Sept. 29, 2005
Contact: Brian Wolff
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State men's soccer team gave the defending Horizon League champions all it could handle during Thursday night's 1-0 loss to UW-Milwaukee. Neil Dombrowski netted the winner in the 37th minute.
With 13 newcomers on the roster, the Vikings have dropped their last seven matches, but are starting to play more like a team.
"The players are starting to understand each other," head coach Pete Curtis said. "Tonight they played with the commitment, determination and above all, concentration that's required to be competitive in this conference."
CSU received a strong performance from freshman goalkeeper Anthony DeMarco, who for the third straight match registered a new career high in saves. DeMarco stopped 13 Panther shots and let up the one goal to Dombrowski in the first half.
The Vikings were forced to try new things in tonight's match as injuries have plagued the team.
"Given the number of injuries and adjustments from them that we have had," Curits said. "The team showed a lot of character and with a little bit of good fortune, we might have forced a tie tonight with a great piece of thinking from Steve Trapp."
Trapp had the best scoring chance on the evening for Cleveland State when he picked up the rebound from a Nenad Stojkovic goal-bound shot from about 12-yards out and chipped a great effort that was headed off the goal line by a Panther defender. It would be as close as the Vikings would get to the equalizing goal.
"All in all I was proud of the players performance," Curtis said. "They are finally beginning to show everyone why I have had so much belief in this team for so long."
The Vikings remain at Krenzler Field for a match with Butler on Sunday, Oct. 2. The contest will be part of a doubleheader with the Cleveland State women's team and will also serve as a rededication of Krenzler Field to Judge Alan I. Krenzler. The women kick off at 12:30 p.m. with the men following at 3:00 p.m.
