By: Jared Tennant
In the midst of the most successful three-year run in program history, members of the Cleveland State University women's soccer team are finding ways to stand out both on the pitch and in the classroom. Three members of the squad were recognized by the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association for their strong academic and athletic performances.
Redshirt senior Toni Dickson picked up an Academic All-Ohio First Team nod, while senior Kailah Ransom was selected for the Academic All-Ohio Second Team. Junior Elena Gutlove, the Vikings' top scorer this past season, was recognized with All-Ohio Second Team accolades as a midfielder in addition to being honored on the Academic All-Ohio Second Team.
Cleveland State is the only school with multiple Academic All-Ohio selections, achieving a team GPA of 3.9 or higher, a testament to the hard work and dedication the Vikings exhibited in 2019.
"We had some exceptional performances last season, and it's great to see them recognized alongside other elite players at the best programs around Ohio," said Vikings Head Coach Dallas Boyer. "On and off the field, this group had a daily work rate and mentality toward their standard of performance that has to be there in order to achieve special results like this."
Boyer, who has been at the helm of the program since 2017 and guided the team to its first-ever Horizon League championship match appearance in his second season, has been a part of Vikings women's soccer since 2007, when he was brought on as an assistant coach. Boyer oversaw the program's academic standards, which earned the NCSAA Academic Award from 2007-16 and values hard work in the classroom.
"To essentially earn straight 'As' over several semesters in difficult areas of study as they have while also training and competing at the highest level is essentially like working two full-time jobs simultaneously," Boyer continued. "So it's awesome to see them be very deservedly rewarded for those efforts."
A Holy Name High School graduate and native of North Ridgeville, Ohio, Dickson played a key role in revitalizing the program while helping the Vikings achieve a .500 or better record in conference play in three of her five seasons. As a pre-med major, she has balanced hospital shifts with stellar academic performance and valuable on-field production.
"Toni is a walking textbook example of how a collegiate student-athlete should handle this experience," said Boyer. "Her commitment level to being the best teammate, leader and on-field performer has been unmatched and has served as an obvious example to everyone else in the program for years."
Dickson, a fifth-year senior who was forced to redshirt the 2018 season due to injury, has appeared in 70 games as a Viking, starting 16 of 17 matches in 2019 before graduating this past December with a 3.94 GPA. She previously qualified for the Academic All-Ohio Second Team in 2017. Dickson leaves the program having started 65 games and scoring five goals as a defender.
Boyer praised Dickson for her profound collegiate career, saying, "She's definitely one of the best student-athletes in the country and deserves every possible award."
Meanwhile, Ransom achieved a 3.96 GPA in finance while starting all 17 games and playing nearly every minute. She provided exemplary leadership for a back line that saw multiple freshmen make at least seven starts. The Fairlawn, Ohio, product transferred to Cleveland State in 2017 following her freshman campaign at Chicago State University.
Ransom anchored a Vikings defense that ranked among the top five in the Horizon League in 2019, allowing an average of 1.41 goals per match while posting six shutouts. She has totaled 27 starts while suiting up for 40 games at Cleveland State.
"Kailah has been doing things the right way from the moment she joined us," said Boyer. "Her excellent performance and leadership of a young back line were prime examples of that. Achieving the highest GPA of all seniors who earned this award while also starting and playing almost every minute in the season is really special."
Rounding out the OCSA award winners is Gutlove, a first-year Viking following a two-year stint at Butler. She was Cleveland State's most prolific scorer in 2019 with nine points, pacing the squad in assists (three) while tying for second in goals (three) despite missing three games due to injury.
"Elena's performance last season was a great introduction to what she is capable of as an elite attacking player," Boyer said. "Healthy and settled in here at CSU now, she is pushing to take another step with some lofty goals in 2020."
Gutlove managed a 3.901 GPA as a speech and hearing major in her first season at Cleveland State after transferring from Butler. With the Bulldogs, the Canton, Ohio, native racked up 39 starts over two seasons, totaling seven points with a goal and five assists.
As a freshman in 2017, she helped Butler to an NCAA Tournament bid while playing a pivotal role. In games in which Gutlove found the scoresheet, the Bulldogs posted a 4-0-0 record and outscored the opposition by a combined 9-0. Her scoring prowess and academic accomplishments have been a welcome addition to the program. In only her fourth game as a Viking, Gutlove netted the golden goal in a 2-1 overtime victory over Akron on August 25 at Krenzler Field.
Over each of the last six seasons, Cleveland State has had at least one All-Ohio selection. Additionally, the program has had a total of 17 Academic All-Ohio honorees during that span. With Boyer leading the way, the Vikings will look to reach new heights as student-athletes in 2020.
