Cleveland State vs. Buffalo
Sunday, August 8, 2021 | 2 p.m.
Krenzler Field | Cleveland, Ohio
Presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
Free Kicks
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State women's soccer team will take the pitch on Sunday, Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. for their first exhibition match of the 2021 season as they face off against Buffalo. The Green and White will play two preseason contests prior to the team's first regular season match of the season – an under-the-lights battle against Kent State on Thursday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.
A WIN ON SUNDAY WOULD...
...Give the Vikings their first preseason victory since the 2017 season. Cleveland State took down Duquesne to begin that campaign's preseason slate, winning 2-1.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Buffalo is coming off of a historic spring season, finishing with a 6-1-1 record, including ending the season on a seven-game unbeaten streak. UB received MAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as five total All-MAC selections, second most in program history. The Bulls will have a veteran core returning, led by second team All-American Marcy Barberic, in addition to a talented group of incoming student-athletes.
THE LAST MEETING BETWEEN CLEVELAND STATE AND BUFFALO
Cleveland State once again opened up its two-game preseason against the Buffalo Bulls on Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 at Buffalo. The Vikings and Bulls finished that friendly in a 1-1 tie.
THE LAST TIME OUT
The Green and White took down Detroit Mercy in the final game of the 2021 spring season, 7-0. A program-record seven different Vikes scored goals in the #HLWSOC dual, while the seven goals tied a program record for most goals scored in a single game (7 vs. Chicago State, 8/23/15). Elena Gutlove, Kathryn Ramicone, Ja'Maya Ward, McKenna Donahue, Elizabeth Harper, Maia Ransom and Abigail McKeown all found the back of the net for the Green and White.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Seniors Essence Canady and Helena Novatsidis have been named the captains of the Cleveland State women's soccer team, head coach Dallas Boyer announced.
- Canady, who enters her fifth year as a member of the Vikings women's soccer program, has appeared in 50 games (48 starts) over her four-year career, tallying six goals and two assists for 14 points. The North Huntingdon, Pa., native, saw her most productive season during the 2019-20 campaign, netting three goals and tallying two assists in 13 matches (12 starts).
- Novatsidis is set to begin her fourth season suiting up for the Green and White. Over her three-year Cleveland State career, the midfielder has seen action in 21 games (one start). Novatsidis made her sole start during the 2019-20 season on Sept. 15 against Canisius. The newest captain tallied her lone career assist in a 3-0 win over NKU that same season (Oct. 12).
HLWSOC AWARD WINNERS RETURN
Kathryn Ramicone (Freshman of the Year) and Maddie Young (All-Horizon League First Team) are set to return to the pitch for the Green and White this season.
- Ramicone was on fire to end the season, scoring four goals to go along with an assist over her final three matches, all wins for the Vikings. The Strongsville, Ohio native finished as the top point scorer in the conference with 14 thanks to five goals, which tie her for the league lead, paired with four assists.
- Young scored four times and distributed three assists during a month-long five-game point streak from Feb. 10 through March 10. With four goals and four assists on the season, Young finished as Cleveland State's second-leading scorer and tied for third in the Horizon League points race.
THE 2021 SCHEDULE
Cleveland State will play in a "normal" 20-match fall schedule. The Vikings will begin their season with a home contest against Kent State on Thursday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. In honor of the team's return to Krenzler Field, Cleveland State Athletics t-shirts will be given away to the first 100 CSU students in attendance, in addition to free bacon. Cleveland State will face off against all 11 #HLWSOC opponents throughout the course of the season, with six home matches and five road contests. Boyer's squad will open league play on Thursday, Sept. 16 versus IUPUI at 6 p.m. at Krenzler Field.
THE 2021 PROMO SCHEDULE
Click here for the complete women's soccer promotional schedule: https://csuvikings.com/2021WSOCPROMO
