2007 Match Recaps
Nov. 7, at Spring Arbor (NCCAA Midwest Region Semifinal)
Spring Arbor eliminated 2006 NCCAA national runner-up Cedarville, 2-1, in the Midwest Region semifinals. The Yellow Jackets end their season at 7-9-3 overall. The host Cougars, 10-6-1, took command early with two goals in the first 20 minutes. CU finally found the net in the 78th minute when Jason Heuer scored his first goal of the season with an assist from Ryan Lustig. The Yellow Jackets dominated the match statistically by outshooting Spring Arbor 19-8 overall and 8-5 in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper John Norton was credited with three saves. [STATS]
Oct. 31, at Ohio Dominican (AMC Qualifying Tournament)
NAIA No. 4 Ohio Dominican scored late in the first half and then used its patented stingy defense to blank the Yellow Jackets, 1-0, in the American Mideast Conference Qualifying Tournament. Cedarville, 7-8-3 overall, now turns its attention to the NCCAA Midwest Regional. The host Panthers, 17-1, found the net in the 33rd minute by heading in a corner kick. That's all they would need as they rolled to their 16th shutout of the season. ODU has allowed just two goals in 18 matches this fall. The Jackets were outshot 16-5 overall and 8-2 in shots on goal. Ohio Dominican also had a sizable margin in corner kicks at 10-1. CU keeper John Norton was credited with seven saves. [STATS]
Oct. 27, at Houghton
Cedarville ended the regular season with a .500 record after playing AMC member Houghton to a 1-1 draw. The Yellow Jackets, 7-7-3 overall played four overtime matches this year with a win and three ties. Kyle Segebart put CU on the board first with an unassisted goal in the 6th minute. It was his second tally of the season. Houghton, 8-3-5, squared the match in the 51st minute. The Highlanders outshot the Jackets 18-9 overall, but it was a slim advantage in shots on goal at 4-3. John Norton registered three saves in goal. [STATS]
Oct. 23, at Urbana
The Yellow Jackets completed the American Mideast Conference South Division schedule with an important 3-1 victory at Urbana. Cedarville, 7-7-2 overall and 3-2-1 AMC, put itself in position to qualify for the upcoming AMC playoffs unless Mount Vernon Nazarene wins its final two matches at home against Ohio Dominican and at Walsh. First things first - the Jackets had to win at a place where they had lost in their three previous visits and it was the Blue Knights who got on the board first in the 27th minute. Stephen Cobucci forged a 1-1 tie with his second goal of the season on assists from Ryan Chaney and Jason Bender. The two teams remained deadlocked in the cold, rainy weather until the 76th minute when Ken Davis buried his team-leading fifth goal of the year with Jason Heuer and Tim Green assisting. Zach Hill's first collegiate goal in the 87th minute sealed the outcome. CU outshot the hosts 24-11 overall and 14-3 in shots goal. Senior goalkeeper John Norton was credited with two saves. Urbana drops to 4-10-2 and 1-4 AMC. [STATS]
Oct. 18, at King
Matt George scored in the 22nd minute and Cedarville held on for 1-0 non-conference win at King. The Yellow Jackets, 6-7-2 overall, have won four-out-of-five matches this season decided by a 1-0 score. Ken Davis recorded his third assist of the season to set up the score which was CU's only official shot on goal in the contest. John Norton made five saves in his fourth shutout of the season. King outshot the Jackets 10-6 overall and 5-1 in shots on goal. The host Tornado drop to 6-9-2 overall. [STATS]
Oct. 13, RIO GRANDE
Rio Grande broke up a scoreless match with three goals in the final 30 minutes to blank the Yellow Jackets, 3-0, in an AMC South Division match. It was the final home contest of the season for Cedarville, 5-7-2 and 2-2-1 AMC. Neither team hit the back of the net until the Redmen buried a shot in the 60th minute. Rio Grande, 8-4-1 and 4-0 AMC, put the outcome on ice with two scores in a 50-second span in the 86th minute. The Redmen enjoyed shot advantages of 17-4 overall and 8-0 on goal. However, CU did create chances and was stuffed on two breakaway opportunities. Rio had four shots hit the post. [STATS]
Oct. 9, at Ohio Dominican
