Oct. 17, 2007
Contact: Stefan Scheibelhoffer
SETTING THE SCENE: Cleveland State (3-8-2, 0-3-1) will attempt to capture its first conference win this season on Friday (Oct. 19) when the Vikings take on Butler (4-6-4, 1-2-2) at Krenzler Field at 7:00 p.m. The Vikings then travel to Fairborn, Ohio to play Wright State (2-11-0, 0-4-0) on Sunday (Oct. 21) at 1:00 p.m.
REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings continued league play with a pair of losses. Here is a synopsis of what happened:
Match 12: Green Bay 1, CSU 0 (Oct. 12) Green Bay, Wis. CSU was shutout for the second straight game as Green Bay defeated them 1-0. The Phoenix scored in the 69th minute for the game winner. Goalkeeper Dan Duric recorded six saves.
Match 13: Milwaukee 2, CSU 1 (Oct. 14) Milwaukee, Wis. Milwaukee scored two goals in a span of 1:34 in the first half to defeat the Vikings 2-1. Nick Harpel tallied six saves in the defeat, while George Kephart scored the Vikings lone goal on a 2 on 1 breakaway in the 39th minute.
PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: The Vikings are bolstered by the return of nine starters and 14 lettermen off last year's squad that posted the nation's largest improvement in wins from one year to the next. Add to the mix 10 first year players and CSU easily has its deepest lineup in at least the last decade. The offense has struggled to find the net through the first half of the season, scoring just 10 times with no player having more than two markers. The midfield is currently made up of sophomores Josh Williams and Anthony Baraldi and junior Anthony Rucci. The defense was much improved in 2006, holding opponents to 31 goals in 18 matches (down from 65 in 2005). The improvement has continued this year as sophomores Mike Barton and Mitch Boyer, senior Tom Sadd and freshman Audric Kilroy have anchored the unit. Freshman Nick Harpel (3-4-2, 1.24 gaa, 48 saves) appears to have won the goalkeeper honors after shutting out Niagara (2-0), Western Michigan (1-0) and Canisius (1-0) this year though sophomore Dan Duric (0-4, 2.00 gaa, 12 saves) has started four matches in goal.
VIKINGS GO FOR TWO IN A ROW AGAINST BUTLER: On Friday (Oct 19), CSU will go for its second straight win against Butler. CSU has never won two straight matches against Butler. The Vikings are 2-14 lifetime against the Bulldogs.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Even though their record might not indicate it, the Vikings continue to play well on defense. They have only given up 19 goals in 13 matches, however seven of those goals were in a two game stretch. Nick Harpel and Dan Duric have combined to only give up only 19 goals this season for a goal against average of 1.41. Harpel's goals against average of 1.24 ranks sixth in the league.
ALL THREE WINS ARE SHUTOUTS: In all three of Viking wins, Nick Harpel pitched a shutout which ranks him tied for fifth in the league in that category. Two of the shutouts were back to back against Niagar (Sept. 2) and Western Michigan (Sept. 5).
A LOCAL FLAVOR: Two years ago, the soccer roster consisted of seven players who lived outside of the United States and only five who hailed from the greater Cleveland area. It hasn't taken long for Ali Kazemaini to change that as the only members of the 2007 Vikings to live outside of the U.S. are seniors Tom Sadd (Christchurch, New Zealand) and Roshard Gilbert (Scarborough, Ont.) and 22 of the 26 players are from Ohio (including 11 from the greater Cleveland area)
A VIKING HAS TWO GOALS: With his goal in the first half of the 2-1 loss to Milwaukee on Sun. (Oct. 14), George Kephart became the first Viking player to score two goals this season. Kephart has a total of four points during this season, which ranks second on the team.
FINALLY A GOAL!: With its goal in the first half on Sunday (Oct. 14), CSU ended its scoreless streak at 246.37 minutes played. The last goal scored was late in the second half against UIC when Mitch Boyer scored on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. The last goal that was scored in regular play was on September 30th against Canisius when George Kephart scored in the 78th minute.
BOYER LEADS THE TEAM IN POINTS: Mitch Boyer continues to lead the team in points with six. The defender has made the most of his opportunities by dishing out four assists, which ranks him second in the league, while scoring a goal. Boyer is also third on the team in shots (16) and tied for second on the team in shots on goal (9).
NEXT UP: The Vikings return home for their final home match of the season when they host Horizon League foe Detroit on Friday (Oct. 26) for a 7:00 p.m. contest. Then the Vikings travel to Durham N.C. to take on Duke on Sun. (Oct. 28) at 6:00 p.m.
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