The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

September 6, 2008

Healthy Cottle paces MSU’s 2-0 win

By Dan Stillwell

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.

Text Only
Sports
  • Woodrow holds off Huntington

     It took Woodrow Wilson’s boys basketball team nearly three quarters to figure out that the backside lob was open in Huntington High’s zone.

    January 10, 2012

  • MSU hosts Rio Grande

    For the first time since 1995, Mountain State stands a little past the half-way point at the season with five losses.

    January 10, 2012

  • OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - WVU to join Big 12 Conference

    The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012.  The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

    October 28, 2011

  • Friday update: Big East notified WVU leaving for Big 12

    The Big East says it has been notified that West Virginia is leaving the conference and joining the Big 12.

    October 28, 2011

  • Cardinals force Game 7 in World Series

    After one of the greatest games in baseball history, a 10-9, 11-inning victory over Texas in Game 6 in which the Cardinals were twice within one strike of elimination.

    October 28, 2011

  • Schiano sings WVU’s praises

    It hasn’t been the year that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano envisioned.
    Not close.

    December 1, 2010

  • BNI will usher in mat season

    This time around, the Beckley Newspapers Invitational will have a decidedly more local flavor.

    December 1, 2010

  • Huggs likes looks of young Noreen

    Perhaps it was the season. Whatever it was, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins went straight to the pie.
    Well, the figurative pie.
    Huggins had just watched his team beat Virginia Military Institute 82-66 in front of 12,367 fans at the Charleston Civic Center Saturday.

    December 1, 2010

  • Oak Hill places 3 on AA

    Whether it was opposing defenses or illness, nothing stopped Charleston Catholic’s Tom Trupo for long.

    December 1, 2010

  • Spartans open with victory

    Turnovers produce points and the Greenbrier East girls basketball team collected plenty of each en route to an 81-43 season-opening victory against Bluefield on Tuesday night.

    December 1, 2010