QUICK HITS
- Freshman McKenna Donahue scored the first two goals of her Cleveland State career
- McKenna Donahue became the 20th player in Cleveland State history to score two goals in a match
- Cleveland State improved to 5-10-1 all-time in Horizon League openers
- Grace Grant scored her first goal of the season
- Stevie Holbrook made four saves and recorded her fourth shutout of the season
- Cleveland State has won seven of its last eight matches against Green Bay
MATCH RECAP
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Freshman McKenna Donahue scored two goals and Stevie Holbrook recorded her fourth shutout of the season as Cleveland State opened Horizon League play with a dominating 3-0 victory over Green Bay on Friday at Aldo Santaga Stadium.
The Vikings, who improved to 3-4-2 overall and 1-0 in the Horizon League, turned in their most dominant performance of the season in the league opener against the Phoenix.
Cleveland State outshot Green Bay 8-4 in the opening 45 minutes and held a 6-0 advantage in shots on goal as the Vikings raced out to a 3-0 lead at the intermission. Green Bay outshot Cleveland State 11-3 in the second half to finish the match with a deceptive 15-11 advantage in shots.
Cleveland State defeated Green Bay for the seventh time in the last eight matches and have outscored the Phoenix 8-0 in the two matches. The Vikings also upped the all-time series edge against Green Bay to 9-7 and improved its record in Horizon League openers to 5-10-1.
The Vikings pressed Green Bay from the outset and Donahue got Cleveland State on the board at the 23:09 mark of the opening half. Briana Niedermeier played the ball to the middle, which Donahue gathered and then spun and left footed the shot past Courtney Klatt to give Cleveland State a 1-0 lead.
Cleveland State increased the lead to 2-0 on a beautiful goal working off a set piece. Elena Gutlove took a free kick from the left wing and a cutting Donahue headed it past the keeper to increase the margin to 2-0 at the 32:28 mark of the opening period.
Grace Grant scored the Vikings third goal of the first period on a deep ball from the middle of the field. Grant, who tallied her first goal of the season, struck the ball from 40 yards out straightaway and lofted it just over the outstretched hand of Klatt at the 41:28 mark of the period.
Holbrook finished with four saves and posted her fourth shutout of the season. The Viking defense kept Green Bay in check in the opening stanza as the Phoenix were unable to get a shot on goal.
Green Bay, which dropped to 6-4-0 and 0-1 in the Horizon League, got four shots each from Alyssa Barnes and McKayla Kertscher.
Cleveland State will return to action on Sept. 28 when it hosts Milwaukee at 4 p.m. on Krenzler Field in a rematch of last years Horizon League Tournament championship match.
