Game Outlook
Date/Time: Saturday, Apr. 2 | 12:00 p.m.
Location: Louisville, Ky. | Owsley B. Frazier Stadium
Teams: Cleveland State (3-5, 0-0) vs. Bellarmine (2-9, 0-0)
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Opening Faceoff
Cleveland State will play their first-ever conference and ASUN game in program history on Saturday when they take on Bellarmine. The Vikings became affiliate members on July 1, 2021, after being independent since the program started in 2017.
Learning the ASUN
The Vikings were picked to finish sixth in their inaugural season in the ASUN. Air Force and Utah are the co-favorites to win the regular-season championship with Robert Morris picked third. Cleveland State has faced four of the five teams in the ASUN under German; Bellarmine: (2-1), Air Force (1-0), Robert Morris (0-1), and Utah (0-1).
About the Knights
Bellarmine enters the conference opener with a 2-9 overall record, falling to No. 8 North Carolina 15-8 in their last contest on March 26. The Knights are 1-3 on their home field this season. Kyle Playsted leads the attack with 16 goals and an ASUN best 18 assists for 34 points, while Christian Della Rocco is close behind with 14 goals. Jon Robbins leads the defense with 39 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers. Cole Messik is 58-of-120 in the faceoff circle. JC Higginbotham has made 90 saves in the cage.
Series History
These two teams met twice last season in Kentucky with the teams splitting games. CSU won the first meeting 8-1 before dropping the second contest, 11-4. The fall-time series favors the Green and White 3-2.
Last Game Out
The Vikings are coming off a 22-10 victory over VMI on Senior and Alumni Day. The Green and White finished with program records for goals (22), points (36), and ground balls (50). Ryan Haigh boasted a season-best six goals, second-most in a single game. Jason Sullivan ended the contest with seven points on four goals and three assists. Cameron Logan got the win in goal after making nine saves.
Record Watch
Ryan Haigh has 21 goals on the year, five short of tying Tristan Hanna's record of 26 during the 2019 season.
Up Next
The Vikings will play their first-ever ASUN home game on Saturday, April 9 against Utah with a noon start.
