Nov. 8, 2012
Contact: Jeff Sattora
Horizon League Semi Finals
Valparaiso at Cleveland State
November 9, 2012
11:00 a.m.
at Detroit, Mich.
PLAYOFF TIME
Cleveland State will begin their run towards the Horizon League championship this week when they play in the semi-finals this Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Detroit. The team earned the second seed in the league standings with a 4-1-2 regular season record, giving them a first round bye. With the first round of the league tournament in the books Tuesday, the Vikings will match up against #4 seed Valparaiso. CSU and Valparaiso tied 0-0 in double overtime earlier this season.
REVIEWING THE LAST TIME OUT
The Vikings ended last week 0-0-1, here is a recap of that contest.
Game #17: Cleveland State 1, Green Bay 1 (Nov. 3)
Cleveland State ended the 2012 regular season with a 9-5-3 record after tying Green Bay on the road 1-1 this past Saturday. Although the two teams were both locked into their position in the standings heading into the contest, it was still a solid showing for the Vikings to come away with the tie. After falling behind 1-0 in the 36th minute, CSU came back and tied the game in the 68th minute on a goal by Zach Ellis-Hayden. The goal was assisted by Admir Suljevic.
THE BEST IN A DECADE
With the Vikings ending the 2012 regular season with a 4-1-2 Horizon League record the team was able to earn the second seed in the league tournament. This is the highest seed for CSU in the league tournament since the end of the 2002 season.
BRINGING IN THE HONORS
The Horizon League announced this week that Cleveland State Vikings' Head Men's Soccer Coach Ali Kazemaini and seven CSU players have been honored with post-season award selections.
Coach of the Year
Kazemaini, in his seventh season leading the Vikings, has been named the league's `Coach of the Year' for the first time. The former Cleveland State player has helped to build the program from the ground up, taking over the team in 2006 following a winless campaign. CSU's second place league finish in 2012 is the highest the team has ended the regular season in the Horizon League standings since the 2002 campaign.
Defensive Player of the Year
Junior defender Cameron Eisses joined Kazemaini in earning individual honors, being named the league's `Defensive Player of the Year.' Eisses, also an All-League first team member, was a defensive anchor all season long for CSU, helping to lead a defense that posted a league-high seven shutouts on the year.
All-League Team Honors
CSU finished 2012 with a league-high three players on the All-League first team, to go along with two on the Second team and two on the All-Newcomer team. Forward Admir Suljevic and midfielder Aslinn Rodas joined Cameron Eisses on the first team. Senior goalie Brad Stuver and junior defender Zach Ellis-Hayden were both second team members, with defender Danilo Radjen and forward Alfonso Sandoval being named to the All-Newcomer team.
BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK
CSU ended the regular season very balanced on the offensive end, with nine players scoring at least one goal. Eight of those players (Cazz Warren, Zach Ellis-Hayden, Admir Suljevic, Mike Derezic, Alfonso Sandoval, Cristian Arboleda, Aslinn Rodas, and Aaron Adkins) have multiple goals. Forward Admir Suljevic, midfielder Mike Derezic, and defender Zach Ellis-Hayden are all currently tied for the CSU team lead in goals with four.
STUVER AND DEREZIC HONORED
Senior goalie Brad Stuver and sophomore midfielder Mike Derezic were both honored last week as the Horizon League Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week respectively. Stuver earned the defensive honor for the second time this season, with Derezic earning the offensive award for the first time on both this season and his career.
SHUTDOWN STUVER
Senior goalie Brad Stuver is back in goal for his fourth straight year starting for the Vikings. Stuver is a three-time all-league honoree (1st team in 2010, 2nd team in 2011 and 2012), and 2010 Goalie of the Year award winner. He currently leads the league in shutouts with seven, and is second in the league in both saves (72) and goals against average (0.89)
HIGH RANKING OFFENSE
Looking at the team rankings in the Horizon League, CSU is near the top in each major offensive category. Cleveland State is currently second in the league in goals with 25, assists with 21, and points with 71.
WORKING OVERTIME
CSU has put in a lot of extra work in games this season, with eight of their 17 games going into overtime. The Vikings are now 4-1-3 in those overtime contests, with three of those wins coming in league play.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will make an appearance this week in the post-season Horizon League tournament. CSU will be taking on Valparaiso.
