Sept. 21, 2007
Contact: Brian McCann
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State scored a pair of goals in the final 15 minutes to break open a tie game as the Sycamores rallied for a 3-1 win over Cleveland State on Friday evening at the ISU Soccer Complex.
The loss, CSU's second in a row, dropped the Vikings record to 2-6 while Indiana State improved to 3-5.
"Our injuries are starting to catch up with us right now and our defense is suffering because of it," CSU head coach Derrek Falor said. "This match was winnable as long as we played together defensively. We didn't, which allowed Indiana State to take advantage."
After a scoreless first half that featured 16 shots, Indiana State opened the scoring at the 50:33 mark when Shae Fehriback got loose on a Allie Radil cornerkick and scored her first goal of the season.
"We continue to allow goals on set plays," Falor said. "If we defended this play like we do in practice than the game would have remained scoreless."
The Vikings would come back and even the match at 1-1 at the 66:15 mark when Jennifer Wieand scored her team-best fourth goal of the year. Shayna Back started the play by beating her defender at midfield down the left side. Back found Wieand open in the middle of the field. After gathering in the pass, Wieand sidestepped a defender and sprinted towards goal, blasting a shot from just inside the 18-yard line that ISU had no chance to stop.
"Our goal was classic Shayna and Jennie," Falor said. "They work so well together and they play off each others strengths. In this case, Shayna pulled the defense towards her before getting the ball to Jennie, who was able to take advantage of the shifting defense."
Meaghan Gaffney gave the Sycamores the lead for good at the 76:51 mark when she blasted a shot from just outside the box on the right side past Viking netminder Kelly Zinkiewich to give ISU a 2-1 lead.
Indiana State would add an insurance goal less than five minutes later when Sarah Whitely scored her fourth goal of the season in the 82nd minute with Gaffney and Lauren Podolski being credited with assists.
Cleveland State was out-shot, 17-11, in the contest with Zinkiewich making six saves. ISU's Rachel Rudzis made five saves for the Sycamores.
The Vikings return home on Sunday (Sept. 23) to host Cincinnati beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Krenzler Field.
