Sept. 28, 2007
Contact: Brian McCann
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Jennifer Wieand scored a pair of goals and Cleveland State recorded its highest scoring total at home this season as the Vikings upended Robert Morris, 3-1 on Friday night at Krenzler Field.
The win snapped a four-match losing streak for the Vikings, improving CSU to 3-7 on the year and 1-4 at home. Robert Morris dropped to 3-5-1.
"Our transition counterattacking tonight was exceptional," head coach Derrek Falor said. "We did a nice job of finding our forwards and playing the ball ahead and that let us take advantage of our speed."
"Our defense was much-improved tonght. We let up a few opportunities, but for the most part, we didn't make any mistakes within the box.
"This was a great start to an important weekend for us. With Green Bay coming in on Sunday, we really needed to get a win tonight so that we could go into Sunday with some momentum," Falor added.
Wieand opened the scoring at the 16:13 mark when she took a short pass from Nicole Howard from the right wing and blasted a shot from 12 yards out past Colonial goalkeeper Jessica Onufer.
CSU made it 2-0 at the 31:49 mark when senior Heather Clapacs executed the fast break to perfection, starting a run in the Viking defensive end. Shortly after passing midfield, she slid a pass ahead between two defenders to Shayna Back, who took two dribbles before hitting a shot just inside the far post.
Robert Morris got on the scoreboard in the 44th minute when Kathleen Caggiano blasted a free kick from just outside the box on the left side over the wall and past Kelly Zinkiewich and into the far corner of the goal.
The Vikings pushed the lead to 3-1 in the 56th minute when Amber Rasmussen played a long ball ahead down the middle of the field with Wieand beating two defenders and the goalkeeper to score for the second time in the contest.
"Our speed really showed on the play," Falor said. "Normally, the keeper will come off her line and stop that but Jenni was able to get to the ball first."
Once the Vikings opened the two goal advantage in the second half, CSU pulled its offense back and forced the Colonials to try and penetrate a defensive shell that featured as many as eight players.
Freshman Kelly Zinkiewich was solid in goal with her four saves not being indicative of the steady challenge she was faced with.
"With the wind blowing like it was, she did a nice job of deciding when she needed to come off her line and make plays. It was different in the each half because the ball played very quickly with the wind in the first half and it hung up their against the wind in the second half," Falor said.
"Kelly did a nice job of commanding the area within the box, vocalizing her decision and taking charge. She is growing well into the position."
The Vikings remain at home this weekend when they begin Horizon League play against Green Bay on Sunday (Sept. 30) beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Krenzler Field.
