Sept. 19, 2008
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - No goals were scored at McGraw-Jennings Field this evening as the St. Bonaventure men's soccer team earned its third straight tie of the season with a scoreless draw against Cleveland State on Friday night.
The Bonnies three-game unbeaten streak improves the side to 1-1-3 in the 2008 campaign, while Cleveland St. tallied its second straight draw to move to 1-3-2.
"It was a frustrating evening because I believe we played well enough to win the match," said head coach Mel Mahler. "Our focus after the Canisius contest was to execute as a team more efficiently in defense and we were able to accomplish that tonight. We just need to start finishing on the many opportunities we have created for ourselves."
Sophomore David Flynn made a pair of stops against the Vikings to post his fourth career shutout and first of the season. Both of Flynn's stops came in the first 45 minutes of action.
The Bonnies owned an 11-8 advantage in shots for the match, but dropped a 5-1 tally in corner kicks. After recording three goals in the 3-2 season opening victory over Army, the Brown and White have registered just a pair of goals in the four matches since then.
A combined 42 fouls were called in this evening's contest, including five yellows and one red card. Anthony Baraldi was sent off in the 98th minute of play.
Following a pair of Bona shots in the opening 10 minutes, the Brown and White nearly found the back of the net in the 22nd after junior Samuel Maheu's strike deflected off a Viking defender into goalkeeper Nick Harpel's grasp. The Bonnies were able to poke the ball across the Viking goal line, but the head referee ruled the keeper had possession.
Cleveland State saw its best scoring chance in the first half turned away by Flynn five minutes before the interval as the Lancaster, Pa. product made an acrobatic diving save on Nenad Stojkovic's strike just outside the six-yard box to preserve the 0-0 score.
Sophomore Dan Mitchell crafted a clever possession down the right flank at the stroke of halftime nearly putting the Bonnies in front, but his strike sailed just wide of the frame and found the side of the net.
The second stanza saw each side fire a trio of shots with each failing to reach the target. Prior to junior Joe Miller's blast over the net at the 55:48 mark, senior John Darrah narrowly missed a header destined for goal by inches off the cross from Maheu.
Following the first overtime session, the pace of play picked up in the final 10 minutes. Second-year midfielder Fabrizio Savarino forced a save from Harpel in the 100th minute followed by a Brett Allen strike that was blocked before having a chance at goal.
The match's best opportunity for points came at the 105:48 mark when Justin Mancine caught the post following an off balanced shot at net minutes before the final whistle.
Maheu and Savarino paced the Bona attack with three shots apiece, while Mitchell fired two towards net off the bench.
"Tonight's result was discouraging, but at the same time we are in very good shape," said Mahler. "We just need to get back on the playing field and continue to get better in training."
The Brown and White return to action a week from tonight with a 5:00 p.m. match-up at local rival Buffalo on Friday, September 26.
