Aug. 28, 2006
Contact: Brian McCann
KENT, Ohio -- Brittany Fracasso had a goal and an assist, the goal coming just 3:41 into the second overtime period as Kent State upended the Vikings, 2-1 on Monday afternoon at the KSU Soccer Field.
The loss drops the Vikings record to 1-1 on the year and came by an identical score as a year ago.
"Like last year, it was a 2-1 loss but the match was nothing like last year," head coach Derrek Falor said. "We just came out and played today and weren't scared of our opponent like we might have been during the last two years.
"I am proud of this team. It is the first time that we played matches on back-to-back days and we showed it a little. Still, we took a very good team to overtime and showed an awful lot of heart and determination. We played well under pressure which is a good sign for the rest of the season."
Kent State opened the scoring just 90 seconds in the contest when Caitlin Hester headed home a corner kick from Fracasso.
Cleveland State was able to come right back and even the score at 1-1 on a Shayna Back goal at the 21:27 mark. Back emerged from a pileup near mid-field and burst down the right sideline, beating a pair of Golden Flash defenders before lofting a shot just inside the right post.
"We started the match out a little sluggish and it cost us," Falor said. "But unlike last year, we were able to come back and even the score. We let up a bad goal and didn't allow us to affect how we played the rest of the way. It was a nice effort."
Fresh off her second career shutout on Sunday against Delaware State, Viking netminder Erin Withrow had another strong effort, making eight saves.
The score remained tied until the second overtime when Withrow couldn't corral a short-hop of a long shot by Lauren Evans and Fracasso pounced on the rebound to score the game-winner.
"It was a tough play that just didn't go our way," Falor said.
The Vikings return to action later this week when they continue the current five-match road swing with contests at Valparaiso on Friday (Sept. 1) and IUPUI on Sunday (Sept. 3).
