Cougars win their home opener

By Dan Stillwell
Register-Herald Sports Writer

Mountain State University took seven games to get its first-ever soccer win.

It was worth the wait.

The Cougars took an early lead and held on as they defeated NAIA and regional rival Bluefield College 2-1 at Paul Cline Stadium Monday night.

“I liked the emotion they put in,” coach John Birkelbach said after MSU captured its home opener “They know they’re a good team and can put a game together.”

It wasn’t easy. The Cougars, now 1-6, took a 1-0 lead into halftime and had to hang on for dear life.

Bluefield College (1-4-1) completely dominated the first 27 minutes of the second half, only to surrender a penalty kick by Ali Katrib that put MSU up 2-0.

Charlot Nacius made a big run into the box and was fouled, setting up the penalty blast by Katrib.

“I looked at my bench and said, ‘That’s the way soccer goes,’” Birkelbach said. “Bluefield had dominated us.”

The Rams had numerous corner and direct kicks early in the second half, but did not manage a shot on goal.

“The second half we were all over them. We just couldn’t find that last pass, that final combination, to get the goal,” Rams coach Steve Laraba said.

But Bluefield was far from done. Ido Barzilay scored three minutes later off a fine through ball from Darren Avarginga.

“We had been trying to inside-out a bit and (MSU) had caught on,” Laraba said. “So Ido made a run through and Darren looked up and caught Katrib a little flat. He dropped it right underneath and Ido isn’t going to miss those opportunities.”

The final 15 minutes the action heated up to a fever pitch as both teams made good runs to test the defenses.

Trey Brown and Brandon Teagler made superb stops for the Rams while Nacius and Moussa Sidibe had key clears for the Cougars.

MSU got one final shot on goal, by Keith Allison in the final minute, that was saved by Rams keeper Philip Owens.

Allison had scored off a Max Bendig assist following a direct kick in the ninth minute to put MSU up 1-0.

“Keith played fabulous,” Birkelbach said. “Some of the turns I saw him make out there, it made me feel good about all the time I’ve put in with him. He just keeps getting better and better.”

Laraba thought his team gave a great effort despite having played three games in the last six days.

“Our fitness was fine. We didn’t wear down,” he said. “But the first 20 minutes we let them bring the game to us. We weren’t playing hard and they got the goal. From then on we had a good amount of plays.”

The game had been hard-fought and emotional. Both Birkelbach and Laraba are Beckley natives. Additionally, Birkelbach had coached Bluefield to a Christian schools national championship last season before leaving to establish the program at MSU.

There were six yellow cards called against MSU, including two on Anthony Collins. Bluefield received three cards, one on Laraba.

It was all good sportsmanship afterwards, however, as the teams met at midfield for a joint prayer.

Birkelbach thought the game lived up to expectations.

“As I promised, it was entertainment all the way through the last five minutes,” he said.

Bluefield returns to action Wednesday at Emory & Henry College. Mountain State will play at Averett University Saturday.