Early Goal Lifts Michigan to 1-0 Labor Day Win

Monday, September 1

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

1-2-1, 0-0-0

Michigan

3-0-1, 0-0-0

Bowling Green

Michigan

Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics

September 01, 2025 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Final Stats Support BGSU Men's Soccer

Falcons return home to face MSU Friday night

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – An own goal early in the match was enough to lift the University of Michigan past the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team, 1-0, on Monday afternoon (Sept. 1). The non-conference match was held at U-M Soccer Stadium.

Enzo Gil made five saves for the Falcons (1-2-1), but the Wolverines (3-0-1) got the only goal they would need in the sixth minute of the match. Shuma Sasaki took the ball to the end line on the left side of the penalty area, and slid a ball toward the goalmouth. The low cross deflected off a BGSU defender and got between Gil and the near post. Sasaki was given credit for the goal in the official stats.

B!G PLAYS / HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Wolverines took an early lead on an own goal, as a low left-side cross from Shuma Sasaki, played from near the end line, deflected off of a BGSU defender and went into the net. Sasaki was credited with the goal, which came just under six minutes into the match.
• Falcon goalkeeper Enzo Gil made three first-half saves, including back-to-back stops on Oliver Martin and Nicolas Cassiday less than a minute apart.
• With just under eight minutes remaining in the half, Trace Terry blocked a clearing attempt by the Wolverines in U-M's own penalty area. The ball caromed directly to Bennett Painter, who fired it into the left side of the net. But, it was ruled that Painter, who had been pressuring the goalkeeper prior to the wayward pass, was offside on the play.
• Off of a U-M corner kick early in the second half, Gil made a spectacular diving save on a shot by Kyle Pierson, thwarting Pierson's effort near the right post.
• With under five minutes remaining, Andrew Shaffer played a diagonal ball from the left side. Joshua Saavedra's flick-on sent the ball toward Anthony Hernandez in the box, but Hernandez, with a defender draped all over him, was unable to redirect the ball toward goal.
• Painter had the Falcons' final shot of the day, with an effort that went over the crossbar just before the public-address announcer began the 10-second countdown.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will face a second-straight Big Ten Conference foe this weekend, hosting Michigan State on Friday (Sept. 5). That contest will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Cochrane Stadium, and admission is free to all BGSU regular-season matches.

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.