Final Stats
Sept. 14, 2011
Contact: Tim Ertle
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - A goal by redshirt sophomore Admir Suljevic in the 75th minute tied the game at one, but a quick answer 53 seconds later from Wake Forest pushed the Demon Deacons ahead for good as they won the non-conference affair, 2-1.
The loss drops Cleveland State to 2-3, while Wake Forest moves to 2-1-1.
"This was the best I've seen the team play since we beat Akron last year," said head coach Ali Kazemaini. "For 90 minutes on the road against a very formidable team, we played some fantastic soccer. These kids have nothing to hang their heads about. I am really happy with how we played tonight against a really outstanding team and we can take a lot away from this."
Wake Forest scored the only goal of the first half off the foot of Ben Newnam in the 44th minute and went into the intermission with a 1-0 lead. CSU goalkeeper Brad Stuver kept his team in the game by making six saves in the first half.
The Vikings got the goal from Suljevic, his second of the year, to even the score with 15 minutes left in the contest. Just 53 seconds later, Andy Lubahn notched the game-winner.
"As a team, we exerted so much energy to push the ball into their end and get the goal that I think we relaxed for a little bit," Kazemaini said of the second Wake Forest goal. "I think our team learned that in order to play at a championship level, you can't relax for even a second. I don't want that to overshadow tonight though, because I was really happy with how we competed."
Stuver finished the contest with eight saves, his highest total of the season.
The Vikings put four shots on goal with Suljevic blasting two and one each from Aaron Adkins and freshman Mike Derezic.
Cleveland State will attempt to end its two-game losing skid on Sunday (Sept. 18) afternoon when the Vikings host Robert Morris at 3:00 p.m. Krenzler Field has been good to the Vikings over the past three years as they have won at an 85 percent clip (19-2-3) at home.
They have also fared well in home openers, totaling a 7-2-2 record since 2000. Under Kazemaini, the Vikings are 3-1-1 in Krenzler Field openers.
