By Zander Plizga

Cheswick, PA – The Men’s First Team finished its last home game of the season on a hot Wednesday evening with a 3-1 victory over Cleveland Force. After a slow first half, the scoring picked up in the second half, where all four goals were scored. This victory pushed Steel City to (7-0-3) and kept the Men atop the Great Forest Division.

Chicago link up

Roommates and Chicago natives Cormac Apostolides (CWRU ’27) and Jake Lane (Old Dominion ’27) linked up for the opening goal in the 66th minute of action. Apostolides picked up the ball in between Cleveland’s midfield and back line near the top of the box, committed a defender, and then slipped Lane into the box, who let the ball roll into the path of his right foot before smashing it into the far top corner.

Photo Cred: Rocco Donnelly

Brick… Wall

In the 76th minute, Steel City were back on the scoresheet, this time coming off a set piece from Mathieu Brick (Duquesne ’27). Nick Niebauer (Bellarmine ’30) won the free kick after beating his defender inside and getting brought down on the edge of the eighteen. Brick stepped up to take the free kick with his left and wrapped his shot around the outside of the wall, tucking the ball just inside the near post.

Cleveland Strike Back

Just 6 minutes later, Cleveland found the back of the net coming from an unfortunate Steel City tackle. While tracking back a loose tackle, put Cleveland’s forward in one-on-one with Goalkeeper Josh Lane (RMU ’27). Lane came sprawling out, but unfortunately, could not make the stop on this breakdown, as the opposing striker put his shot just under Lane’s outstretched arm.

Photo Cred: Rocco Donnelly

Niebauer Nailing the Coffin

Niebauer came on in the second half and immediately got to work terrorizing the opposing back line. He found the ball wide on multiple occasions and cruised past the outside back, getting in crosses, shots, and winning multiple fouls on the edge of the box. In the 88th minute, he tracked down a ball deep in Cleveland’s corner, beat his defender on the end line, and rolled the ball through the next defender’s legs. He finished the move with a shot back post in between the keeper and the covering center back.

Up Next

Steel City FC returns to action on Wednesday, July 8th, when they face Cleveland Force again at Krenzler Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Wednesday’s game will also be broadcast on SportsEngine.

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