Sept. 30, 2007
Contact: Brian McCann
BUFFALO, N.Y. - George Kephart scored his first goal of the season with 12:18 to play and Cleveland State snapped a four-match losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Canisius on Sunday afternoon in nonconference action at Demske Sports Complex.
The win improves the Vikings to 3-5-1 overall, including 3-1-1 on the road this season. CSU, which has won all three matches via shutout this season, had not won since a 1-0 triumph at Western Michigan on Sept. 5.
Canisius fell to 1-7 this season.
"To come in here and get a win on the road is a big mental boost for us," head coach Ali Kazemaini said. "It was a pretty harsh environment and a physical game, but we hung in there and came out with the win."
After neither team was able to score in the first half, the Vikings took advantage of a free kick for the lone goal of the match with just over 12 minutes to play.
Sophomore Mitch Boyer played a free kick from near midfield to the backpost where Kephart was able to get his head on the ball, which hit the crossbar and took a CSU bounce into the back of the net.
"We've been unlucky a few times this year, but the ball bounced our way today," Kazemaini said. "It was good to see George get his first goal of the season. We need to get him to start scoring more as we head into league play."
CSU outshot the Golden Griffins, 12-6, but none of Canisius' six shots were on goal. CSU's Nick Harpel earned his third shutout of the season without having to make a save.
The Vikings will return to action on Friday evening when they open Horizon League play by hosting Loyola at 7:00 pm at Krenzler Field.
