Birmingham, Mich. – The Vikings fell to Detroit 13-12 in a primetime showdown on Saturday evening at Seaholm High School. Cleveland State moved to 3-9 overall and 0-4 in ASUN games.
Ryan Haigh opened the scoring and set the new single-season goal record (27) off a pass from Matt Manfredi with 13:08 remaining in the opening quarter. Detroit knotted the game twice, but each time Michael Care put the Vikings back on top as the Green and White led 3-2 with 3:24 to go in the first.
Cleveland State went on to lead 4-2 at the end of the first after Ian McKissick found the back of the net.
Cleveland State extended the advantage to 5-2 as Matthews scored with 13:13 showing on the scoreboard. Detroit then tallied three unanswered goals to tie the game at 5-5 with 1:41 remaining in the half.
The Vikings used a timeout with seven ticks to go, drawing up a perfect play as Matthews found Jason Sullivan to make it 6-5 at halftime.
Not even a minute into the third quarter, Adam Clark scored off a feed from Amiri Austin as the Green and White led 7-5. The Titans responded back with the next four goals to take a 9-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
Detroit continued their run with their fifth straight goal, bumping the margin to 10-7 with 11:38 to play in regulation. The Vikings were able to regroup, rattling off three consecutive goals to even the game at 10-10 with 5:19 left. Matthews started and ended the run for the Vikings.
The Titans reclaimed the advantage at the 4:21 mark, but R. Haigh tied the game at 11-11 with a man-up goal off a pass from Gavin Held with 3:03 to go.
Austin then found the back of the net with 1:31 remaining to put the Green and White up one. However, a man-up goal for the home team retied the game at 12-12 with 50 ticks left in regulation. Detroit then scored the game-winner with 27 ticks showing, handing Cleveland State a tough 13-12 loss.
Inside the Box Score
Matthews led the Vikings with his third hat-trick of the season. R. Haigh and Care finished with multiple goals.
Evan Moskwa went 9-of-11 in the faceoff circle and scooped up a game-best seven ground balls. Cameron Logan made 12 saves in the cage.
Up Next
Cleveland State concludes the 2022 regular season at home on Saturday, April 30 against Robert Morris at 12 p.m. The contest will be a Mental Health Awareness Game with all money raised going towards supporting, enhancing & growing the Cleveland State Counseling Center on campus.
