Cougars Capture Championship at KCU Knights Classic

by Dan Stillwell

Register-Herald Sports Writer

GRAYSON, Ky. - There’s more to the Mountain State University men’s soccer team than just Ali Katrib and Charlot Nacius.

Much more.

The Cougars blasted St. Catherine’s Junior College 7-1 Saturday to capture the championship of the Kentucky Christian University Knights Classic Tournament.

Ironically, neither Katrib or Nacius, MSU’s big guns from last season, found the back of the net.

It didn’t matter as Troy Beals had two first-half goals and Moussa Sidibe and Keith Allison scored two apiece in the second half.

“That’s a big positive,” coach John Birkelbach said. “We’re not a one- or two-

dimensional team.”

Former Woodrow Wilson forward Gary Taylor also had a goal for the Cougars, who utilized their bench to good effect in the second half.

MSU (2-0-1) scored three goals in the first 20 minutes following the break.

“We cleared our bench and they dominated and finished the game,”

Birkelbach said. “They outhustled and outworked St. Catherine’s.”

Nacius and Trey Smith each had two assists for the Cougars. Defenders John Gdula and David Spingola added one apiece.

St. Catherine’s goal came off a penalty kick by William Meza with four minutes left in the game.

MSU gave up a goal in the final minute of regulation time the previous night in a 1-1 draw with Philadelphia Biblical University.

Smith came off the bench to score a goal from a Nacius assist in the 88th minute for the Cougars, who then packed in their defense.

It backfired as PBU got players forward and powered in a shot to send the game to overtime.

Goalkeeper Adam Thompson made four big saves on breakaways to preserve the draw for MSU.

“We had victory in our hands and let it slip through,” Birkelbach said.

“And it’s a shame we had a penalty kick called (against St.

Catherine’s). We were on our way to a shutout.”

In other games, Kentucky Christian defeated St. Catherine’s 3-1 Friday and Philadelphia Biblical downed Kentucky Christian 3-1 Saturday.

The Cougars were awarded the tournament crown on goal differential.

“Our bench proved they can come in and raise our level,” he said.

“They’re playing better than the guys who are starting.”

MSU will host Kentucky Christian at 4 p.m. next Saturday at the YMCA’s Paul Cline Stadium.