Oct. 19, 2007
Contact: Stefan Scheibelhoffer
Cleveland, Ohio A goal in the 59th minute helped Butler (5-6-4, 2-2-2 HL) defeat Cleveland State (3-9-2, 0-4-1 HL) 2-1 at Krenzler Field Friday night in Horizon League action. The Vikings remain winless in their last six matches.
Butler started the scoring 8:07 into the match as Kyle Vondenbenken sent a ball from midfield and David Girratana made a nice run into the box and placed a shot into the left corner of the net to put the Bulldogs up, 1-0. The goal was Girratana's second of the season.
"That goal was another mental breakdown," head coach Ali Kazemaini said. "We let somebody run free into the box untouched. That ball should not have made it that far from the midfield."
CSU's Tom Sadd became the ninth player to score a goal for CSU this season when he netted a goal at the 42:45 mark. Josh Williams made a nice pass to Sadd at the top of the box and Williams hammered a left-footed shot that beat Butler's Fabian Knopfler. Knopfler finished with five saves, while the Vikings' Nick Harpel had three.
"That goal was great," Kazemaini said. "Williams made a beautiful pass and Sadd had a nice shot. It felt good for the players to score in the first half."
Butler went up for good at the 59:41 mark of the match as Frank Patano scored his seventh goal of the season as he one-timed a pass from Kyle Pateros that landed in the lower left corner of the net passed the outstretched arms of Harpel.
CSU's best chance to tie the score came in the 70th minute after Butler was called for a foul in the penalty box area. Williams hammered the ensuing free kick, but the shot was blocked by the defenders to stymie the opportunity.
"We came so close to doing some special things," Kazemaini said. "I feel bad for the players because their effort is there."
"Korey Smerk had a good match," Kazemaini said. "This was the first real test for him. Putting a freshman in there could have been bad. He had some nice runs and passed the ball very well."
For the second straight game Cleveland State outshot its opponent as it had an 11-9 advantage.
CSU's next match is Sunday (Oct. 21) when it travels to Fairborn, Ohio to take on Wright State. Game time is at 1:00 p.m.
