Sept. 5, 2008
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - Following a scoreless opening 45 minutes of action, senior Yan Klukowski and Central Connecticut State exploded for four second half goals en route to a 4-0 victory over the St. Bonaventure men's soccer team on Friday afternoon.
The reigning Northeast Conference champions improved to 2-0 following their second straight victory over the Bonnies, while the Brown and White dropped to 1-1 on the young season. The Blue Devils defeated St. Bonaventure 1-0 last year before advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
"Central Connecticut State was really deserving of this afternoon's result," said head coach Mel Mahler. "They are a very well organized club and returned a majority of their players from last season's Sweet 16 side. I didn't see many weaknesses in them throughout the game and we weren't able to raise our level of play for the full 90 minutes."
Despite being out-shot 8-1 in the first half, the Brown and White headed into halftime knotted with Central Connecticut State in a 0-0 stalemate. Sophomore Dan Mitchell was the only Bonnie to register a shot in the first 45 minutes as his strike at the 26:38 mark forced a save from goalkeeper Paul Armstrong.
Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy candidate Yan Klukowski led the Blue Devil offensive attack with a trio of the club's second half scores. The English international put his side on the board in the 66th minute when his direct kick from just outside the 18-yard box found the back of the net to break the scoreless draw.
Klukowski struck twice more in the contest's next 12 minutes to stretch the club's advantage to three goals. The senior tallied his second goal of the match thanks to another score off a set piece in the 73rd minute before securing the hat trick less than five minutes later. Junior Mersad Sahanic set up the club's third goal with a long through ball to the feet of Klukowski, who beat backup keeper Ben Nida to the right panel of the net.
The Blue Devils tallied a fourth goal on the stroke of the final whistle as Christopher Brown scored off a rebound in the 84th minute.
Central Connecticut State owned a commanding 26-4 shot advantage, including a 18-3 edge in the second half, as well as a 9-1 lead in corner kicks. After tallying three points in the season opening victory over Army, junior Samuel Maheu registered a pair of shots this afternoon. Sophomore Shane Nolan also posted his first career strike on target.
Sophomore David Flynn turned away four shots, while allowing a pair of goals before being relieved by Nida at the 73:52 mark. Nida saw action between the posts for the final 16:08 of the match in his first appearance since 2006.
"Our challenge is to regroup and prepare for our next match at Quinnipiac," said Mahler. "We head into Sunday's contest on an unequal playing field as we will have only one day of rest to their four days off. However, I am confident our guys will be able to overcome the odds and will rise to the occasion against the Bobcats."
The Bonnies will remain in the state of Connecticut in preparation for Sunday's match at Quinnipiac. Kick-off is slated for noon in New Hamden.
