Contact: Jeff Sattora
MATCH #4
Cleveland State at Brown
Friday, Sept. 7, 2012
7:30 p.m.
Providence, R.I.
MATCH #5
Cleveland State vs. Siena
Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012
12:00 p.m.
Providence, R.I.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Cleveland State continues the 2012 regular season when the Vikings head to the state of Rhode Island for the Brown Tournament in Providence. The Vikings (2-1-0) will be playing their fourth and fifth consecutive road games of five in total to start out the season. CSU will first be taking on a team ranked 22nd nationally in the latest NCAA poll in Brown Friday night at 7:30 p.m. before then taking on Siena on Sunday at noon. Both games will be held at Brown as part of their tournament.
REVIEWING THE LAST TIME OUT
The Vikings headed up to the state of Michigan for the U of M/Oakland Tournament this past weekend for a game both Friday and Sunday.
Game #2: Oakland 1, Cleveland State O (OT) (Aug. 31)
The Vikings had their first setback of the young season as they fell Friday night to Oakland University 1-0 in overtime on the road. The two teams battled all game long in a foul-filled contest that included 29 fouls total (and 20 on CSU alone). Follwing a 90 minute back and forth session Oakland was able to get a foul call and penatly shot against the Vikings in the extra session. Although the Vikings' senior goalie Brad Stuver was able to stop an Oakland penalty shot in the second half, he was not able to do the same in overtime which led to the Grizzlies win.
Game #3: CSU 3, Michigan 0 (Sept. 2)
Following a tough loss to the Oakland Grizzlies Friday night, CSU bounced back with its most impressive performance on the young season taking down Michigan 3-0 Sunday afternoon. For a team that has been looking to put a full 90 minutes together all season, they were finally able to do it against the Wolverines. Freshman Alfonso Sandoval scored his first career goal in the 48th minute of play to put the Vikings ahead for good. While holding on to a 1-0 lead late the team was able to use a quick two minute stretch to put two more goals on the board from a pair of juniors, Aslinn Rodas and Zach Ellis-Hayden.
VIKINGS YET TO ALLOW GOAL IN REGULATION
Through three regular season games (and two preseason contests) the Vikings have currently still not allowed a goal in the regular 90 minutes of play. The only goal the team has allowed was a penalty kick in the overtime session against Oakland University on August 31. CSU has the lowest goals against average in the Horizon League at 0.33.
LOOKING AT THE POLLS
The Vikings have been recongnized in the "others receiving votes" category in the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division 1 Meris - Great Lakes - Poll 2, released Sept. 4, 2012. Akron currently sits at the top of the poll with a 2-0-1 record. Brown, who the Vikings take on this Friday, is currently ranked 22nd in the latest NCAA coaches poll.
OFFENSE FILLED WITH FAMILIAR NAMES
Last season seven players scored goals for the Vikings, and each of those seven players is back in uniform for CSU again in 2012. Those seven players are Aaron Adkins (9 goals), Admir Suljevic (7), Jordan Hart (5), Zach Ellis-Hayden (1), Cazz Warren(1), Aslinn Rodas (1), and Mike Derezic (1).
ROAD TRIP
The Vikings start the season with five straight games on the road, and nine of the team's first 10 games away from home. This is the second straight season that the Vikings will have five consecutive road games to start the season (going 2-3 last season)
FAMILIAR SPOT
After finishing 2011 in a tie for second place in the Horizon League standings with a 5-2-1 record, the team is right back in that familiar spot. CSU currently has the second best record of Horizon League teams on the young season, behind Milwaukee.
SHUTDOWN STUVER
Senior goalie Brad Stuver will be back in goal for his fourth straight year starting for the Vikings. Stuver is a two time all-league honoree (1st team in 2010, 2nd team in 2011), and former goalie of the year award winner. He currently leads the Horizon Leauge with two shutouts in three games, no one else in league has more than one.
FILLING IN THE STARTING LINE UP
Last season CSU had 11 players on the team's roster start more than 10 games and that balance is looking like it's going to stay in 2012. The Vikings have had 12 players start at least two games on the young season.
STRONG NEWCOMERS MIXING IN
The newcomers on this CSU squad are off to a solid start mixing in with this veteran group. Through three games so far two freshman (Alfonso Sandoval and Christian Arboleda) scored game winning goals.
UP NEXT
The Vikings are back in action once next week as they come back home for the team's first regular season home game of 2012. CSU will be taking on Bowling Green September 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Krenzler Field.
