Oct. 3, 2008
Contact: Brian McCann
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Stephen Byer scored with 5:21 left in the second overtime as Cleveland State out-lasted Green Bay, 2-1, on Friday night at Krenzler Field.
The win snapped a six-match winless streak for the Vikings, who improved to 2-6-2 overall and 1-2 in Horizon League play. Green Bay dropped to 2-5-3 overall and 0-1-1 in the Horizon League.
"This was a much better performance tonight," CSU head coach Ali Kazemaini said. "We regrouped a lot on offense and created some opportunities. Although we scored twice, it could have been much more and we need to do a better job of converting our opportunities.
"We need to have a good practice on Saturday and then come back on Sunday and do this again against Milwaukee."
After playing a wide-open 90 minutes of regulation that ended with a 1-1 tie, both teams toughed it out in overtime as the temperature dipped into the high 40's in the extra frames and both sides suffered injuries that took regulars out of the lineup.
With the game appeared to be headed to a tie, the Vikings caught a break when John Wallace made a steal near midfield and after taking two dribbles, slipped a perfect lead pass ahead down the wing to Jeff Baker, who got an advantage on a Green Bay defender and made a beautiful crossing pass to the far side of the box that Byer collected and took two steps towards goal before blasting a shot that deflected off a defender and just beat the Green Bay goalkeeper to the lower left.
"Stephen made a nice play," Kazemaini said. "It was nice to be able to finish a great chance."
For all practical purpose, the match was a draw as the two teams were about even in every stat category except corner kicks. CSU had a 19-17 edge in shots with shots on goal being even at 11-11, Green Bay making one more foul (22-21). Even the shots in overtime were equal at 3-3.
The Vikings took a 1-0 lead at the 18:31 mark when Mitch Boer converted a penalty kick for his third goal of the season. Boyer cleanly placed the ball in the upper left corner, giving Phoenix goalkeeper Adam Stikl no chance to make the save.
The goal was set up by the speed of forward Slavisa Ubiparipovic, who broke through the left side of the Green Bay defense, took a nice pass through the slot and started in on goal, only to be fouled by a charging Stikl.
Green Bay had an opportunity to even the match at the 39:24 mark when CSU was called for a foul in the box, giving the Phoenix a penalty kick. Tosaint Ricketts took the penalty shot, sending a low line drive to the left corner of the box but CSU goalkeeper Nick Harpel made a diving grab to preserve the lead.
The save was Harpel's second in three attempts on penalty kicks this year. Harpel finished the match with nine saves, including five in the first half and one in overtime.
"Nick did a nice job tonight," Kazemaini said. "He has played some nice games in goal this year, but this might have been the best. He has the ability to overcome making some little mistakes by coming up with a big save on a tough play, like the penalty kick."
Both teams had numerous scoring opportunities down the stretch, each one being averted by a deflected shot by the defense or a nice save in goal.
With the Phoenix pressing late, Green Bay evened the match at the 80:16 mark when Scott Raymonds took a pass from David Prochazka on the right wing and blasted a shot from 10 yards out to the upper corner of the short side of the goal, just outside of the reach of Harpel who had just began to charge down the line.
The match would remain tied until Byer notched his third goal of the season in the second extra session.
The Vikings return to action on Sunday when they host Milwaukee at 2:00 p.m. at Krenzler Field. The match is part of a doubleheader, with the women's team facing Loyola starting at 11:00 a.m.
