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Vikings Take Down Michigan in 3-0 Shutout

Zach Ellis-Hayden
Zach Ellis-Hayden
Posted: Sep 02, 2012

Contact: Jeff Sattora

ANN ARBOR, Mich.- The Cleveland State Vikings got a big time win Sunday afternoon against a big time Big Ten opponent, taking down the University of Michigan 3-0 on the road.

Head coach Ali Kazemaini was as happy as he's been all season in the team's performance Sunday afternoon, calling it a huge win for not only the team but program.

"It's a very big win for the program," said Kazemaini following the win. "To beat a big school like that, particularly a program that a couple of years ago was in the Final Four, just a great day for CSU soccer."

The Vikings have been working hard to put a full 90 minutes of soccer together this entire young season, and finally put were able to do it today.

"Finally we were able to put it together, all the credit to the players," Kazamaini said. "We can finally get some confidence to prove to ourselves that we can play two halves."

For a team that has used the first half to do most of its damage in 2012, the second half was the time to shine for the Vikings against the Wolverines.

Freshman Alfonso Sandoval put CSU on the board in what turned into the eventual game winner when he found the back of the net in the 48th minute to start the second half strong.

Sandoval found the ball following a defensive giveaway by the Wolverines and hit a low cross to score.

With a 1-0 game the two teams battled back and forth until a short stretch late where CSU put the game away for good.

"Aslinn Rodas was a midfield general for us today," Kazemaini said on the keys to that late stretch. "He was the anchor in the middle that played 90 minutes and was basically flawless in spurts of that game and the second half." 

That flawless play paid off as Rodas gave the Vikings that push they needed to get over the top and pull away

A goal from Rodas in the 71st minute followed by another fromZach Ellis-Hayden less than two minutes later sealed the deal.

The Vikings will be on the road again this weekend as they travel to Providence, R.I. for the Brown Tournament where they will take on Siena and Brown.