NAIA No. 11 Ohio Dominican scored early and often in a 3-0 AMC South Division outcome that ended Cedarville's four-match unbeaten streak. The Yellow Jackets absorbed their first league loss of the season in falling to 5-6-2 overall and 2-1-1 AMC. The Panthers, 11-1 and 2-1 AMC, found the net in the 4th, 6th, and 17th minutes. That was more than enough for ODU, who has allowed but one goal in 12 matches. The hosts outshot CU 20-8 overall and 8-2 on goal. Starting goalkeeper John Norton made two saves and freshman Kevin Bender came on to get three saves in the scoreless second period. [STATS]
Oct. 6, SHAWNEE STATE
The Yellow Jackets extended their unbeaten streak to four with a 2-1 AMC South Division win over Shawnee State in the annual Homecoming match. Cedarville, 5-5-2 overall and 2-0-1 AMC, has produced three victories and a draw since halting a three-game losing streak. Sophomore forward D.J. Blatherwick cleaned up a loose ball in the box and tucked in his first career goal in the 44th minute. The Jackets quickly made it 2-0 when Matt George found the net off a pair of passes from Josh Gelser and Ryan Chaney in the 52nd minute. The Bears, 5-6-1 and 1-2 AMC, spoiled the shutout in the 86th minute. Cedarville was able to create the most opportunities by outshooting the visitors 20-8 overall and 12-3 on goal. Senior goalkeeper John Norton registered two saves. [STATS]
Oct. 2, at Mount Vernon Nazarene
John Norton made five saves including one on a penalty kick to help preserve a scoreless draw in two overtimes at AMC South Division foe Mount Vernon Nazarene. The Yellow Jackets, 4-5-2 overall and 1-0-1 AMC, played their first 0-0 tie since dueling Master's on Sept. 6, 2003 at the Olivet Nazarene Classic. The host Cougars were awarded a penalty kick with 7:48 remaining in the first 10-minute overtime when Norton came up big en route to his third shutout of the season. CU defenders were also credited with two additional saves during the match. MVNU, 7-3-1 and 1-1-1 AMC, produced a 19-12 advantage in overall shots and a 7-5 edge in shots on goal. A total of 48 fouls were whistled in the match and six cards handed out. It was only the second tie in the 34-game season series between the two schools which Cedarville leads, 23-9-2. The other was a 1-1 deadlock in 1991. [STATS]
Sept. 29, WALSH
Ken Davis netted the equalizer and Ryan Lustig scored the winner as the Yellow Jackets began the AMC South Division schedule with a 2-1 victory over Walsh. It was the second straight game-winning tally for Lustig, who four days earlier scored in a 1-0 double overtime decision at Malone. This time, he took a pass from Jason Heuer and tucked his fourth goal of the season just inside the far post in the 84th minute. Walsh, 6-3-1 and 1-1 AMC, got on the board first in the 55th minute. Cedarville, 4-5-1 and 1-0 AMC, needed just over two minutes to square the match. Chase Riber's throw-in skipped past the keeper and Ken Davis headed home his fourth goal of the campaign. John Norton registered two saves in goal. [STATS]
Sept. 25, at Malone
Ryan Lustig's goal deep into the second overtime provided the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 victory at Malone. The outcome ended a four-match winless streak for Cedarville, 3-5-1 overall. Lustig found the net in the 108th minute for his third goal of the season on an assist from Ken Davis. John Norton registered six saves and notched his second shutout of the year. Malone dips to 3-6. The Jackets are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with the Pioneers. Head coach Ben Belleman is a perfect 7-0 versus Malone with three of those wins coming in overtime. [STATS]
Sept. 22, MILLIGAN
Milligan kept the Yellow Jackets winless at home this season with a 1-0 non-conference decision. Cedarville is 0-4-1 on the home turf this fall. The Buffaloes, 4-3-1 overall, netted the game's only goal with 38 seconds left in the first half. The visitors limited CU to just one shot in the opening 45 minutes, but the Jackets uncorked the first six shots of the second period as they attempted to regain the momentum. Milligan outshot the Jackets 11-8 overall and 4-3 in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper John Norton was credited with three saves for Cedarville, 2-5-1. [STATS]
Sept. 18, WITTENBERG
Wittenberg netted two goals in the first 12 minutes and rode the momentum to a 3-1 non-conference win at Cedarville. The Tigers, 5-2-1, scored in the 4th and 12th minutes on their first two shots of the contest. The Yellow Jackets, 2-4-1, cut the deficit in half when Kyle Segebart buried a 25-yarder just inside the post on a pass from Stephen Cobucci in the 20th minute. Wittenberg responded just three minutes later to complete the scoring. Cedarville outshot the visitors 14-10 overall, but Wittenberg had an 8-6 edge in shots on goal. John Norton had four saves in goal and CU added a team save when a defender cleared the ball off the line. [STATS]
