Final Stats
Sept. 24, 2011
Contact: Tim Ertle
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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Playing 110 minutes wasn't enough to decide a winner on Saturday (Sept. 24) night in the Horizon League opener for both Cleveland State and Valparaiso. Neither club was able to score a goal and the game was called a draw after two 10-minute overtime periods.
The Vikings had a few good opportunities, many of them caused by Admir Suljevic. The sophomore forward fired four shots, one which ricocheted off the bottom right corner of the post.
Cleveland State recorded 10 shots as a team, but Kyle Zobeck was only forced to make just one save to shutout the Vikings.
On the flipside, a couple of critical defensive mistakes gave the Crusaders legitimate scoring opportunities but junior goalkeeper Brad Stuver was there to answer the bell. He made seven saves to earn his second shutout of the season.
"I thought Brad Stuver really played well, especially in the overtime," said head coach Ali Kazemaini. He had to come up big - and he did."
The coach also singled out the return of freshman Mike Derezic in the midfield. He returned after sitting out a week due to injury, but Kazemaini said Stuver and Derezic were the "players of the game."
It was unquestionably a physical affair with the Vikings being whistled for 21 fouls, while the Crusaders were charged with eight fouls. Each team received a yellow card.
Cleveland State will take its 2-5-1 record on the road Tuesday night to take on Wright State, fresh off their 2-1 overtime victory over Detroit in their league openers. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in Fairborn, Ohio.
"We have a short turnaround," Kazemaini said. "We'll take Sunday off and then get back at it on Monday to plan for Wright State. We have a point under our belts now. It was a fair result. Now we just have to go forward."
