Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Captures Diadora Classic In Dramatic Style, 1-0
September 23, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 23, 2001
Bowling Green - A fitting sequence to the end of the weekend gave Bowling Green State University the 2001 Diadora Classic Championship over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Sunday evening, 1-0 in double overtime.
With a shot from the top of the box from Matt Martinka, a running dive from Tony Malik, and a diving header off of Detrick Matthews, the Falcons ended over 230 minutes of scoreless action this weekend to win their own tournament. Matthews' goal came at 110:15 of the second overtime period and marked his first goal of the season. For Malik, it was his first assist in over a year since moving to his defender position while for red-shirt sophomore Martinka, it was his first career point at BGSU.
"Definitely, (Matt) Martinka and Tony (Malik) were brilliant," said an exhausted BGSU coach Mel Mahler. "I was pleased with the work ethic and focus of our team in the overtime sessions."
It marked the second-straight day that BGSU had entered the second overtime session in the midst of a scoreless game. On Saturday, Bowling Green ended in a 0-0 double-overtime tie against Canisius in day one of the Diadora Classic. On Sunday, it looked as though the result would be the same before the Falcons capitalized on its final chance.
"In both matches we created chances," said Mahler. "You still have to score, but first you have to create the chances and I was happy with the way we did that this weekend."
The golden chance that UW-Milwaukee (6-2) squandered came on a penalty kick midway through the second half.
After a BGSU handball in the box gave the Panthers a penalty kick, sophomore goalie David DeGraff thwarted a goal-scoring opportunity and changed the momentum of the game. Khaled El-Ahmad's shot at 62:52 was heading to the right-corner of the goal when DeGraff made his diving save.
"David's penalty-kick save saved the game for us," said Mahler.
DeGraff ended with 12 saves in two games in the Classic and did not allow a goal in over 230 minutes played (230:15). Two of his seven saves on Sunday came on point-blank shots by the Panthers in the early moments of the match.
DeGraff, Malik, Martinka and Matthews all were members of the 2001 All-Diadora Classic Team. Malik was voted Most Valuable Player and according to Mahler, "I am now convinced that Tony is one of the premiere defenders in the country."
The Falcons (2-1-1) open up Mid-American Conference action next weekend at the University of Akron. The match against the Zips is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 28, at 7:15 p.m. BGSU then plays at Buffalo on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m.
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Dayton Shuts Out Canisius On Sunday, 3-0, at Diadora Classic
In the first game on Sunday, the University of Dayton out-shot Canisius College 21-3 and had a 11-0 corner-kick advantage en route to a 3-0 victory. Dayton's Wade Fischer, Erik Nelson and Chris Rolfe all scored. Dayton was 1-1 in the Classic while Canisius was 0-1-1 in two games played.
Diadora Classic All-Tournament Team
Bowling Green Tony Malik (MVP) Matt Martinka Detrick Matthews David DeGraff
UW-Milwaukee Antou Jallow Chad Dombrowski Evan Richardson
Canisius Dustin Corrigan Ainsley Romany
Dayton Erik Nelson Denny Clanton
