Boys soccer: Nick Cossyleon’s goal just enough for Munster
By Candace Buckner Post-Tribune correspondent September 1, 2012 11:38PM
Updated: October 3, 2012 6:33AM
CHESTERTON — During a Saturday morning soccer match, Munster senior Nick Cossyleon’s mind raced back to all those spring games he had played with club teammate and Chesterton goalkeeper Caleb Gmyrek.
Cossyleon remembered Gmyrek’s tendencies, his skills and knew that — now as a rival — he had to improvise to get the ball past him. That knowledge worked as Cossyleon scored in the 69th minute, leading Munster to the 1-0 victory on Chesterton’s turf.
“I know this goalie like the back of my hand,” said Cossyleon, referring to his time spent with Gmyrek as members of Three Lions FC.
Through much of the scoreless deadlock, both teams had scoring chances but Munster’s heart-stopping moment presented itself with only 11 minutes remaining in regulation. Mustangs junior Peter Panos wound up for a shot on target from outside the 10-yard line, however Cossyleon said he knew Gmyrek would block it. So, Cossyleon intercepted the forward movement and fired his own shot near the left corner for the game winner.
“You got to (get around) him anyway you can and that’s what I did,” Cossyleon said. “Put it in the back of the net.”
Repelling all challengers on his end, Munster senior keeper Evan Kattan recorded his first shutout of the season.
“We noticed that Chesterton came out really hard,” Kattan said. “They kept getting shot after shot.”
However, Kattan, at 6-foot-2, withstood the barrage. His 10 saves — including three applause-inducing blocks in the first half — even impressed Chesterton coach James Sensibaugh.
“I told their keeper, he had a phenomenal game,” he said. “He was the difference in the game.”
