Katrib leads Cougars to 3-2 revenge victory

By Dan Stillwell
Register-Herald Sports Writer

Ali Katrib obviously didn’t mind a little cold weather.

The Mountain State University sophomore midfielder scored two goals and assisted on a third as the Cougars downed Southern Virginia University 3-2 Saturday night at the YMCA Sports Complex.

Battling a frigid wind and a wet pitch, Katrib assisted Charlot Nacius in the 25th minute and found the back of the net himself in the 67th and 76h minutes.

“Ali dominated the game,” coach John Birkelbach said. “(SVU) put two or three guys on him and they couldn’t stop him.”

Katrib sent an excellent through ball to Nacius, who dribbled once and then blasted the ball from the 18 to put MSU on the scoreboard.

Later in the game Katrib ripped a shot from 35 yards out to make it 2-0. He raced in from the corner for a cross from Nacius to round out the Cougars’ scoring.

Southern Virginia (1-10-1) got a goal from Sevy Price in the 64th minute and Eric Smith on a penalty kick in the 86th minute.

Mountain State improved to 4-10 with the victory. The Cougars have won their last three regular season games, plus a match against Bethany College’s reserves.

“The guys are really clicking. We’ve found our lineup and the guys know their roles,” BIrkelbach said. “Things are working a lot better.”

Southern Virginia had won an earlier meeting 1-0 in overtime.

The Cougars will begin Independent Region 12 Tournament play Tuesday, either at home or at Berea, Ky. The site will be determined today by a ratings system.

“We’re a first-year program and I’m very proud of the guys,” Birkelbach said. “I hope we’ll get a win Tuesday.”