Sept. 27, 2011
Final Stats
Sept. 27, 2011
Contact: Tim Ertle
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CLEVELAND, Ohio - For the third time in four games, the Cleveland State men's soccer team couldn't reach an outcome in 90 minutes. Unfortunately for the Vikings faithful, Wright State scored the game winning goal on a penalty kick in the 93rd minute to come away with a 2-1 victory and hand CSU their first loss in Horizon League play.
Cleveland State is now 2-6-1 overall and 0-1-1 in the Horizon League. Wright State climbs a game over the .500 mark, now 5-4 and 2-0 in league play.
"It was a tough outcome because we played well in the second half, even dominating at points," said head coach Ali Kazemaini. "We had opportunities to put a few goals on the board and didn't convert."
Justin Laird put the Raiders on top in the 11th minute, beating junior goalkeeper Brad Stuver. Wright State held onto that lead for 72 minutes until freshman midfielder Mike Derezic evened things up.
In the 83rd minute, Derezic took a pass from Manuel Conde and connected on his first collegiate goal. The freshman midfielder fired a team-best four shots and the Vikings tallied 15 shots as a team, but only three were on goal.
"Mike has been playing exceptionally as of late," Kazemaini said of the rookie out of Lakewood, Ohio. "He just got back from an injury, and that really was a nice goal. He makes things happen, and it's nice seeing that out of someone who is new to this level."
None of the shots after Derezic's goal went in the net, and Wright State sealed the deal when Derek Zuniga converted a penalty kick for the game-winner in the 93rd minute.
"They were awarded a penalty kick after a foul was called in the box," Kazemaini said. "It was frustrating because of the time of the game in which it was called. I'll go back and look at the tape and we'll talk about it as a team and learn from it. It really was a tough way to end a game."
The Vikings will look to rebound on Saturday (Oct. 1) night when they travel to Milwaukee. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST.
