Published: September 15, 2007 11:47 pm         

Cougars split matches, return home to face Tech

With three road trips under its belt, the Mountain State University men’s soccer team is ready for another home game.

MSU, now 4-1-1, hosts WVU Tech at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the YMCA’s Paul Cline Stadium.

It’s the second home game of the season for MSU, which treated its fans to a 9-0 romp over Kentucky Christian University last Saturday.

“Tech is a big rival and we’ll be ready to play,” coach John Birkelbach said. “They got a good wakeup call Friday.”

The Cougars suffered their first loss of the season, 1-0 at Union College in Barberville, Ky., but bounced back Saturday with a 3-0 win at Berea College.

Troy Beals came off the bench to give MSU a 1-0 lead early in the second half. Ali Katrib followed with a goal on a free kick from 35 yards out.

“It was just a beauty,” Birkelbach said. “Their keeper never moved on it.”

Charlot Nacius took a Max Bendig pass and drove it past two defenders for an easy score.

It could have been worse for Berea. Five minutes after Nacius’ goal, a Beals shot hit the crossbar and Trey Smith’s rebound hit a post.

Earlier in the game, Berea’s keeper made good stops on shots from Alex Cottle and Keith Allison.

“We dominated the game,” Birkelbach said. “We just couldn’t find the goal as much as we would have liked.”

Goalkeeper Adam Thompson made nine saves to preserve the shutout.

He lost a clean sheet the previous day when Tyler Stallons scored in the 52nd minute for Union (5-2-1).

“The game was back and forth, but they scored and we didn’t,” Birkelbach said. “Union is No. 4 in the region — the first time they’ve been ranked.”

That’s also a goal for MSU.

“It’s something I expect to do this year,” Birkelbach said.

Tech stood 2-2-1 going into Saturday’s match at Mars Hill College. The Golden Bears are led by former Salem International coach Florin Martin.

MSU beat Tech 4-0 last season.

“They’re a lot different. Florin has completely overhauled their program,” Birkelbach said. “They’re solid now. It will be an exciting game.

“They’ve got quality players from Serbia and England in their midfield. We’ve got to shut them down and put goals in the back of the net.”

One of Tech’s losses was 3-2 to Union.

Oak Hill freshman Matt Zickafoose is a defender for the Golden Bears, while the Cougars feature former Woodrow Wilson players Alex Cottle, Chaz Turner, Eric Randall and Gary Taylor, plus Fayetteville’s David Coulter.