EVANSTON, Ill. – The Cleveland State University men's soccer team outshot host Northwestern but dropped a 3-0 decision in each team's regular-season opener Friday evening at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium.

CSU outshot NU, 11-8, for the match, and each team had three corner kicks. The Vikings were whistled for seven fewer fouls than the hosts.

Junior Vlad Jandric had a match-high four shots while classmate Gabriel Pewu had three.

Head coach Kirk Harwat started three true freshmen among his starting XI—goalkeeper Nicklas Rulle and defenders Ryan Kolonick and Saahb Kular.

Northwestern took the lead with fewer than four minutes gone. A Viking defender attempted to head clear a ball served into the box, but the header redirected off a Wildcat player right to an open teammate. A one-time strike high into the netting put the hosts on top.

The Wildcats doubled their lead with under 90 seconds to play in the first half. A right-footed free kick was sent in from the left flank. In an attempt to clear it, a Viking player inadvertently headed it back towards the far post, where a Northwestern player got on the end of it to push it over the line.

With Cleveland State pushing forward in the second half, Northwestern passed the ball from the midfield line down the right flank, sending two attackers in against two CSU defenders. A low cross from the right flank was redirected home from about six yards out.

True freshman Jannis Schmidt and redshirt freshman Brandon George both made their collegiate debuts in the second half while sophomore Stephen Milhoan made his Viking debut after transferring in during the offseason.

Cleveland State will close its road trip by taking on Loyola (Ill.) Monday, Aug. 27, in the first meeting between the teams since the 2012 Horizon League Championship match.