Sept. 30, 2006
Final Stats
Contact: Josh Rattray
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Freshman George Kephart scored the game-winner in the eighth minute of the first overtime to give the Vikings their first Horizon League win of the season, 1-0, over Butler on Saturday (Sept. 30) afternoon at Butler's Varsity Field. With the win, the Vikings improve to 4-6-1 and 1-2 in league play, while the Bulldogs fall to 4-6-1 and 1-1.
Kephart's tally, his third of the season, came at the 97:15 mark off a ball from sophomore Nenad Stojkovic. Kephart received the ball 15 yards out, center and fired a shot past Butler goalie Frank Peabody. Stojkovic got the assist on the play.
"It was an ugly win, but we'll take it," head coach Ali Kazemaini said. "Butler outplayed us in the second half. We were happy that we even got into overtime. But George made the play and we're going home with the `W.""
Butler outshot CSU, 9-1, in the second half and had several point-blank scoring opportunities off of corner kicks and crosses.
Sophomore Kasey Gray stopped nine shots in goal en route to his second shutout of the season. The match was the longest complete game effort of his career.
"Kasey had a great game in goal for us," Kazemaini said. "He made all the plays today."
After a slow, back-and forth start to the match, action picked up after freshman Eric Tattersall was involved in a nasty collision with Butler's Dorshon Deans at the 21:14 mark. Tattersall and Deans converged on a loose ball on the far left side and Deans appeared to kick Tattersall in the leg. Deans was ejected amidst a brief skirmish between the two teams and Tattersall was helped off the field.
Senior Mark Zambra received a yellow card at the 27:45 mark on an aggressive challenge play, resulting in another mix-up between the two teams. Butler's Tom Turner and Jared Gilespie also received yellow cards in the second half.
"I thought the officials did a great job, considering how physical the match was," Kazemaini said. "If we could have those officials every time, I would be happy."
Cleveland State's best scoring opportunity of the first half came at the 11:51 mark when freshman Mitch Boyer fired a shot high off the left post and freshman Bryan Henson got a shot off the rebound.
The Vikings hit the post again in the second half when a shot of the foot of junior Tom Sadd struck the left post in the second half at the 66:07 mark.
Zambra dropped back in goal alongside Gray to block Butler's best scoring opportunity of regulation, a shot by Kyle VondenBenken in the 84th minute.
The Vikings are back in action on Tuesday (Oct. 3) at Rutgers. Kickoff is slated for 8:00 p.m.
