In The Nest: Fifth-Year Falcon Nathan Masters is Ready for the 2023 Season
Medical Mutual
8/7/2023
Nathan Masters (Sylvania, Ohio) has been a part of two NCAA Tournament teams in his first four seasons as a Falcon, and has been involved in several of the team's most important goals in the last few decades. As Masters and his teammates prepare to get the 2023 season underway, let's learn a little more about this fifth-year Falcon phenom…
Q: What did you do this summer?
Masters: This summer I played and interned for Kalamazoo FC in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Q: When did you start playing soccer and how did you wind up gravitating toward the sport?
Masters: I started playing soccer when I was around 3 and seemed to be pretty good at it so I stuck with it. I also lived down the street from Pacesetter Park which made it easy to go and play with my friends.
Q: You are a native of Sylvania, Ohio, not too far away from Bowling Green. When and how did you first become aware of BGSU men's soccer?
Masters: I wasn’t too aware of BGSU soccer until I was in high school and my club coach, who at the time happened to be Jimmy Walker, invited Coach Nichols to come watch one of our training sessions.
Q: What made you decide you wanted to attend BGSU and play soccer for the Falcons?
Masters: There were a few reasons I decided to play soccer for BGSU. First was the competitive environment; I noticed how intensely the program competed in training/games and it made me eager to be a part of it. Second, BGSU was where my dad (Bob Masters) ran track and cross country, and it is also close enough for my family to come to watch games. Last but most importantly, I felt welcomed by all the staff and comfortable whenever I was on campus.
Q: Do you have any pre-game superstitions or routines?
Masters: I don’t have any superstitions, but my routine before a game is to have a cup of coffee about an hour before playing.
Q: After coming off the bench as a freshman, you moved into the starting lineup in your second season and were named to the All-MAC Second Team while helping the Falcons win the MAC Championship. You clinched the MAC title with an overtime win at Cochrane Stadium. Can you describe how it felt to win the championship that day?
Masters: That day is by far my favorite memory of BGSU. After losing in the final the year before and going through the pandemic, it felt like we had earned the championship and the respect we deserved as a team.
Q: Then, you scored a goal in the Falcons' first NCAA Tournament match in 25 years, against Monmouth. What was it like to travel to North Carolina and play in the NCAA Championships?
Masters: It was a surreal experience being there. Representing BGSU on the biggest stage for college soccer after such a long time was amazing and to score a goal made it even better.
Q: After making the NCAA Tournament in the spring of 2021, BGSU advanced to the MAC Tournament that fall before losing in the semifinals. But, after it seemed like the season might be over, the Falcons earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. How did it feel to see Bowling Green's name pop up on the screen during the selection show, and to know that your season would continue?
Masters: It was honestly unexpected to receive an at-large bid, but after accomplishing what we did that season, it made sense to us as a team even without winning the MAC Tournament. Seeing BGSU chosen during the selection show felt like we had another chance to do something special.
Q: You and your teammates indeed did something special. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Louisville, you had the primary assist on a Kale Nichols goal as BGSU defeated the Cardinals to advance to the second round. What did that win mean to you and your teammates?
Masters: The win against Louisville meant so much to us as a team. We always embrace being the underdog and for us to advance in the NCAA tournament against a team of Louisville's caliber was something we will never forget.
Q: Last fall, you scored a spectacular goal in the home win over Northern Illinois, volleying a cross out of the air. What was going through your mind as the ball came to you, and what was going through your mind after you saw the shot go into the net?
Masters: Well, when I saw the ball coming to me, I knew I wanted to shoot it, and with the ball being in the air my only option was to volley it. Then seeing it go in felt great especially after trying that shot twice before and not being able to score it.
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— BGSU Men's Soccer (@BGSUMSoccer) June 23, 2023
With over 400 votes, Nathan Masters goal vs NIU is the Goal of the Season??#AyZiggy pic.twitter.com/64bdROq9Gf
Q: You are using your ‘Covid Year’ and returning to BGSU for a fifth season with the Falcons this fall. What went into your decision to return?
Masters: It was almost a no-brainer when it came to deciding whether I wanted to return or not. I couldn’t pass up a chance to compete with my team one more time.
Q: You are a sport management major at BGSU. What made you decide to study in that field, and what are your career goals after college?
Masters: I decided to study Sport Management because I was interested in sales and also wanted to be involved in athletics, so Sport Management was the right path for me, and it has been great so far. After college my goal is to work for an MLS team.
Q: Who inspired you the most athletically as you were growing up?
Masters: I was inspired a lot by Lionel Messi who is a small, left-footed player that I tried to mimic growing up. But overall, I was inspired by my parents, who encouraged me the most to be the best athlete I could be.
Q: How would you describe your style of play?
Masters: Aggressive and quick is how I would describe my style of play. I like to make tackles and be a pest to the other team.
Q: What is your go-to restaurant and/or meal?
Masters: My go-to restaurant is Chick-Fil-A.
Q: Where is your favorite place on campus and why?
Masters: My favorite place on campus is the student union because you have everything you need in one spot when you are trying to study.
Q: Who is the funniest player on the team?
Masters: It was Abdi (Faqi) but since he graduated, I would say Trace Terry has filled the spot. He always has some goofy jokes to tell.
Q: Describe Coach Nichols in one word.
Masters: Driven.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a part of the BGSU men's soccer program?
Masters: My favorite thing is getting the opportunity to meet some great people who will be lifelong friends of mine.
Q: What are your goals, both personally and for the team, for the 2023 season?
Masters: My personal goals are to help the team as much as possible by scoring and assisting. Our team goals for this season are to win the Missouri Valley Conference and make a run in the NCAA tournament.
