CSU Dominates RMU, 4-0, for Ubiparipovic’s First Win

CSU Dominates RMU, 4-0, for Ubiparipovic’s First Win

QUICK HITS

  • Cleveland State cruised to a 4-0 win over Robert Morris in its home opener
  • The win was the first for new head coach Sinisa Ubiparipovic
  • Lawrence Karpeh, Gabriel Pewu, Thomas M'Barek and Vlad Jandric scored for CSU
  • M'Barek's goal was the first of his collegiate career
  • Pewu has goals in each of the first two matches
  • Andrew Nicholas and Jannis Schmidt added assists
  • Schmidt has four points in the opening two matches
  • Freshman Omeed Naeemy tallied his first collegiate shutout
  • The Vikings outshot the Colonials, 14-4
  • Twenty one Vikings played on the evening, six of whom made their season debut 

MATCH RECAP 

The Cleveland State University men's soccer team put forth a second impressive display as the Vikings dominated Robert Morris, 4-0, in their home opener Wednesday evening at a pleasant Krenzler Field. 

Coming off a 2-2 draw at nationally ranked Louisville in its season opener, CSU got in the win column in its second match. In doing so, first-year head coach Sinisa Ubiparipovic collected his first win as a collegiate head coach.

Ubiparipovic made a single change to the first XI from the opener at Louisville as junior captain Thomas M'Barek was inserted into central defense.

It wouldn't take long for the Vikings to get their first lead of the season. Pewu nearly got the hosts on the board in the sixth minute, but his turnaround effort was saved by the lunging keeper.

In the 10th minute, redshirt sophomore Andrew Nicholas picked up the ball and played it down the left to Pewu near the end line. Pewu then gave it back to Nicholas just inside the corner of the box. Nicholas drove by a defender before his centering pass was pounded home by senior Lawrence Karpeh on the doorstep.

Robert Morris had a couple opportunities as the half hour approached as it was awarded a free kick down the right flank and two subsequent corner kicks. However, the only shot of the sequence was deflected out by the Viking defense.

The Vikings doubled their lead in the 31st minute after a series of passes. M'Barek found sophomore Jannis Schmidt in between the lines in the offensive third, and Schmidt then sent the ball forward to Pewu into the box. Pewu took a couple touches as he headed toward goal before shooting by the oncoming keeper.

Cleveland State was not content to take a two-goal lead into the half. With just seconds to play in the half, senior Vlad Jandric lofted a ball softly into the box. Pewu chased after it and beat the goalkeeper to the ball before he was taken down by the keeper's outstretched arms.

M'Barek calmly slotted the resulting penalty kick home to make it 3-0, collecting his first collegiate goal in the process.

If the game wasn't decided already, the outcome was put to bed just over 10 minutes into the second half.

Nicholas drove forward in the offensive half before finding sophomore Ryan Kolonick's overlapping run down the left. Kolonick's cross was put into a dangerous area but was headed away from goal by a Colonial defender. However, Jandirc was in the right place to intercept the clearance and then unleashed a vicious strike high into the netting.

Cleveland State replaced all 10 outfield players at some point in the second half. A quartet of Vikings—Danilo Bakoc, Rushoy Brown, Pablo Kawecki and Dimitris Vougiouklidis—made their NCAA debuts Wednesday.

True freshman Omeed Naeemy made his second straight start in goal and notched his first collegiate shutout with a trio of saves.

CSU had a 14-4 lead in shots and was credited with 65% possession for the match, including a mark of 70% in the opening half.

Pewu has two goals in the first two matches while Schmidt has a goal and two assists.

Coming off a convincing win, Cleveland State will have its longest break of the season before playing its Horizon League opener Saturday, Sept. 14, at Oakland.