Cleveland, Ohio – The Cleveland State University men's soccer team took the lead in the second half, but the Vikings were forced to settle for a 1-1 tie against Horizon League foe Green Bay after 110 minutes of soccer Saturday evening at a cool Krenzler Field.
CSU controlled most of the match and held statistical advantages in multiple categories, including shots (14-6) and corner kicks (6-1), but the hosts were unable to find a second goal.
Freshman Lawrence Karpeh scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season for CSU while junior Jake Lagania and sophomore Noah Pio provided assists on the strike.
Cleveland State held the majority of possession in the first half, but it took the Vikings a little while to generate some chances, as neither team had a shot in the game's first 20 minutes.
Lagania's header in the 23rd minute from just outside the 6-yard box was the game's first good look at goal, but the Green Bay keeper jumped to make the save. Junior Hesham Hammouda soon got into the left side of the box and hit a low effort that went wide of the right post.
Green Bay provided little offensive threat in the first frame as it did not register a single shot.
The game changed in the 53rd minute when Pio gathered a throw-in and played a high ball into the box. Lagania got his head on the end of the ball and was able to redirect toward an onrushing Karpeh. The rookie got on the end of the header before the ball hit the ground and one-timed it with his left foot into the net.
Green Bay was forced to press forward more and did start to get into the CSU defensive third with somewhat more frequency.
The Phoenix would tie the match on a somewhat innocuous-looking play. Buran Huseini received a pass and pushed down the right flank. From a very wide position, he played what may have been a cross, but it nevertheless was on frame and snuck over the CSU keeper toward the back post.
With the game again tied, CSU would take the two remaining shots of the second stanza, but neither would prevent overtime.
Cleveland State took the only two shots of the first overtime session, one of which was on frame, but to no avail.
CSU's best chance at the win came early in the second overtime when Lagania one-timed a deflected ball to a well-timed run of Karpeh. The rookie was in alone on the keeper, but the goalie was able to charge and close the angle and make the point-blank save.
The Vikings had a pair of corner kicks in the final seven minutes but were unable to use them to their benefit. All three of Green Bay's shots in the final stanza were hit high of the goal, leaving each team with a single point.
Lagania's assist was his team-leading fourth of the year. It was also his 12th career helper, the most among active Vikings.
After consecutive league matches, the Vikings will take a step out of conference play this Tuesday, Oct. 4, when they host nationally ranked Xavier.
