GAME #2
Cleveland State (0-1) at Michigan (0-0)
Saturday, Feb. 8 | 1:00 p.m.
Ann Arbor, Mich. | U-M Lacrosse Stadium
Stats | Video
PDF Game Notes
OFF AND RUNNING
The Cleveland State University lacrosse team will play its first road game of 2020. The matchup against Michigan, who is opening its season Saturday, will be the fourth in the past four years.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Michigan will be opening the regular season this weekend as its only game thus far was a scrimmage at Hobart. Alex Buckanavage, Andrew Darby and Bryce Clay were named Players to Watch by the Big Ten. Buckanavage led the team with 48 points last year. Darby had 29 GB and 13 CT and is the only returning starter on defense. Clay scored 22 goals as a freshman while adding 23 ground balls. The Wolverines will have a new primary goalie this season.
HANNA'S HAT TRICKS
Tristan Hanna notched hat tricks in seven of the final 13 games last season. He had 26 goals and seven assists in this stretch after having a single point in the first two games. Earlier last season, Hanna became the first Viking to produce four consecutive hat tricks. He posted his ninth career hat trick with a trio of goals in the season opener against Marquette. His second and third strikes against Marquette came in the final two minutes of regulation.
(NOT) CLEAR SAILING
CSU often forced its opponents into failed clears last season. The Vikings' foes were just 248-for-351 on clears in 2019 with the 70.7% mark ranking as the best opponent clearing mark in DI. No CSU opponent cleared above 83.3% after the 2019 season opener. CSU held Marquette to a 20-for-26 mark on clears last week.
SEEKING TRIPLE DIGITS
Michael Wilson was on fire offensively to end 2019, tallying 45 points in his final 10 games, He posted at least five points five times in his last 10 games, including a school record eight points in the March 12 win at Lafayette. Wilson's two points in the opener against Marquette pushed his career total to 90, as he closes in on becoming the first Viking to hit 100.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT
At the midway point of last season, Noah Gleeson had two points in his last 15 games, dating back to the 2018 campaign. However, Gleeson then posted eight points in the final eight games of last season. He started 2020 strong by posting three points in the opener, his best offensive output since his rookie year.
CAPTAINING THIS (VIKING) SHIP
Head coach Andy German announced the third set of permanent captains at the beginning of the spring season. Isaac Atencio and Danny Tesler will serve as co-captains in 2020. Tesler is in his third year as a captain while Atencio is in the position for a second straight year.
LAST WE MET
Michigan bolted out to a 7-0 lead fewer than 25 minutes in, but Cleveland State came roaring back with six straight goals to make a game of it. It was a one-goal game late in the fourth quarter before Michigan added a late strike for a 10-8 win. Michael Wilson had three points, Danny Tesler won 12 of 20 faceoffs and Brandon Ruditz had a career-high nine ground balls for CSU.
NEW TERRITORY
With its win in the 2019 finale, Cleveland State secured its eighth win of the season, extending the young program's new high total. The Vikings had four wins in 2018 and had five wins in 2017, one of the DI variety.
BOOST OFF THE BENCH
Cleveland State had a significant advantage over its opponents in getting scoring off its bench last season. CSU had 78 goals by its non-starters last season compared to just 39 by its opponents. The Viking reserves were outscored by their counterparts in just three games last season.
MORE FROM MASI
Senior Stephen Masi scored a pair of unassisted tallies in the season opener against Marquette. In doing so, he equaled his goal total from all of last season, when he played in just six games due to injury. It was Masi's first multi-goal outing since his freshman year.
FIVE STRAIGHT SCORES (OR MORE)
Cleveland State has reeled off a run of 5+ goals in six of its past 15 games. CSU's 6-0 run vs. Michigan last year represented the most consecutive goals scored by the Vikings against a nationally ranked opponent. CSU posted at least five straight goals in wins over Bellarmine, Mercer, Marquette, Canisius and St. Bonaventure in 2019. The Vikings posted 13 straight goals in the win over Canisius and 10 consecutive in the victory over the Bonnies.
THE MAN ON MAN UP
Nick Polydoras has scored six of CSU's last 11 man-up goals, a stretch spanning eight games. Polydoras' half-dozen tallies in this span are the most man-up goals a Viking has scored in a season.
ALL-AMERICANS INCOMING
Three CSU freshmen played in the Adrenaline All-American game this past summer. Ian McKissick, Oisin McTigue and Kevin Sobey all suited up for the North team in the prestigious event. The top 60 players from the western United States are selected for this prestigious and competitive game. The game was held at the Ford Center at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility. McKissick also took home an individual honor as he was named the 2019 recipient of the Jeremy Huber award.
SEEING DOUBLE
Sophomore twins Gareth and Ryan Haigh both made their first-career starts in the season opener. Gareth made six saves in the cage, and added five ground balls, while Ryan had a pair of goals. It was Ryan's second multi-goal game, both of which have come in season openers.
