OU begins season in dominating fashion

Watch Tom Murphy Jr.’s video, exclusive to The Oakland Post By Tom Murphy Jr.

Senior Reporter

In the first two games of the 2008 season, the Golden Grizzlies men’s soccer team scored just one goal apiece, but both times it was enough to win.

Friday night, the Grizzlies defeated the Oregon State Beavers 1-0 at the Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac. Freshman midfielder Tom Catalano scored the first goal of the season for the Grizzlies in the first game of his collegiate career.

“It feels great, as a freshman, to get the first goal,” Catalano said. “It shows that freshman can go out there and do it.”

The win was number 350 for head coach Gary Parsons. Junior forward Stefan St. Louis scored his first goal of the season against the Green Bay Phoenix on Sunday afternoon in the 71st minute of the 1-0 victory.

While a record of 2-0 is a nice start, coach Parsons said that he is worried about his team not capitalizing on scoring chances.

“We’re working to score more goals,” Parsons said. “We had our chances to score more goals but we didn’t. It’s a concern.”

In the two games combined, the Grizzlies had 27 shots, seven of which were on goal, while their opponents combined for 20 shots with nine of them on goal.

Senior goalkeeper Steve Clark was named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

“Every time I step on the field I’m expecting a shut out,” Clark said. “So when it happens on the first weekend of the season, it’s a great way to start. It definitely gets my confidence going.”

“When I get Defensive Player of the Week, it is a credit to the whole back line. Sometimes I’m just standing there and have to make saves here and there,” he said.