Sept. 3, 2008
Final Stats
Contact: Brian McCann
CLEVELAND, Ohio - A slow second half start by the Vikings proved costly as Akron scored the deciding goal in the fifth minute of the second half as the Zips out-lasted Cleveland State, 2-1, on Wednesday night at Krenzler Field.
The loss dropped the Vikings to 0-4 on the young season while Akron improved to 3-0.
"We've come a long way in the last week, but tonight, we were inches away from a win," CSU head coach Derrek Falor said. "We were right in it all night but every time we had a chance, we seemed to let the little things take us out of it.
"We are trying to find the right combination of players on the field and tonight's match really showed me something. We have five freshmen who are really making a statement that they deserve to be in the lineup."
Akron opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Katelyn Hausfeld made a nice run down the left side and lofted a cross over the middle that Rachel Phillip put a head on a redirected it into the right corner of the goal.
The lead would stand until the final minute of the first half when CSU took advantage of an Akron misplay at midfield and made a five-on-four run towards goal. Freshman Nikki Bevilacqua ended up with the ball on the left wing and her shot was deflected by the Akron defense towards the right side of the goal. Midfielder Allie Riczo was among the hoard that converged on the loose ball and she nudged it into the corner of the goal to even the match at 1-1 with just 20 seconds left in the half.
"I thought that play was going to be a turning point in the match because we pressed so hard at the end that we were able to create an opportunity because of an Akron mistake. Unfortunately, we couldn't sustain the momentum after halftime."
The tie didn't last long as Akron took a 2-1 lead just 4:01 into the second half when Heather Rains easily tapped home a pass from the wing from Kyra Petrole.
The goal looked similar to the first as the Zips applied offensive pressure on the wing, this time from the right side, with Petrole being able to get a good cross off before the Viking defense converged upon her. Rains was left unmarked in front of the goal - and behind netminder Kelly Zinkiewich - and had an open net in front of her to one-time the ball into for the easy goal.
"That has been the type of play that has hurt us all season," Falor said. "It seems that we focus on the ball on the wing so hard that we lose sight on the players in the middle. It was the exact same thing on Akron's first goal as well."
Akron had a 13-5 advantage in shots on goal with CSU goalie Kelly Zinkiewich recording six saves.
"We should be able to create more scoring opportunities than that," Falor said.
The Vikings end a stretch that has seen them play four matches in eight days on Friday (Sept. 5) when they travel to Moon Township, Pa for a 5:00 p.m. contest against Robert Morris.
