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Cleveland State to Open 2017 Campaign at Home Friday

Cleveland State to Open 2017 Campaign at Home Friday
Posted: Aug 23, 2017

MATCH #1
vs. Robert Morris | Friday, Aug. 25 | 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video

PDF NOTES
Week #1

THE OPENING KICK:
 • Cleveland State opens the 2017 regular season with a single match this weekend as it hosts Robert Morris Friday, Aug. 25, at 7:00 p.m.
• CSU is 9-6-0 all-time against Robert Morris in a series that dates to 1992.
• CSU has won two of the past three and six of 10 in the series. However, the road team has won each of the past four meetings, with CSU's win in 2006 being the last time a home team won in the series.
• In last year's meeting, CSU scored four goals in the final 25 minutes to storm back from a 2-0 deficit for a 4-2 win. Gabriel Pewu scored his first two collegiate goals in the win, the tying and go-ahead strikes.

THE PRESEASON:
 • Cleveland State went unbeaten in a trio of exhibition matches prior to the start of the season, winning once and tying twice. Sophomore Gabriel Pewu scored two goals while junior Noah Pio also found the net.
• Head coach Kirk Harwat gave starting assignments to 21 different Vikings during the course of preseason, including seven newcomers. Sophomore Lawrence Karpeh was the only Viking to start all three preseason matches.

FREE KICKS:
 • Kirk Harwat is in his first season as head coach for CSU after serving as an assistant for the program for the past five seasons.
• Three Vikings played in every match last season for the Vikings: Hesham Hammouda, Vlad Jandric and Alec Nagucki. In fact, Nagucki has played in all 55 matches since arriving at CSU.
• CSU has been seeded fourth or better in the Horizon League Tournament in eight of the past nine seasons.
• CSU lost two senior central defenders from last year's team that combined to play in 108 matches, with Sergio Manesio twice earning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year honors.
• Fifteen of Cleveland State's 18 goals last year came in the second half. In fact, seven of CSU's goals took place in the 78th minute or later.
• Cleveland State was one of the most disciplined teams in the Horizon League in 2016. It accrued 20 cards overall while every other team in the League was issued at least 28. The Vikings were whistled for the second lowest number of fouls during the season as well.
• There are 10 newcomers this season, nine freshmen and a junior college transfer. Last year, all eight Viking newcomers started at least one game.
• Sebastian Kalk led the League in save percentage (.848) in 2016, a mark that ranked fifth in DI and best among freshmen. Kalk was among the top 30 nationally in saves/match and averaged a League-leading 5.5/match in League matches.
• The Vikings allowed the fewest goals in the Horizon League last season, conceding 16 goals in 17 matches. Cleveland State enters the season having allowed only 18 goals in its past 25 matches dating back to the 2015 season.
• Senior Alec Nagucki earned All-Horizon League First Team honors last year when he mainly played as a defensive midfielder. Sophomore Lawrence Karpeh earned All-Freshman Team honors after scoring four goals in 2016.

UP NEXT:
 • CSU begins a five-match road trip with a midweek matchup against Bowling Green before starting Labor Day weekend with a trip to Michigan.