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Vikings to Take on Ranked Foe Before Opening League Play

Vikings to Take on Ranked Foe Before Opening League Play
Posted: Sep 03, 2017

MATCH #4
at No. 13 Michigan State | Monday, Sept. 4 | 1:00 p.m.
Live Stats

MATCH #5
at IUPUI | Saturday, Sept. 9 | 7:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video

PDF NOTES
Week #3

THE OPENING KICK:
    •    Cleveland State continues its five-match road trip with a nationally ranked foe and its Horizon League opener this week.
    •    CSU plays at No. 13 Michigan State in a Labor Day matinee to open the week. The series between the programs is all square at 5-5-3.
    •    The only meeting in the past 15 years between the programs came in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, a 2-1 Spartan win.
    •    The Vikings then open HL play Saturday at League newcomer IUPUI.
    •    CSU has failed to defeat the Jaguars in four previous attempts, suffering a trio of one-goal defeats while also earning a road draw in 2009.

LAST WEEK:
    •    Cleveland State began its five match roadswing with a 2-0 setback to Bowling Green despite outshooting the Falcons, 15-10.
    •    The Vikings opened Labor Day weekend with a 3-1 defeat at Michigan. Sophomore Thomas Bielanski opened his collegiate account in the loss.

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.
    •    Senior midfielder Alec Nagucki, an All-Horizon League First Team honoree last season, has played in every match--all 58--since he arrived on campus.
    •    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. CSU has started two true freshmen at central defense in two of its first three matches.
    •    Nineteen of Cleveland State's last 22 goals have come in the second half. In fact, nine of those goals took place in the 77th minute or later.
    •    CSU was one of the most disciplined teams in the Horizon League in 2016. It accrued 20 total cards while every other team in the League was issued at least 28. The Vikings also had the second lowest number of fouls 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 posted an .848 save percentage 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.
    •    After not having a point in his first two seasons with CSU, Brent Nanchoff has two assists in the opening three matches.
    •    All 10 goals scored in matches involving Cleveland State this season have come in the second half.
    •    Despite being 1-2, CSU has a 22-13 edge in shots on goal for the season.
    •    Nine Vikings have started all three of the opening matches, a group that includes four sophomores and a true freshman.

UP NEXT:
    •    CSU has two matches, concluding its road trip before returning home.
    •    The Vikings travel to BIG EAST side Xavier Tuesday before holding their League home opener against Northern Kentucky Saturday.