Oct. 16, 2003
CLEVELAND - The offensive firepower that was missing in the past five matches finally returned, as the Vikings rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn a tie with Bowling Green Thursday night at Krenzler Field. Stephen Ademolu tallied his 11th goal of the year to even the match and give Cleveland State its first draw in over three and a half years.
"I give the guys a lot of credit for showing their character and fighting back in the match," head coach Pete Curtis said. "We really didn't deserve to be behind, and I think that fired them up at halftime."
Ademolu hit the equalizer in the 76th minute, just five minutes after David Prentice cut the lead in half. Ademolu took possession of the ball near midfield and beat numerous Falcon defenders before placing his shot to the lower left corner of the goal.
Prentice's goal came in the 71st minute, as Bryan Fecke played a ball to the right sideline that Matteo Zappa crossed in to the 6-4 freshman from Australia. Prentice hit a header that beat BG goalkeeper David DeGraff low and to the left.
"We've generated opportunities to score during all of the games we've lost," Curtis said. "If we keep our composure in the attacking third, then more goals will follow."
Bowling Green (5-5-3) took the early lead when P.J. Behan finished a loose ball in the Viking penalty area in the 10th minute of the match. The Falcons made it 2-0 in the 39th minute when Matt Martinka knocked home a penalty kick.
The Vikings (6-8-1) earned their first tie since a September 1, 2000, draw with Western Michigan, a span of 69 games between ties. The Sept. 1 game, incidentally, was Pete Curtis' first game as head coach of the Vikings.
"In the past with us, we're always on the extremes," Curtis said. "We've either gotten blown out or we've blown other people out. This is closer to the happy medium that we've been striving for, to stay in the matches and keep working hard."
The Vikings will next face IPFW on Tuesday, Oct. 21, before returning home for a Oct. 24 match with Butler.
