Posted: Apr 16, 2021
Cleveland State at Bellarmine
Saturday, April 17 | 12:00 p.m.
Owsley B. Frazier Stadium | Louisville, Ky.
Presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes
LOOKING FOR THE SWEEP
The Cleveland State Vikings (2-5) wrap up an eight-game stretch featuring seven road contests with this week's matchup at future ASUN rival Bellarmine, their second game of the campaign against the Knights. Bellarmine (3-9, 1-3) snapped a four-game skid with last Saturday's 11-9 win over VMI and have dropped each of their last three games against Cleveland State. The Vikes toppled the Knights 8-1 in the best defensive effort in program history on March 13 and defeated Bellarmine in both 2019 and 2020.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Last Saturday, the Vikings struggled to contain Robert Morris' dynamic attack in a 15-7 setback in Pennsylvania. Cleveland State drew within a pair of tallies at 8-6 with seven minutes to play in the third quarter, but the Colonials finished the match on a 7-1 run. Stephan Masi recorded a pair of goals while Chase Baker dropped his second straight hat trick and his third over the last five games. Goalkeeper Kevin Sobey made 17 saves as the Vikings were outshot 53-31.
IN THE WIN COLUMN
After falling to 0-2 to start the season, the Vikings picked up their first "W" on March 13, silencing Bellarmine's offensive attack in an 8-1 victory that saw sophomore goalie Kevin Sobey stop 17 of the 18 shots he faced. Chase Baker notched a hat trick in his first action of the campaign while Michael Wilson scored and dished out an assist. As a team, the Vikings posted their best defensive effort against a Division I opponent in program history, holding the opposition to under five goals for the first time ever. It also marked Cleveland State's first win while being outshot and only its fourth when having fewer ground balls than the competition.
BAKER'S BIG DAY
Chase Baker netted a career-high five goals in a 16-4 win over VMI on April 3, becoming the first Viking with at least five goals in a match since Tristan Hanna poured in seven tallies in a record-setting performance during Cleveland State's 12-11 overtime win over No. 16 Air Force on Feb. 22, 2020.
Jason Sullivan also shined against VMI with a pair of goals and five assists, making him the first Viking to hit the seven point mark in a contest since Hanna's heroics. Sullivan is also the first Viking to dish out five assists in a match since Michael Wilson distributed six helpers in a 10-9 win over Lafayette on March 12, 2019.
TURN 'EM OVER
With six caused turnovers against Bucknell on March 7, redshirt senior Zach Whitenack became the Vikings' all-time leader in the category. Whitenack, who had 11 CT over a two-game stretch against Bucknell and Bellarmine earlier this season and sits at 47 career CT, surpassed former Vikes Isaac Atencio and Skyler Jiminenz, who were previously tied for the lead with 37 each.
POLY'S GOALS
After not having a goal in the first six collegiate games, junior Nick Polydoras scored in seven of the final nine in 2019. Polydoras led all CSU rookies in both goals (14) and points (19) in 2019 and was named All-Freshman Honorable Mention by College Crosse. Polydoras had seven points in last year's shortened season and has scored in six of seven matches this season.
IN THE RANKINGS - AS A TEAM
The Vikings are leading NCAA Division I in man-down defense at 88.9 percent, allowing only two EMO goals across 18 opportunities. Cleveland State is 37th in the country in clearing percentage (.841) while ranking 43rd in caused turnovers per game (7.14).
IN THE RANKINGS - INDIVIDUALLY
Redshirt senior Zach Whitenack is third in the country in caused turnovers per game (2.43) while goaltender Kevin Sobey has recorded 96 saves through seven games, which ties the sophomore for 10th-most saves per game in NCAA DI: 13.71. Sobey is 13th in save percentage (.568) and 27th in goals-against average (10.52). Freshman Evan Moskwa ranks just outside the top 30 nationally in faceoff win percentage (.516). If he had appeared in enough games to qualify, Chase Baker's 2.8 goals per game would make him 25th in the category.
HERE COMES THE (A)SUN
Cleveland State announced Feb. 5 that its lacrosse program accepted an invitation to join the ASUN Conference as an affiliate member, effective for the 2022 season. This will be the first time that the Cleveland State lacrosse program has had a conference affiliation, as the Vikings have competed as an independent since their debut season in 2017. Cleveland State will join fellow Horizon League members Detroit Mercy and Robert Morris in the new conference.
