Game Outlook
Date/Time: Friday, Aug. 18 | 7:00 PM
Location: Cleveland, Ohio | Krenzler Field
Teams: Cleveland State (0-0) vs. Akron (0-0)
Follow: Live Stats
Rosters: Cleveland State | Akron
Opening Whistle
The Vikings open their 2023 season on Friday, August 18 at 7 p.m. when they play host to Akron University. Cleveland State will then hit the road on Sunday to take on St. Bonaventure at 1 p.m.
Season Openers
Cleveland State last won a season opener in 2018 when they defeated Howard at home in overtime, 2-1. Last season, the Vikings drew with Kent State on the road 1-1. The Green and White are 1-3-2 all-time in openers under Coach Boyer.
A Look Back at Last Season
Cleveland State finished 2022 with a 7-6-4 overall record and a 4-4-2 Horizon League record. The Green and White went unbeaten in their final three games and will look to continue that momentum into the new season.
Key Returners
The Vikings return all three Horizon League award winners from last season: Kathryn Ramicone and Rylee Bussen earned Second Team honors, and Eleanor Simkonis on the All-Freshman team.
Career Goal Watch
Kathryn Ramicone enters her final season with 15 career goals, five back of becoming the all-time leading scorer in program history. Maddie Young, also in her final season, has 11 career tallies.
Career Points
Ramicone is third with 38 points and Young is ninth with 29 points, both behind the leader, Natalie Daniels with 57 points.
Preseason Summary
The Green and White hosted Buffalo in their first exhibition before their contest at Duquesne was canceled due to weather.
About the Zips
Akron is coming off a 3-9-4 season and was picked last (12th) in the MAC preseason poll. The Zips are led offensively by Ella Hadley and Emma King, both of whom had six goals and three assists. Penelope Cuirinier was 3-6-3 in goal with 65 saves.
Series History
The Zips lead the all-time series 8-4-0, with the last meeting in 2021 at Akron. The last contest in Cleveland happened in 2019, with the Vikings coming away with a 2-1 double-overtime victory.
Preseason Poll
The Cleveland State women's soccer team has been chosen to finish fifth in the Horizon League for the 2023 season, as voted on by the league coaches.
Milwaukee took the No. 1 spot after receiving 10 first-place votes for 120 points. Oakland was second with 93 points, and Purdue Fort Wayne was third with 85 points. Youngstown State snagged the fourth spot after receiving a first-place vote for 84 points. The Vikings slotted into the fifth spot with 73 total points, two spots higher than where they finished a season ago.
