Posted: Apr 23, 2021
Cleveland State vs. Utah
Saturday, April 24 | 12:00 p.m.
Krenzler Bubble | Cleveland, Ohio
Presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes
HOME COOKING
The Cleveland State Vikings (2-6) enter the final two-week stretch of the 2021 campaign with Saturday's matchup against future ASUN rival Utah. The Vikings are looking for a strong finish after dropping four of their last five games, including back-to-back defeats at the hands of two more future ASUN members, Robert Morris and Bellarmine. The Utes (3-6) dropped an 18-11 contest against No. 4 Virginia on the road last Saturday and own a 2-5 record away from home. Cleveland State and Utah have met once previously, a 17-8 Vikings win on April 20, 2019.
KNIGHTS GET REVENGE
After putting together the best defensive effort in program history in an 8-1 win over Bellarmine on March 13, the Knigihts returned the favor last week, holding the Vikings to a season-low four goals in an 11-4 Bellarmine win. Tristan Hanna was responsible for half of the Vikes' four tallies, marking his second multi-goal outing in 2021. Cleveland State put only seven of its 16 shots on goal for a 43.8 percent SOG%, its lowest mark in a game this season.
GUARDING THE NET
Sophomore goalie Kevin Sobey has played every minute of the 2021 campaign and has the Vikings on pace for their best team save percentage in program history. At .546, this year's edition of the Vikings could surpass the .504 mark set by the 2017 squad. Sobey also has a chance at the individual saves per game record, as his current 12.64 saves per contest would set a new program record, slightly edging out Caleb Espinoza (12.57, 2017).
START FAST AND DON'T LOOK BACK
A quick start has been key to the Vikings success throughout program history but perhaps even moreso in 2021. Cleveland State has trailed after the first quarter in all six of its losses and has taken a lead into the second frame in both of its wins. Since the program's inception, the Green and White have lost 31 of 34 games in which the opponent leads after one quarter. Furthermore, the Vikings have not won a game in which the opposition scores first in 2021, going 0-5 in such contests.
BAKER'S BIG DAY
Chase Baker netted a career-high five goals in a 16-4 win over VMI on April 3, becoming the first Viking with at least five goals in a match since Tristan Hanna poured in seven tallies in a record-setting performance during Cleveland State's 12-11 overtime win over No. 16 Air Force on Feb. 22, 2020. Baker, who also reached the five-goal mark as a freshman in 2017, becomes only the second player in program history to accomplish the feat at least twice, joining Michael Wilson (3x).
Jason Sullivan also shined against VMI with a pair of goals and five assists, making him the first Viking to hit the seven point mark in a contest since Hanna's heroics. Sullivan is also only the third Viking to dish out five assists in a match and the first since Michael Wilson distributed six helpers in a 10-9 win over Lafayette on March 12, 2019.
IRON MEN
Tristan Hanna has started a program-record 40 consecutive matches dating back to 2018. Quinn Lemke is not far behind, having started 31 straight games. Lemke has a slight edge over Hanna in total starts, 43-40.
TURN 'EM OVER
With six caused turnovers against Bucknell on March 7, redshirt senior Zach Whitenack became the Vikings' all-time leader in the category. Whitenack, who had 11 CT over a two-game stretch against Bucknell and Bellarmine earlier this season and sits at 48 career CT, including a career-high 18 in 2021, surpassed former Vikes Isaac Atencio and Skyler Jiminenz, who were previously tied for the lead with 37 each.
IN THE RANKINGS - AS A TEAM
The Vikings are leading NCAA Division I in man-down defense at 88.9 percent, allowing only two EMO goals across 18 opportunities. Cleveland State is also tied for 32nd in caused turnovers per game (7.75).
IN THE RANKINGS - INDIVIDUALLY
Redshirt senior Zach Whitenack is tied for sixth in the country in caused turnovers per game (2.25) while goaltender Kevin Sobey has recorded 101 saves through eight games, which gives the sophomore the 22nd-most saves per game in NCAA DI: 12.62. Sobey is 24th in save percentage (.546) and 32nd in goals-against average (10.58).
HERE COMES THE (A)SUN
Cleveland State announced Feb. 5 that its lacrosse program accepted an invitation to join the ASUN Conference as an affiliate member, effective for the 2022 season. This will be the first time that the Cleveland State lacrosse program has had a conference affiliation, as the Vikings have competed as an independent since their debut season in 2017. Cleveland State will join fellow Horizon League members Detroit Mercy and Robert Morris in addition to Air Force, Utah and Bellarmine in the new conference.
#GoVikes
