CEDARVILLE, Ohio - No. 15 Cedarville made a winning start to G-MAC play with a 2-1 victory over Findlay in the league opener at Yellow Jacket Field.
The home side struck twice in the second half to secure the win before a crowd of 450 fans.
Kirk Wilson headed in a short free kick from
Matthew Weller through a crowd in the 66th minute to give the hosts the lead.
After the Oilers equalized in the 73rd,
Michael Catanzarite delivered the game-winner in the 85th on a sharp-angled finish from 15 yards out.
The quick counterattack was set up on a pass by
Amari Everage.
Cedarville put 5-of-9 shots on frame compared to Findlay's 2-of-10. Goalkeeper
Eben Dewhurst went the distance between the pipes.
The win extends the Jackets' unbeaten start to 3-0-2 overall. Findlay, the defending G-MAC Tournament champion and an NCAA Division II Final 16 team last fall, fell to 1-3.
Quotable: Head Coach Brett Faro
"We talked about it last week and that's how do you respond when you give up a goal? It's really the same mentality we had throughout the game of just continue to play the way that we know how to play. Bounce back. Brush it off. Continue to look forward and not look backwards. I thought the guys did that well."
Quotable: Michael Catanzarite
"It was definitely a relief (to score). I think we were really hard to play against today. It was the first conference game and all these games are tough. We just stayed the course until the end. Ultimately, we stuck together and got the goal we needed and defended well."
Five Facts:
- Cedarville improves to 15-8-3 all-time against Findlay.
- Wilson's goal was the first of his career.
- All three of Cantanzarite's goals this season are game winners.
- The Jackets' back line has allowed just two goals across its first five matches.
- Everage has contributed a point in each of the last three outings.
