Posted: Nov 10, 2017
Under the direction of first-year head coach Dallas Boyer, the Cleveland State women's soccer team enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history, finishing with nine wins and advancing to the Horizon League tournament for the first time in three seasons. Below are highlights from the 2017 season.
- CSU won nine games this year, tied for the second most in a season in school history, trailing just the 2011 team which won 10 games.
- The Vikings went 5-4 in the Horizon League with the five League wins tied for the most in a season in program history.
- CSU advanced to the Horizon League tournament for the first time since 2015 this season.
- The Vikings played to a 1-1 draw in a first round game with eventual League tournament champion IUPUI with the Jaguars advancing on penalty kicks.
- CSU scored 28 goals this year, tied with the 2014 team for the most in a season in school history, while the 224 shots this year were a school record.
- The Vikings had four players reach double digit points this year, the first time in program history that more than two players accomplished the feat.
- Jenna Prathapa led the team with 15 points, while McKenna Vento had 13. Dani Sowinski finished with 12 points and Grace Grant totaled 10. Aliani Lorenzo finished the year with nine points, just shy of becoming the fifth player with double figure points.
- Vento and Lorenzo were both named to the All-Horizon League second team, the first time either player has earned all-league honors in their careers.
- Jenna Prathapa and Grace Grant were both selected to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team, while Prathapa became the first player in program history to earn Horizon League Freshman of the Year honors.
- The four players earning all-league honors was the most in a season in program history.
- Toni Dickson was selected to the Horizon League Women's Soccer All-Academic team.
- Prathapa's six goals and 15 points were the most in a season by a CSU freshman and tied for the fourth most in a season in program history.
- Vento's five assists were tied for the fourth most in a season. She will enter her final season with 10 career assists, third most in a career in school history and tied for ninth in CSU history with 22 career points.
- Dani Sowinski scored three goals in a win over Oakland (Sept. 23), becoming the third player in school history to record a hat trick. She went on to earn Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week honors.
- The Vikings earned wins over NE Ohio rivals Kent State and Akron this year, both on the road. It's the first time in program history that the Vikings defeated both teams in the same season.
- CSU clinched a bid in the Horizon League tournament with a dramatic 1-0 win at Northern Kentucky on Oct. 21 on Elaina Walnoha's goal late in the first half. The Norse finished in second place in the League and it was the second time in three seasons that CSU won at NKU.
- The Vikings earned a huge three points with a 3-2 win over Detroit Mercy (Oct. 14). CSU trailed 2-0, but scored goals in the 69th and 72nd minute to force overtime with Lorenzo's goal just 2:28 into the extra session capping the comeback.
- The 2017 season marked the end of the careers for CSU's two seniors; Jamie Daniels and Katie Bainbridge.
- Daniels concluded her career with 247 saves and 12.5 shutouts, both second in program history.
- Bainbridge, who played in 74 career matches - tied for seventh all-time in school history - wrapped up her career with 17 points on three goals and 11 assists. Her 11 assists are tied for the second most in school history.