Sept. 15, INDIANA WESLEYAN (Dave Jones Memorial Classic)
NAIA No. 13 Indiana Wesleyan got the go ahead goal in the 62nd minute and then held upset-minded Cedarville in check for a 2-1 victory in the final match of the Dave Jones Memorial Classic. Roberts Wesleyan shocked No. 9 Rio Grande, 3-2, in the first contest of the day. Indiana Wesleyan, 4-0-1, never trailed after needing just a little more than two minutes to get on the scoreboard. The Yellow Jackets answered quickly when Stephen Cobucci hit the net in the 14th minute. The match remained deadlocked until the Wildcats got a perfectly placed header just inside the far post that resulted in the final. John Norton made five saves for Cedarville, 2-3-1. Fouls were a problem for the hosts with the Jackets whistled for 24 infractions compared to nine for IWU. The Wildcats outshot CU 11-8 overall and 7-2 in shots on goal. [STATS]
Sept. 14, ROBERTS WESLEYAN (Dave Jones Memorial Classic)
American Mideast Conference members Cedarville and Roberts Wesleyan battled to a 2-2 draw on opening night of the Dave Jones Memorial Classic. The first match of the event featured NAIA No. 13 Indiana Wesleyan defeating No. 9 Rio Grande, 3-1. The Yellow Jackets, 2-2-1 overall and members of the AMC South Division, never had the lead against the Raiders, who reside in the AMC North. Roberts Wesleyan, 2-3-1, scored in the 5th minute for the early lead. Cedarville countered in the 20th minute when Ken Davis netted his team-high third goal of the season with Stephen Cobucci assisting. It was 2-1 at the intermission after the Raiders scored in the 37th minute. Davis set up Ryan Lustig for his second tally of the year in the 54th minute. Roberts Wesleyan had the slim advantage in overall shots (11-8) and shots on goal (4-3). Senior goalkeeper John Norton was called upon to make two saves. A red card forced CU to play down a man for the final eight minutes of regulation plus the two 10-minute overtime periods. [STATS]
Sept. 8, Trinity International (Bethel Classic)
Ryan Lustig's penalty kick in the 3rd minute held up as CU blanked Trinity International, 1-0, during the second day of the Bethel Classic. Cedarville, 2-2 overall, dominated the match statistically against the Trojans, 0-4-1. The Yellow Jackets outshot TIU 18-3 overall and did not allow a shot on goal while placing six on net themselves. Ken Davis was taken down in the box and Lustig promptly buried his first goal of the campaign. Starting goalkeeper John Norton logged all 90 minutes. [STATS]
Sept. 7, Vanguard (Bethel Classic)
NAIA No. 24 Vanguard rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit a day earlier to stun the Yellow Jackets, 3-2, in the opening round of the Bethel Classic. Cedarville jumped on the Lions quickly with Ken Davis scoring his second goal of the season from Ryan Lustig in the 14th minute for the early lead. Matt George tucked away a rebound for his first goal on an assist from Josh Gelser in the 32nd minute. Vanguard, 3-0, broke into the scoring column with a penalty kick in the 55th minute. The Lions finished the comeback with goals in the 70th and 83rd minutes. CU had an 18-17 edge in overall shots, but Vanguard had a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal. John Norton was credited with four saves in goal. [STATS]
Sept. 1, MID-CONTINENT
Mid-Continent held off Cedarville, 2-1, in the Yellow Jackets' home opener in front of a crowd of 725 fans. The Cougars, 1-1-1, struck first with a goal in the 44th minute. Cedarville needed just five minutes into the second half to tie it when Ken Davis finished off a cross from Stephen Cobucci. The vistors stopped a CU breakaway attempt just moments later and scored the eventual game winner in the 55th minute. Mid-Continent had a 14-8 edge in overall shots and a 6-3 margin in shots on goal. Senior keeper John Norton made his first start and recorded four saves. [STATS]
Aug. 31, at Wilmington
An own goal in the 48th minute gave Cedarville a 1-0 season-opening win at Wilmington in the 49th meeting on the soccer field between the two schools. A free kick by Tim Green was headed by Ken Davis off of two Quaker defenders into the net. Rookie goalkeeper Kevin Bender made two saves in his collegiate debut. CU outshot Wilmington 9-7 overall and 6-2 on goal. [STATS]
