CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State lacrosse team fell in its final home game of the season, 11-9, to Utah on Saturday afternoon. The Green and White will play one more contest this season, taking on VMI on Saturday, May 1 at 12 p.m.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It was a really good battle today with a future conference foe. They made a few more plays needed to win today, so hats off to them. I feel very fortunate that I get another week with this group - especially our seniors. They've given so much to CSU and our lacrosse program and I look forward to lining it up with them one more time." - Head Coach Andy German
THE GAME
Utah recorded the first goal of the day at the 11:26 mark of the opening frame. Cleveland State responded as Jason Sullivan found the back of the net about a minute later, marking his third score of the season.
Utah tacked on two more scores to hold a 3-1 advantage with 30 seconds left to play in the first quarter. With only three ticks on the clock, Nick Polydoras peppered the goal for the Vikings, assisted by Chase Baker. After 15 minutes, Utah held a slim 3-2 lead.
The Green and White tied Saturday's tilt at 3-3 with 10:42 on the clock in the second quarter, as Tristan Hanna scored, assisted by Jason Sullivan. Hanna's goal marked his fifth score of the season.
Utah found the net about two minutes later to hold a 4-3 advantage until Gabe Reno tied the game at the 6:18 mark. Chase Baker gave the Vikes their first lead of the day, 5-4, with 5:47 left to play in the opening half.
The Utes scored twice before the end of the first half, to hold a 6-5 lead at the intermission.
Most of the third frame was a back-and-forth affair, as less than a minute into the quarter, Jason Sullivan tied the game at 6-6, marking his fourth goal of the 2021 campaign.
Utah responded with a goal of its own, before Ian McKissick found the back of the net for the Vikes at the 7:36 mark of the third quarter.
With the score tied, 7-7, Utah executed its eighth score of the day before Jason Sullivan tied Saturday's matinee match back up 8-8 with 4:03 left to play in the frame.
The Utes tacked on two more goals within the final 1:43, to notch a 10-8 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter of play.
Utah struck first in the final 15 minutes to hold a three-score advantage before Brendan Sigurdson peppered the back of the net for his second score of the season at the 5:29 mark.
Cleveland State outshot Utah in Saturday's game, 42-32, while forcing 24 Utes turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Green and White will head to VMI on Saturday, May 1 for their final game of the 2021 season. The last time these two teams faced off against one another, Cleveland State notched a 16-4 win. Saturday's contest against VMI will mark the Vikes final game as an independent, as Cleveland State will join the ASUN beginning with the 2022 campaign.
