CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State women's soccer team opened up Horizon League play with a victory Friday evening, picking up a 3-1 win over defending champion IUPUI. With the win, the Vikings improve to 5-4 on the season and 1-0 in #HLWSOC play.
Senior McKenna Vento recorded two of Cleveland State's three goals on the night, posting her ninth and 10th goals of her career, moving into a tie for seventh place in the CSU Career Record Book.
The Vikings were able to control play from the start of the match, and got on the board just two minutes into the contest when Sarah Krause was able to battle through defenders at the top of the box and get a pass to a breaking Vento. Vento was able to beat the goalkeeper to the far right side of the net from a few yards out, putting Cleveland State up 1-0 in the early going.
Despite the Vikings controlling play for the first part of the half, IUPUI was able to score the equalizer midway through the frame when the Jaguars converted a penalty kick after a foul was called in the box.
The Vikings were able to regain the edge in the contest in the 29th minute then, as Vento found the back of the net once again to give Cleveland State the 2-1 advantage. Following a Cleveland State cornerkick, Vento was eventually able to control the rebound and beat the keeper from the top of the box for her second goal of the game.
Stevie Holbrook was able to keep the one-goal advantage for the Vikings in the final minutes of the first half, as she made a leaping save to keep an IUPUI shot from going into the top of the net.
The Vikings were able to add an insurance goal at the start of the second half, as Krause sent the ball across the front of the net to JaMiya Ward who was waiting on the far left post. Ward was able to beat the IUPUI goalkeeper to the far right, giving Cleveland State the 3-1 edge that would prove to be the final score.
Holbrook finished with five saves on the night and picked up the win.
Cleveland State will continue Horizon League play next weekend, traveling to Oakland for a 7:00 p.m.
