Ball, BGSU Blank Northern Kentucky, 2-0

Tuesday, September 30

Bowling Green, Ohio

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

4-4-2, 0-1-0

Northern Kentucky

2-5-3, 0-1-2

Northern Ky.

Bowling Green

The Falcons celebrate Bennett Painter's (12) second-half goal

Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics

September 30, 2025 | Men's Soccer

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Redshirt sophomore keeps clean sheet in his collegiate debut

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team returned to winning ways Tuesday night (Sept. 30), picking up a 2-0 victory over Northern Kentucky University at Cochrane Stadium.

Senior Trace Terry and junior Bennett Painter each scored goals for the Falcons (4-4-2), while redshirt sophomore Jason Ball – making his collegiate debut – had five saves to earn the shutout.

Terry converted a first-half penalty kick after Painter was fouled in the penalty area, and Painter doubled the lead with a perfectly-placed shot early in the second half.

Terry had a three-point night, with an assist on Painter's goal, while junior Anthony Hernandez had the primary assist on the play.

Landon Barth, making his first collegiate start for NKU (2-5-3), made one save in goal, while the Norse also had a 'team save.'

Tuesday marked the first time this season that NKU played a match decided by more than one goal. The Norse entered Tuesday night with a pair of one-goal victories, four one-goal defeats and three ties.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Less than three minutes into the match, a steal by Aiden Ptacek led to a BG threat. Ryko Bodurov found Trace Terry with a pass, but Terry's shot was blocked near the goal line by an NKU defender.
• Ten minutes into the contest, the visitors had a chance, but a shot by Jason Purks was tipped out of play by a BG back-liner. Several minutes later, Jason Ball thwarted a good chance for the Norse, making a save on Ali Taleb.
• With just under 13 minutes left in the opening half, a foul was called in the penalty area and the Falcons were awarded a penalty kick. Terry took the kick and made no mistake, beating NKU goalkeeper Landon Barth to give the Falcons the lead.
• Late in the period, a free kick by Andrew Shaffer sailed into the box, and Bennett Painter made a diagonal run, hitting a header that went just over the crossbar.
• Early in the second half, a steal by the visitors deep in the BG end provided a nervy moment for the home fans. But, a shot from the top of the box was blocked by Saul Rios and cleared to midfield.
• Just a few minutes later, however, Painter and the Falcons doubled the lead. After a steal by Anthony Hernandez, the home side possessed the ball for over 30 seconds, with approximately nine passes during that sequence. Rios, Mads Christensen, Joshua Saavedra and Giovanni Soares all were involved, and the final few quick passes saw Soares find Hernandez, who played a quick ball to Terry. Terry immediately played it back, and Hernandez hit a through ball to Painter, who took a dribble from left to right across the top of the box, then hit a shot from approximately 19 yards out that eluded the diving goalkeeper and found the lower-right-hand corner of the net.

ADDITIONAL STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• Trace Terry now has 13 points on the season, with six goals and an assist. Bennett Painter has 10 points, with four goals and two helpers.
• Terry increased his career totals to 24 goals, 12 assists and 60 points at BGSU. He has moved into a tie for 11th place on both the goals and points lists. And, with the 10th game-winning goal of his career on Tuesday night, he is now fourth on that Falcon career chart.
• Painter has scored 48 points in 43 career matches. He has moved into a tie for 17th on the BGSU career goals list, and the junior is now tied for 25th on the career points chart.
• Anthony Hernandez picked up his first assist of the season, and the junior now has five in his BGSU career.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will hit the road for four of the first five matches of October. BGSU will return to Missouri Valley Conference action on Friday (Oct. 3), heading to Nashville to face Belmont. That match will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET at E.S. Rose Park.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will step outside of conference play for the final time this season, facing Cleveland State on the road next Tuesday (Oct. 7). The Falcons' next home game is set for Friday, Oct. 10, when Bradley comes to Cochrane.

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.