Game 1
Teams: Cleveland State (0-0) vs. VMI (0-0)
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 3 | 12:00 PM
Location: Lexington, Va. | Drill Field #2
Follow: Stats
The Game
Cleveland State opens the 2024 season on the road at VMI with a noon faceoff from Drill Field #2 in Lexington, Virginia.
Last Season Look Back
The Vikings had their most successful season thus far under head coach Andy German as the program won six games in addition to their first-ever ASUN victory which came at home against Lindenwood, 14-12, on March 18.
About VMI
VMI finished the 2023 season with a 6-9 record, their most successful season in 15 years. The team tallied 155 goals, the most in a season since 1997.
Luke Rusterucci paced the offense a year ago with 54 points behind 30 goals, and 24 assists. Adam Norris is back in goal after making 201 saves last season, and MAAC All-Rookie faceoff specialist Jack Rogers will continue as the primary FOGO after going 171-of-338.
Series History
The Vikings are a perfect 3-0 against VMI all-time. These teams met in a home-and-home in 2021, with CSU winning 16-4 at home and 14-11 on the road. In the most recent outing in 2022, Cleveland State won at home, 22-10.
The Numbers
This is the eighth season of CSU lacrosse and fifth under coach German.
Cleveland State is 14-29 under coach German.
The Green and White enter with a 31-55 all-time record.
The Vikings are 0-8 in season openers.
Captains of the Team
The Vikings named Amiri Austin, Karson Burkey, Grayson Dague, Lane Miller, Reggie Regala, and Charlie Williams as captains for the upcoming 2024 season.
Offensive Group
Cleveland State lost their top two scorers from last season but returns Gavin Held, who finished with 20 goals. Held had a season-best four goals in the finale against Detroit and had two other hat-tricks on the year. Xander Johnson (15) and Amiri Austin (13) are also back as double-digit goal-scorers.
Faceoff Unit
Charlie Williams is back after leading the team in faceoffs, 85-of-183, and ground balls, 38. Evan Moskwa is second all-time in faceoff wins with 231, Williams is third with 131, and Robbie Stewart is fifth with 42.
Defensive Group
Karson Burkey will lead the defensive unit after forcing ten turnovers last season. Following the graduation of two-year starting goalie Cameron Logan, the Vikings will turn to Justin Dalum, Austin England, and Connor Kernan. Kernan has played in just three games in his previous three seasons, while Dalum has played in just one game as a freshman. England is a freshman for the Vikes.
ASUN Poll
The Green and White were chosen to finish seventh for the second straight season in the preseason poll. Utah took the No. 1 spot after receiving nine first-place votes for 99 points. Jacksonville was second with 82 points and Air Force was third with a first-place vote and 80 points.
NEC in 2025
This will be the final season in the ASUN for Cleveland State before moving over to the NEC for the 2025 season. The Vikings will be one of four affiliated members of the seven-team NEC lacrosse conference, as the Green and White will be joined by fellow Horizon League members Detroit Mercy and Robert Morris. VMI is the fourth affiliated member and the other teams in the conference include core members, Le Moyne, LIU, and Wagner.
Up Next
Cleveland State remains on the road to face Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 10 at noon.
2024 Cleveland State Men's Lacrosse Tickets
Season tickets for all six home games for the 2024 slate are now on sale for $30 per ticket. Single-game tickets will begin in February with prices set at $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for children 12 and under.
