Aug. 9, 2012

Contact: Jeff Sattora

CLEVELAND, Ohio. - The Cleveland State men's soccer team is fairly confident heading into 2012 that they can not only compete in the Horizon League this upcoming season, but that they can win it.

Apparently they aren't the only ones that feel that way.

In a preseason poll released today the Vikings were picked to finish second in the eight team Horizon League.

The Vikings, who finished last season tied for second place in the league with a 5-2-1 record, received 39 points, including two first place votes.

CSU has a strong core returning as the Vikings return 17 players from last year's squad that finished with a 9-9-1 overall record. Eleven of those returning players also started at least 10 games.

CSU won't be the only ones battling for the top spot as four teams in the league received at least one first place vote in the poll, with Wright State leading the way with 40 total points and two first place votes.

Following Cleveland State in the second spot, Valparaiso and UIC were picked third and fourth with 38 points and 29 points, respectively. Valparaiso received three first place votes and UIC received one.

The Vikings, who began practice this week, will play two exhibition games this season, both at home. Their first exhibition contest will be against Gannon at 7:00 p.m. next Thursday, August 16th. They will also take on St. Francis (Pa.) that following Sunday, August 19th at 1:00 p.m.

The team's first regular season match-up will be on the road at Robert Morris at 4:00 p.m. on August, 24th.

Horizon League Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
Team Points (first place votes)
1. Wright State 40 (2)
2. Cleveland State 39 (2)
3. Valparaiso 38 (3)
4. UIC 29 (1)
5. Loyola 29
6. Green Bay 24
7. Milwaukee 18
8. Detroit 7