CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's soccer team opened the 2014 season Friday afternoon, earning a 3-2 overtime victory against Salem International University. Junior Alvaro Pichardo scored the golden goal for the Vikings in the overtime period, notching his first goal at CSU.
The Vikings, who controlled play for the majority of the first half, were finally able to get on the board in the 42nd minute, when Sergio Manesio converted a free kick from the top of the box to put CSU up 1-0 at the halftime break.
Salem International evened the score just 1:14 into the second half, after clearing a shot past the CSU defense and beating Nick Ciraldo to the far left side of the net. The score stayed knotted at 1-1 for 15 minutes, until Dan Koniarczyk slipped a shot past the goalie from the top left corner of the box, giving the Vikings a 2-1 lead. Koniarczyk got the ball from Silvester Messiah who was in the middle section of the box.
The Vikings were able to hold their lead until the 83rd minute, when Salem International once again knotted the score off of a free kick pass. The score remained at 2-2 for the rest of regulation, forcing the overtime period.
The two teams were evenly matched throughout the overtime period, with the Vikings finally breaking through at the 96:20 mark. Pichardo's golden goal came from the top left corner of the box and squeezed in past the goalie at the left post. Pichardo's game-winner was assisted by Thomas Beck and Jacob Naumann.
Cleveland State dominated Salem International in shots, 16-4, but the two teams were more evenly matched in shots on goal, 7-4.
Ciraldo, who played the entire game in goal for the Vikings, recorded two saves.
The Vikings will continue opening-weekend play on Sunday (Aug. 31), when they travel to Marshall for a 1:00 p.m. contest.
