April 21, 2009

DAYTON, Ohio – The Wright State men’s soccer got their first preseason win with a 2-1 victory over Wittenberg University at Alumni Field in their second home appearance of the spring.  The Raiders fell behind early, but Brian Cothern tied the game and Braden Fleak scored with one-second left in the first half to give WSU the lead for good.

Wittenberg found the back of the net first taking a 1-0 lead in the twenty-fourth minute.  A shot from the left side of the six-yard box took Aaron Ritter out of position to be able to make a play on the rebound shot by Jordan Arter, resulting in the opening goal.

Interim Head Coach Dave Wall rallied his troops getting them to pick up the intensity lead by seniors Fleak and Uros Grujic.  WSU recorded thirteen shots before finally tying their first goal on a shot by Cothern from eighteen yards out.  The shot beat the goalie to his right, making the score 1-1.

The intensity continued throughout the rest of the first half.  With six-seconds left Cothern played a ball to the top of the eighteen from midfield and found Fleak, who had beaten 2 defenders to the ball.  Fleak took one touch of the ball and fired a shot beating the goalie to the far post. The goal came with only one-second left on the clock and gave the Raiders a 2-1 lead at the half.

The Green and Gold will appear again against the Alumni Team on Friday, May 8, at Alumni Field.  The Raiders will take the pitch at 7:00 pm.