Birkelbach encouraged by MSU debut

By Dan Stillwell
Register-Herald Sports Writer

John Birkelbach allowed himself a smile.

His Mountain State University men’s soccer team made its debut and performed well in a 1-1 scrimmage with Salem University at the YMCA Sports Complex Sunday.

“Not bad at all,” Birkelbach said after the Cougars played three 30-minute periods against the Tigers. “They’ve never played in a game together and for them to do as well as they did puts a smile on my face.”

Salem, the defending West Virginia Conference champion, controlled possession for much of the game, taking 18 shots to just seven for MSU.

But the defense, led by goalkeeper Adam Thompson and defenders Isaac Acheampong and John Gdula, held firm except for one close-in goal in the first period.

“A lot of our guys can play college soccer, with the tackling, winning head balls and the basic skills of making four or five passes in a tight area,” Birkelbach said.

Thompson, a freshman from Pataskala, Ohio, made 14 saves.

“I brought Adam here to give us a solid goalkeeper with sure hands and shot-blocking ability,” Birkelbach said. “Some of the saves he made were absolutely amazing.”

Salem’s only goal came from junior midfielder Andy McNab. MSU equalized in the second period, when freshman midfielder Charlot Nacius scored after Moussa Sidibe had made a long run into the box.

Minutes earlier Nacius had missed a shot on a breakaway.

“Charlot could have played that ball across the goal to Tyler Evans, who was wide open, but he shot it,” Birkelbach said. “It was one of those if he’d scored I would have said, ‘Great goal,’ and if he missed, I’d said, ‘You should have passed it.’”

The MSU coach was more worried about the hole in his defense when Sidibe came running up.

“I was calling for someone to get back,” Birkelbach said. “He made that run and it opened up Charlot on the right side. He did a little toe poke into the back of the net and got MSU’s first goal. Wonderful.”

It was the first varsity soccer match ever for the Cougars, who hired BIrkelbach last May to develop the program .

“I told John he’s done a great job of assembling a good, combative, skillful team,” Salem coach Florin Martin said. “They definitely will not look like a new team. I’m confident they’ll make everybody proud in Beckley.”

Salem won the WVC crown last season despite a 9-8-2 record. The Tigers shrugged off a five-game losing streak to win three consecutive tournament games.

The team was hit hard by graduation, transfers and ineligibility. With several players out injured, Salem dressed just 14 players for the scrimmage.

“We could have used a few more subs,” Marton said. “We just returned from a tour in Scotland and I didn’t put emphasis on anything but fitness. We had a few chances today but we didn’t finish.”

Birkelbach saw some areas of concern. He thought the Cougars watched the ball too much on defense and didn’t protect it enough on offense.

Some players weren’t in good enough shape, something that will be corrected this week.

“Playing such a quality side as Salem showed me what I need to work on with my team,” Birkelbach said. “Coach Marton is a great coach and I can’t thank him enough for coming down here.”

Mountain State goes on the road to play the Wheeling Jesuit junior varsity Tuesday.