CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State University men's soccer team knocked off visiting Saint Francis (Pa.), 1-0, in the Vikings' second exhibition match of the 2017 campaign Saturday afternoon at a warm and sunny Krenzler Field.
Sophomore Gabriel Pewu netted the game's lone goal in the 72nd minute and has scored both CSU tallies in its two preseason matches. Sophomore Sebastian Kalk went the distance in net and posted the shutout.
The Vikings made three changes to their starting XI from their preseason opener with Pewu, sophomore Thomas Bielanski and freshman Colin Kane being inserted into the opening group. The side faced a Red Flash squad that lost in double overtime in the 2016 Northeast Conference championship match.
Junior Guilherme Vasconcelos was involved in a couple of early scoring opportunities for CSU. His free kick in the 11th minute was the first shot of the match but sailed slightly high. He sent a dangerous cross from the left flank into the box in the 15th minute that the Red Flash keeper had to dive to knock out of bounds after it took a deflection toward the goal.
Saint Francis had its best spell of the match as the first half wore on but was unable to capitalize. Kalk made his finest save of the match in the 18th minute when he dove to his right to grab a low attempt taken from near the top of the box. He did well to hold the rebound as well.
Freshman Thomas M'Barek made a key interception of a SFU pass from his central defense position in the 35th minute that very possibly saved a goal, as the pass looked to be headed into the path of an onrushing SFU forward well inside the 18-yard box.
The Vikings changed formation at halftime and allowed fewer chances to start the second half, as Saint Francis did not have a single shot for the opening 37 minutes of the stanza.
In the 72nd minute, Pewu absorbed some contact from an opposition player and fell inside the penalty area, but the referee waved it away, as the ball subsequently went out for a corner.
On the ensuing corner, Vasconcelos played a ball in front of the goal mouth. After a deflection with a scramble in front of the net, Pewu capitalized and sent a low shot past the keeper.
Now trailing by a goal, Saint Francis pushed forward with more urgency. The Red Flash had five corner kicks and three shots over the final 18 minutes. However, they were unable to place an attempt on frame, although they did come close in the 85th minute when a shot sailed just wide of the post and into the side netting.
Cleveland State will be right back in action at home as it closes out its preseason slate by facing Ohio Wesleyan Monday, Aug. 21, at 6:00 p.m.