Published: September 06, 2008 11:50 pm         

Healthy Cottle paces MSU’s 2-0 win

Alex Cottle was fired up before Mountain State University’s soccer match with Tennessee Wesleyan Saturday.

“We were 0-2 and I told the guys we can’t be home and go 0-3,” he said. “That’s inexcusable.”

Cottle’s leadership was effective — by example — as his header in the 20th minute put MSU up for keeps in a 2-0 revenge victory over Tennessee Wesleyan at the YMCA soccer complex.

The sophomore forward received a spot-on pass from Charlot Nacius for his first goal of the season.

“Charlot got the ball with his left foot and I saw a little space behind their sweeper,” Cottle said. “It was just an amazing ball. I didn’t have to move at all; I just had to put it in the corner.”

Cottle, a Ukraine native and 2007 Woodrow Wilson High School graduate, was coming off knee surgery back in the summer.

He was the leading scorer in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Conference last season with nine goals, but before last week’s games in a tournament in Virginia, he hadn’t played soccer in over six months.

“(The knee) feels great,” Cottle said. “I’ve got my confidence back.”

Not just Cottle, but the entire MSU team played with confidence. The Cougars took nine shots on goal while holding the Bulldogs to none.

“(Tennessee Wesleyan) didn’t have any opportunities,” coach John Birkelbach said. “They had a ton of corner kicks and throw-ins, but none really threatened us. Our defense was strong.”

New addition Daniel Smith, a center back from England, scored in the 34th minute on a free kick.

Another scoring chance was lost when Bulldogs keeper Duane Rikard blocked a Cottle penalty kick midway through the first half.

“We deserved every bit of the opportunities we got in the first half,” Birkelbach said. “The way the guys came out fired up was everything that I wanted. We didn’t have that last week (in 4-0 and 5-0 losses to Hampden-Sydney and Lynchburg).”

While the offense cooled down in the foul-marred second half, the Cougars’ defense remained strong.

“Fredson Jean had a fantastic game at right back,” Birkelbach said. “We looked sharp out there and we were ferocious.

“We still have some things to work out, but we’re starting to jell and get some chemistry.”

Tennessee Wesleyan defeated MSU 4-1 last season.

The Cougars’ home game with Salem today has been canceled.

MSU hosts Bluefield College at 8 p.m. Thursday at the YMCA soccer complex.