QUICK HITS

• Cleveland State claimed a 3-2 win at Ohio State
• The Vikings have now topped the Buckeyes in back-to-back campaigns
• Gabriel Pewu scored twice, including the game-winner, and had an assist
• Lawrence Karpeh also scored for the Vikings
• Thomas Bielanski and Andrew Nicholas notched assists for CSU
• Cleveland State notched its second road result against a Power Five foe in 2019
• The second half featured four total goals in a 13-minute span
• The fixture was the non-conference road finale for CSU

MATCH RECAP

The Cleveland State University men's soccer team kept its nerve when times got tough and claimed a 3-2 win at Ohio State Saturday night at a cool Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

It marked the second straight season that Cleveland State has gone on the road and won at Ohio State. Saturday's match saw the squads combine for five goals, which differed from the 2-0 scoreline in last year's fixture between the teams.

Senior Gabriel Pewu factored into all three goals, scoring twice and adding an assist. Pewu, who scored for the second straight outing, notched his first brace of the season and the third of his career while posting a career-high five points.

Senior Lawrence Karpeh also scored for the Vikings while senior Thomas Bielanski and redshirt sophomore Andrew Nicholas notched assists.

Cleveland State took the lead inside of the quarter-hour mark courtesy of Pewu.

Sophomore Ryan Kolonick started the sequence by sprinting back to win the ball, and a free kick, just over the midfield line. Bielanski played the free kick quickly to Nicholas, who continued to drive forward down the left before playing a lofted cross just shy of the end line. Pewu headed the ball in from about six yards, directing the ball to the space just vacated by the goalkeeper.

Each side had a few chances to add a goal before halftime but neither was successful.

In the 26th minute, freshman Omeed Naeemy got down to stop a bouncing shot, but the rebound fell to a Buckeye alone in front. However he hit his first-time effort over the bar. About five minutes later, Naeemy made a diving stop to his left of a free kick from about 30 yards as he was able to direct the rebound out of danger.

Karpeh and Pewu had further good looks in the first half. The former hit a shot from the top of the box wide in the 24th minute while the latter just missed cleanly connecting with a header in the 40th minute off service from classmate Hayden Parente.

Within the first five minutes of halftime, Naeemy was called into action as he tapped a flicked header on a corner over the bar. Just about five minutes later, CSU played a short corner, and Nicholas, after splitting defenders, forced a leaping save of the keeper.

Nicholas' shot that was saved went out for another corner, and this time the Vikings converted. Bielanski played in a fine delivery and Karpeh nodded it home inside the far post from about six yards.

Ohio State came roaring back about 10 minutes later, scoring twice in the blink of eye, neither from the run of play.

The Buckeyes scored on a free kick from the left flank on a ball sent in that just appeared to skim the head of a OSU attacker before settling inside the far post.

Fewer than 30 seconds later, a Viking defender was called for a foul in the box, and Ohio State converted the spot kick to equalize.

While Ohio State had seemingly taken control of the momentum, it would take fewer than three minutes for the Vikings to retake the lead.

CSU's winning goal started when Karpeh played senior Vlad Jandric down the right flank after receiving a throw-in from him. Jandric sent a bouncing cross into the area that saw Bielanski take a shot that was blocked. However, Pewu pounced on the rebound and slotted a low shot in through traffic.

After retaking the lead, the Vikings did well to limit the Buckeyes' chances. CSU cleared an 84th minute free kick without too much worry before Naeemy got down to claim, and hold on, to a shot from the top of the box in the 89th minute, which proved to be OSU's last chance.

Pewu tied his career high of six goals and now has 15 on his career. He tallied his first assist of the season Saturday.

Karpeh was involved in a goal for the second straight match while Bielanski posted his first assist of the season.

True freshman midfielder Pablo Kawecki earned his first collegiate start Saturday as the Vikings picked up their first road win of 2019.

Cleveland State notched its second result against a Power Five side this season and is now 3-0-1 in its last four matches against Power Five foes.

CSU will conclude its three-match non-conference swing this Tuesday, Oct. 15, as it hosts Duquesne.