Sept. 30, 2007
Contact: Brian McCann
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Chelsea Lyons scored off a misplayed long free kick just 3:29 into overtime as Green Bay defeated Cleveland State, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at Krenzler Field.
The loss drops CSU's record to 3-8 overall and 0-1 in league play while Green Bay, which wins for the first time in 10 matches, improves to 1-9, 1-1.
"I am very disappointed," CSU head coach Derrek Falor said. "After playing so well on Friday night, we came out flat today and allowed Green Bay to take the play to us.
"Green Bay did a nice job defensively to take Shayna (Back) and Jennifer (Wieand) out of the match," Falor added. "They pulled back their defense and focused on stopping those two and the strategy worked. We had some good opportunities, but we couldn't convert."
The game-winning goal started with an innocent Viking foul almost 70 yards away from goal. On the ensuing free kick, Sharon Zurbey played a long ball down the middle that found the turf and bounced between three CSU defenders. Lyons gathered the pass in and beat a charging Kelly Zinkiewich to the far post.
"That goal sums up the problems that we have had this year," Falor said. "It came on a set play that was directed at the middle of our defense and our hesitation in covering it cost us the match. It was unfortunate."
Although shots in the contest were even at 12 for each team, Green Bay controlled play for the majority of the contest, especially during the early part of each period. Wieand (6 shots) and Back (3) had the majority of the Viking scoring opportunities, combining for four of the five shots on goal.
The best scoring opportunity came in the 49th minute when Wieand made a nice move around a Phoenix defender and launched a shot from 10 yards out that hit the far post and deflected back to the middle. CSU's Sylvia Olsby ran onto it but her point-blank shot at the apparently empty net was stopped by Green Bay netminder Brook Wikgren.
At the other end of the field, Zinkiewich was strong again for the Vikings, making eight saves while doing a nice job of directing the Viking defenders.
"We did everything today but score a goal," Falor said. "That is unfortunate."
The Vikings continue Horizon League play this week when they take to the road for matches at Loyola on Friday (Oct. 5) and Wright State on Sunday (Oct. 7).
