and change remaining, Masters put the Falcons up by two. He raced past a defender to get on the end of a perfectly-played diagonal ball by Anaya. The ball bounced once near the 18-yard line, and Masters stuck out his right foot to poke the ball over the onrushing Asher and under the crossbar.
• Each team had several more shot attempts before the final whistle sounded – did we mention there were 46 total shots? – but the match ended with that same 3-1 scoreline.

SHOPE.

GOAL. #AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/iTpEGZskzg
— BGSU Men's Soccer (@BGSUMSoccer) October 18, 2023

NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT?

🔥🔥🔥#AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/f5peYxXZNW
— BGSU Men's Soccer (@BGSUMSoccer) October 18, 2023

3RD ON THE NIGHT. ⚽️#AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/V5g3DgTRek
— BGSU Men's Soccer (@BGSUMSoccer) October 19, 2023

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons, as mentioned, took a season-high 27 shots, while the Flames had 19 shot attempts. BGSU had a slim 9-8 lead in shots on goal, and the Falcons also had one more corner kick than UIC, with an 8-7 lead in that category.
• Both goalkeepers, BGSU's Brendan Graves and UIC's Oren Asher, made six saves.
• Alberto Anaya and Trace Terry each took five shots, while Nathan Masters, Andrew Shaffer and Eli Shope all had four for the Falcons. Bart Muns led all players with six shots for the Flames.
• Anaya scored his second goal of the season, and his second in as many matches. With a three-point game on Wednesday, he now has 33 career points in 43 matches, on 10 goals and 13 assists.
• Anaya had his first game-winning goal of the season and the sixth of his career.
• Terry picked up an assist on Anaya's goal. Terry now has a team-leading 13 points this season, and Anaya and Terry each have five assists, tying them for the BG lead.
• Eli Shope scored his fourth goal of 2023, tying him with Terry for the team lead in that category. Shope now has nine points this season and 12 in his BGSU career.
• Nathan Masters scored his first goal of the season and the seventh of his career. Masters has 26 career points as a Falcon.
• Jake Bergin picked up his first career assist in Wednesday's win.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will return to the road this weekend, facing Drake on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 22). That match is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. ET at DU's brand-new Mediacom Stadium.

• Then, the Orange and Brown will close the home portion of the regular-season schedule by hosting nationally-ranked Missouri State on Friday, Oct. 27, with that contest set to begin at 7:00 p.m.

REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE
Sun., Oct. 22 – at Drake, 2:00
Fri., Oct. 27 – #10 MISSOURI STATE, 7:00
Wed., Nov. 1 – at Northern Illinois, 8:00
All times p.m. and Eastern (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.