DETROIT, Mich. – The Cleveland State women's soccer team continued Horizon League play with a 2-1 overtime win against Detroit Mercy on Sunday afternoon at Titan Field. The Green and White are now 3-5-1 on the year and will next face Milwaukee on Thursday.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We are really proud of the group today. This is a difficult place to play and there are reasons we'd never won a game in Detroit in program history before today. We essentially went back to the drawing board last week to change a lot of the way we want to play with some things we've learned about ourselves. So it was asking a lot of the group to trust us enough to readjust on the fly like this mid season, but they certainly have so far. So while it wasn't a perfect performance today and only a step towards what we feel this group is capable of at its best, any time you go on the road and get 3 points in conference while still improving is a huge day. Credit to them for hanging in to find what we thought would be a late game-winner, but even more proud to see them bounce back to win it again with a great goal in OT." - Dallas Boyer
THE GAME
The first half passed without a goal scored by either side. Detroit Mercy outshot Cleveland State 7-1 in the first half, with Detroit Mercy's Erica Leinweber earning the only shot on goal in the half.
The 0-0 tie continued until an 89th minute clutch goal from CSU's Maia Ransom giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Ransom was assisted by Ja'Maya Ward and Kathryn Ramicone, each earning their first assists of the season.
Cleveland State's lead only lasted 56 seconds, as Detroit Mercy's Hailey Wentzloff evened the score with a penalty kick goal at the 89:02 mark, sending the match to overtime.
Midway through the first overtime period, Maddie Young scored the golden goal for the Green and White to seal the victory. Ja'Maya Ward recorded her second assist of the game on the play.
Cleveland State posted 5 shots and 2 shots on goal in their first overtime win of the season. Freshman goalkeeper Kyla Valaitis saved 3 of 4 shots on goal in the match.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will face Milwaukee, the reigning Horizon League champions, on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Krenzler Field. The Vikings will then travel to Highland Heights, Kentucky for a match against the Northern Kentucky Norse on Sunday, September 26.
