Nov. 8, 2008
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Freshman Tom Catalano picked a good time to post his first two-goal game, scoring the game-winner at the 88:22 minute mark, to lead the Oakland University men's soccer team (13-4-0, 5-1 Summit) past UMKC (9-6-2, 3-3 Summit), 2-1, on Saturday at the OU Soccer Field. The Golden Grizzlies claim their seventh regular season championship and head in to the tournament on a six-match winning streak.
"We kept the game in order and it was a matter of us finishing our chances," said OU coach Gary Parsons. "It did not look like we were going to, but Wade (Allan) had a nice shot at the end that struck the crossbar and Tommy finally finished it off and we won the game."
"From my standpoint it's very satisfying," said Parsons on winning his seventh regular season title. "Because it shows year in and year out that we are one of the top teams in the conference. That is the true champion, because you play everybody and you are the best team over the course of a season. Anything can happen in one game at the tournament, but when you win the regular season you have played everyone and proven you are the best."
The Kangaroos took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute as Levi Coleman got a loose ball in the box and sent it past OU goalkeeper Steve Clark as the Golden Grizzlies trailed for the first time in five games. Catalano answered after he stole a pass and dribbled in to the box, sending the shot past the Kangaroos' goalkeeper as the game reached intermission locked at 1-1.
The Grizzlies created several chances in the second half but just could not get one past the keeper. St. Louis got in the box with a Kangaroos defender and was pushed to the turf with no call being made. Then junior Wade Allan sent one off the top of the crossbar in the 87th minute to keep the game tied. Then Catalano got the ball wide from St. Louis and drilled a shot that UMKC's Ken Cooper stopped, but the rebound came right back to him and the freshman put the game away in the 88th minute.
Oakland outshot the Kangaroos 16-4 in the game, with seven making their way on net. OU had eight corner kicks and 15 fouls, while UMKC had five corner kicks and nine fouls.
Clark made two saves for the Golden Grizzlies, and St. Louis led the offensive attack with five shots. Junior Sebastian Harris also had some late chances for the Grizzlies, ending with two shots in the game.
OU will be the top seed at the tournament, which will be played on the OU Soccer Field. The Grizzlies will take on IUPUI in the first game of the championship, with Western Illinois and UMKC facing each other in the other semifinal. For more information on the league championship, please go to Tournament Central.
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