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Valparaiso, IN
Vikings Fall at Valparaiso, 1-0
Valparaiso's Mikki Nuccio scored with just 2:28 remaining in the match to give the Crusaders a 1-0 victory over Cleveland State in Horizon League action on Sunday afternoon at Eastgate Field. |
MATCH 11
Valparaiso (6-3-1, 0-0 HL) at Cleveland State (3-7, 0-1 HL)
Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 • 7:00 p.m.
Cleveland, Ohio • Krenzler Field
THE OPENING KICK
The Cleveland State women's soccer team returns to Horizon League action and starts a three-match homestand when the Vikings host Valparaiso on Friday (Sept. 28) at 7:00 p.m. at Krenzler Field. CSU dropped road contests at Loyola and Duquesne last weekend to slip to 3-7 overall and 0-1 in league play, while Valparaiso enters the contest at 6-3-1 overall after splitting two matches in California last weekend. The Crusaders, who will be playing their first league match of the season, have allowed just six goals this year and all six of their wins have come via shutout.
REVIEWING THE LAST TIME OUT
CSU was in action twice last weekend. Here are quick recaps of the matches.
Match #9: Loyola 1, CSU 0 (Sept. 21, Chicago, Ill.)
Loyola scored two minutes into the match and held off Cleveland State for a 1-0 win in the Horizon League opener for both teams.
Match #10: Duquesne 2, CSU 1 (Sept. 23, Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Duquesne used a goal just 37 seconds in to take an early lead before CSU was able to tie it at 1-1 on a Vickie Havas goal in the 81st minute off an assist from Samantha Sarmento. However, the Dukes came right back three minutes later, scoring the game-winning goal off a free kick.
HAVAS KEEPS SCORING POINTS
Freshman Vickie Havas has had quite a start to her collegiate career. The freshman forward from Stow tallied her team-leading fourth goal of the season in Sunday's (Sept. 23) loss at Duquesne and has now scored at least one point in six of CSU's 10 matches this year. Havas enters the week leading the league with four assists, is second with 12 points and is tied for second in the league with her four goals.
LOOKING AT THE RECORD BOOK
Through 10 matches, freshman Vickie Havas is already making a dent in the CSU single season record book. Havas' 12 points are tied for the eighth most in a season in program history, and just three shy of moving all the way up to fifth place with 15 points (Taylor Vidovic, 2011). Havas' four assists are tied for the fourth most in a season in school history, while her four goals are tied for the seventh most in a season at CSU.
SARMENTO DRAWS START
Freshman Samantha Sarmento drew her first career start in Sunday's (Sept. 23) match at Duquesne and responded by playing all 90 minutes in the midfield. She also recorded the assist on CSU's lone goal, sending a cross into the box that Vickie Havas headed in.
TIP OF THE HAT TO AVONA
Senior midfielder Jaime Avona became just the second player in program history to record a hat trick when she scored three goals in a 5-1 win at IUPUI (Aug. 24). Avona joins Ashley Walchack, who accomplished the feat in a 6-1 win over Delaware State on Aug. 27, 2006. Avona now has seven goals in her career, tied for the sixth most in program history.
STAHL KEEPS STARTING
Senior Valerie Stahl started both matches last weekend and has now started all 64 contests she has appeared in at CSU. Stahl, who has missed just two games in her career (one as a sophomore and one as a junior), is six matches shy of becoming the 11th player in school history to play in 70 career matches. She is ranked ninth in program history with her 64 career starts.
FIVE ALIVE
CSU's five goals in the 5-1 win at IUPUI (Aug. 24) were the second most goals scored in a match in program history. The record for goals scored in six, set in a 6-0 win over Delaware State on Aug. 27, 2006.
CAPTAINS OF THE VIKING SHIP
Seniors Jaime Avona and Valerie Stahl are serving as team captains. Both have been mainstays in the program for the last three years. Avona has played in 60 matches with 58 starts, scoring seven goals with two assists. Stahl has started all 61 matches in her career, totaling 15 points with seven goals and one assist, while anchoring CSU's defense.
VIKINGS TABBED FIFTH IN HORIZON LEAGUE POLL
Cleveland State has been picked to finish fifth in the 2012 Horizon League Preseason Poll that was released on Wednesday. Milwaukee, which received five first place votes, and Detroit, which garnered the other three, tied for first with 44 points. They were followed by Valparaiso (35 points), Wright State (34), CSU (24), Loyola (23), Green Bay (12) and Youngstown State (8).
UP NEXT
The Vikings conclude their three-match homestand with a pair of contests at Krenzler Field next week, starting with a 5:00 p.m. match against Green Bay on Wednesday (Oct. 3). It will be a doubleheader with the CSU men playing at 2:00 p.m. against Belmont. The Vikings conclude their week with a 1:00 p.m. match against Francis Marion on Saturday (Oct. 6). The contest will serve as Senior Day with CSU's four seniors being honored in a pre-match ceremony.
