Men’s Soccer Tournament Results Tuesday, Nov. 12
(3) Oakland 2, (6) Valparaiso 1
(4) Cleveland State 2, (5) Wright State 1
The 2013 Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship started on Tuesday with two quarterfinal matches resulting in 2-1 victories for the higher-seeded home team.
Cleveland State didn’t waste much time before scoring its first goal of the Championship at the 7:07 mark on a goal by Sergio Manesio. The Raiders tied it just seven minutes later as senior defender Greg Marchand recorded his first goal of the season as he connected on a header from eight yards out.
The Vikings took control in the second half as the game-winner was netted by James Howe at the 60:16 mark. Cleveland State held on for victory and advances to the semifinal round to face No. 1 seed UIC in the first match Friday, Nov. 15 at 4:00 p.m. CT.
Oakland got down early in the match against Valparaiso as the Crusaders scored in the 33rd minute on a goal by Nick Suker. The Golden Grizzlies bounced back to counter with a goal of their own in the 42nd minute from a long cross by Cory Archibald that was headed into the back of the net by Chase Jabbori.
The game remained tied until the 64th minute when Matt Rickard headed the ball into the back of the net off of a deflection by a Crusader defender. Valparaiso outshot Oakland 13-11 with both teams having 3 corner kicks in the match.
Oakland takes on No. 2 seed Milwaukee in the second game of the semifinals Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
(3) Oakland 2, (6) Valparaiso 1
Matt Rickard scored the game-winning goal in the 64th minute as the Oakland men's soccer team (7-6-5) came back from 1-0 down to defeat Valparaiso (5-8-5), 2-1 in a quarterfinal match of the Horizon League Championship Tuesday night at the OU Soccer Field. Oakland advances to play No. 2 seed Milwaukee in a semifinal match of the conference tournament.
"To get a win against a quality opponent like Valparaiso in a winner-moves-on type tournament is always nice especially on our home field," said head coach Eric Pogue. "I thought it was a great effort by our boys in some adverse conditions. Going down a goal early is always difficult but we battled back and were able to capitalize on mistake by their back line in the second half."
The Golden Grizzlies would find the back of the net in the 64th minute as the Crusaders misplayed a ball in their own zone and was deflected towards Rickard who was able to put a header towards the net that got past the keeper for the 2-1 final score.
Trailing 1-0 late in the first half, Cody Archibald sent a long ball into the box from the left side of the field and Chase Jabbori put a header to the far post to tie the match at 1-1 in the 42nd minute. Valpo would get on the board first in the 33rd minute as Nick Suker would take advantage of a defensive miscue and was able to chip the ball over Sean Lewis.
Lewis finished the match with four saves, giving up the one goal, while VU's Tom Serratore recorded three saves in the loss.
Oakland will travel to Chicago, Ill. for the semifinal match as UIC will play host for the rest of the Horizon League Championship. The Golden Grizzlies will play Milwaukee on Friday starting at 8 p.m. ET and will look to even the season series as UWM won the first match between the two teams earlier this season in Milwaukee, 2-1.
(4) Cleveland State 2, (5) Wright State 1
The Cleveland State men's soccer team defeated fifth seeded Wright State, 2-1, on Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Championships.
The Vikings (8-12-0) had key goals from freshman midfielder Sergio Manesio and senior forward James Howe in the match. Manesio started the scoring early in the match as he netted a lobber from the top of the box off of a corner kick to give the Vikings an early 1-0 lead. Mike Derezic and Danilo Radjen were credited on the assist.
The Raiders of Wright State would answer off of Manesio's score, as Greg Merchand scored from eight yards out at the 14th minute-mark to tie the game at one apiece. The score remained tied heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Vikings put the finishing touches on WSU. At the 60th minute-mark Howe booted a 15 yard screamer past Wright State's goalie Tyler Blackmer to give the Green and White a 2-1 lead. The Vikings defense kept the Raiders away from the net, and Howe's goal would eventually be the game winner to send Cleveland State to Chicago. The Vikings outshot the Raiders 15-5 in the match and Austin Saini relieving Nick Ciraldo at goalkeeper, notched his fourth win of the year.
Cleveland State will turn their attention to playing second seeded Milwaukee in the semifinals on Friday (Nov. 15). The Vikings will travel to UIC (Flames Field) who is hosting, in Chicago, Illinois.
