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Vikings End Regular Season On The Road, Eye Horizon League Crown

Vikings End Regular Season On The Road, Eye Horizon League Crown
Posted: Oct 20, 2010

Oct. 20, 2010

Contact: Brian McCann

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Match 17
Cleveland State (8-6-2, 4-2) at Valparaiso (5-7-4, 1-4-1)
Date: Friday, Oct. 22, 2010
Time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
Site: Eastgate Field (500), Valparaiso, Ind.
Series: Valpo leads, 6-0
Last Meeting: Valpo 2, @CSU 0 (10/18/09)

Match 18
Cleveland State at Butler (6-10, 4-2)
Date: Sunday, OCt. 24, 2010
Time: 12:00 noon EDT
Site: Butler Bowl (5,500), Indianapolis, Ind.
Series: Butler leads, 4-2
Last Meeting: @CSU 3, Butler 1 (10/16/09)

SETTING THE SCENE: Already assured of one of the six spots in next week's Horizon League Championship, the Viking women's soccer team takes to the road for a pair of matches that will determine the squad's seeding in the tourney. CSU opens the week on Friday, Oct. 22 with a 3:00 p.m. CDT match (4:00 p.m. Cleveland) at Valparaiso and then closes the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 24 with a 12:00 noon contest at Butler. CSU enters the weekend in a third place tie with Butler, needing at least one win or tie this weekend to guarantee itself a first round home match next Sunday (Oct. 31). With two wins, the Vikings will be assured of at least a first round bye as the No. 2 seed while two wins and a loss by Milwaukee in either of its matches this weekend, will give CSU a share of the regular season crown.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings closed their regular season home schedule last week. Here is a synopsis of that match:

Match 16: CSU 1, Wright State 1 (Oct. 15, Krenzler Field)
Sylvia Olsby scored the lone goal just two minutes before halftime, converting a rebounded shot by Natalie Daniels that had hit the post , as CSU recorded its fourth league shutout of the season. Kelly Zinkiewich made four saves for the win.

2010 SEASON PREVIEW: The Vikings enter the final week of the regular season standings having assured itself of its best record season ever, including an upper division finish in the Horizon League. The strength of the Vikings is on the back line where head coach Derrek Falor has called upon four veterans to form the nucleus of the unit. Senior Jessica McCloy returns after sitting out all but two matches last year following knee surgery and she is joined by junior Marina Taylor, who started 26 matches during her first two seasons, and the duo of sopho- more Valerie Stahl and freshman Frederike Dubeau. Stahl started all 18 matches a year ago while Dubeau has been impressive in her CSU debut while sophomore Carla Ragone has served as the fifth defender. Junior Natalie Daniels (8 goals, 4 assists, 20 points) and senior Allie Riczo (2-0-4) lead the midfield unit while seniors Sylvia Olsby (3-0-6) and Nicole Howard (0-1-1) and junior Jessica Bound (0-3-3) have filled the other two spots. Seniors Marley Greiner (0-1-1) and Olsby, sophomores Jaime Avona (0-1-1) and Nikki Bevilacqua (0-1-1) and freshman Taylor Vidovic (1-1-3) each see action at forward. Senior Kelly Zinkiewich, a three-year starter who holds the CSU record with 371 career saves, is the incumbent in goal with freshman Parisa Sadrnia serving as the backup.

THE HORIZON LEAGUE RACE: The Vikings find themselves in an unfamiliar situation heading into the final week of the season as each of CSU's last two matches will have a big effect on their seeding for the Horizon League Championship. The Vikings enter the weekend in a third place tie with Butler in the standings with 12 points, one point behind Loyola (4-3-1) and three points behind Milwaukee (5-1). The possibilities are:
• CSU can assure itself of second place with two wins, receiving a first round bye in the tourney.
• CSU can claim a share of the league title with two wins this week and a loss by Milwaukee.
• A win in either match will assure CSU of no worse than a fourth place finish and first round tournament home match on Oct. 31.

FIRST ONE TO ONE WINS: How important is scoring the first goal in a match with CSU this year? All six league matches have been shutouts with CSU winning four times and losing twice with four of the contests ending with a 1-0 score.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The success of the Vikings this season has come primarily because of their ability to win at home as CSU has gone 7-1-2 (.800) at Krenzler Field this season to easily surpass the school record .500 for home winning percentage that was set when the Vikings were 4-4-1 at home in 2008.

. . . AND VIKINGS SET SEASON RECORD AS WELL: With an 8-6-2 mark heading into the week, the Vikings have assured themselves of posting the best single season record in school history. The previous best was an 8-10-1 mark in 2008.

ZINKIEWICH SET TO FINISH RECORD SETTING YEAR:Senior goalkeeper Kelly Zinkiewich has been phenomenal in goal this season, setting school records for goals against average (1.19), save percentage (.802) and shutouts (6), ranking second in the league in both saves and save percentage and fourth in goals against average. Zinkiewich has four of the top eight single season save totals in CSU history.

. . . AND ZINKIEWICH & THE CAREER RECORD BOOKS: Kelly Zinkiewich enters the final week of the regular season as the holder of the CSU career records for saves (371), shutouts (14), minutes played (5,954) and goals against average (1.98). Her save total ranks her fourth in league history, 58 behind third place Alisson Dube of Detroit, while her minutes played are sixth best. She should pass both Katie Fortenberry of Detroit (6,005) and Butler's E.B. Larson (6,152) and move in fourth place in the next two weeks.

NEXT UP: With the regular season complete, the Vikings will begin play in the Horizon League Championship. First round matches will be at campus sites on Sunday, Oct. 31 with the remaining four teams meeting at the regular season champion for the semi-finals on Friday, Nov. 5 with the title game being played on Sunday, Nov. 7.