Sept. 3, 2008

Contact: Brian McCann

Complete Release in PDF Format

Matches 3-4 (at Missouri State Tourney)
Cleveland State (0-2) at Missouri State (0-1-1)
Date: Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. CDT
Site: Plaster Field (16,600), Springfield, Mo.
Series: CSU leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: @CSU 4, MSU 1 (10/8/89)

Drake (2-0) vs. Cleveland State
Date: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Time: 5:00 p.m. CDT
Site: Plaster Field (16,600), Springfield, Mo.
Series: First Meeting

SETTING THE SCENE: Cleveland State (0-2) continues its season-opening stretch of playing eight of its first nine matches on the road when the Vikings travel to Springfield, Mo. to play a pair of contests as part of the Missouri State Tournament. CSU opens play on Friday, Sept. 5 with a 7:30 p.m. CDT meeting with host Missouri State and then concludes play on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 5:00 p.m. CDT against Drake.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings opened the season with two matches at the UCI College Classic. Here is a synopsis of those contests:

Match 2: Seattle 1, CSU 0 (Aug. 30, Irvine, Calif.)
Seattle scored the lone goal just 10 minutes into the second half and then withstood a CSU comeback en route to a 1-0 win in the UCI College Classic. The Vikings had an 11-9 edge in shots, including five on goal.

Match 3: UC Irvine 2, CSU 1 (Sept. 1, Irvine, Calif.)
Spencer Thompson's goal in the 85th minute ended a CSU comeback and gave host UC Irvine a 2-1 win. Jeff Baker scored off a pass from Bryan Henson in the 81st minute to tie the match and CSU pressured for the win until Thompson broke free for a goal. Nick Harpel made eight saves as the Vikings were out- shot, 21-9, including 10-2 in the first half.

PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: Third-year head coach Ali Kazemaini has a young, talented roster with nine starters returning from last season's 3-12-3 team. With eight freshmen and three transfers added to the mix, Kazemaini has the depth at every position to improve upon last season. Junior defender Mitch Boyer returns to lead the backline after earning second team All-Horizon League honors for leading the team in assists (4) and points (6). He will be joined in the back by junior Josh Williams, who will transition from forward, as well as freshman Justin Mancine and junior Eric Tattersall. Sophomore Nick Harpel is back as the starting goalkeeper. He ranked fourth in the league in save percentage (.767) and fifth in saves (69), while recording four shutouts. The midfield is extremely deep and Kazemaini can call on any number of players, led by Anthony Rucci, the lone senior on the roster. The key will be up front where the Vikings will need to improve upon their 12 goals scored last season. Junior Slava Ubiparipovic, a Xavier transfer, was brought in to supply the offensive attack up front. Freshman Alfred Majer and junior Jeff Baker will also see action as forwards.

THE HEAD COACH: Former Viking All-American Ali Kazemaini is in his third season as the head coach at Cleveland State. He was hired in December of 2005 and immediately charged with returning the program to prominence. In his three years at the helm, Kazemaini claims a 9-24-5 mark, as his Vikings were the most improved team in Division I in 2006. Kazemaini boasts a career record of 185-98-18 as a head coach, which includes a 14-year stint as the head coach at John Carroll. He is a three-time OAC Coach of the Year and two time region coach of the year, leading JCU to seven conference championships and four tournament titles.

BAKER & DiFRANCO NAMED TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM: Viking sophomore Jeff Baker and junior Marco DiFranco were rewarded for their strong play in California last week by being named to the UCI College Classic All-Tournament team. Baker led CSU with five shots during the two matches, scoring the lone Viking goal of the week to tie UC Irvine with less than 10 minutes to go. DiFranco was recognized for his strong midfield play.

ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER: The first two matches of the season followed a familiar pattern for the Vikings as CSU dropped both matches last week by a single goal. Last year, the Vikings were 3-7-3 in matches decided by a goal or less, including an 0-5-1 mark in Horizon League matches. In fact, that figure was a little worse as CSU was eliminated from the league tournament on penalty kicks after playing Green Bay to a scoreless tie through two overtimes in the opening round.

THE LONE SENIOR: Anthony Rucci has the distinction of being the lone senior on this year's 24 person roster. Rucci, who will most likely anchor the midfield, has scored one goal in his career. The roster does not lack experience, as junior Nenad Stojkovic is in his fourth year with the program after redshirting last season. There are also 11 other juniors on the roster.

ONE GOAL IN MIND: One of the biggest goals for the Vikings this year is, ironically, scoring more goals. CSU managed just 12 goals in 18 games last season, the third lowest total in program history. The 1961 squad holds the record for fewest goals in a season with seven, but played just nine contests. The 1999 team scored eight times in 18 games.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN (AND AGAIN): Of CSU's 17 regular season home matches this year, the Vikings will only play six of them at home. To make matters worse, CSU plays just one of its first nine matches at home, that coming against Niagara on Sept. 12. The best chance to see the Vikings play at home is early October when they play four matches at Krenzler Field in an eight-day stretch (Oct. 3-11).

ONLY THE LONELY: Sophomore goalkeeper Nick Harpel is usually the loneliest player on the field as he spends a majority of the game back in the goalbox. However, this year has been even lonelier for Harpel as he is currently the only goalkeeper on the roster. Harpel made 13 starts last season as the team's primary netminder and finished fourth in the Horizon League in save percentage (.767) and fifth in saves (66). Harpel had a good first weekend, making 11 saves and having a 1.50 goals against average in two matches.

A LOCAL FLAVOR: The CSU soccer roster has an Ohio feel to it as 21 of the 24 players call the state home, including 15 from the Greater Cleveland area.

NEXT UP: The Vikings return home for the only time during the non-conference schedule when CSU hosts Niagara on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7:00 p.m. at Viking Field. It is one of only two weeks this year that CSU will play only one match.