Men's Soccer Travels To New York For Two Matches

CSU Will Face Buffalo And Niagara This Weekend

Josh Williams

Sept. 14, 2009

Contact: Renee Adam

Complete Release in PDF Format

Match 5
Cleveland State (1-2-1) at Buffalo (2-2)
Date: Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Site: UB Stadium (29,020), Buffalo, New York
Series: CSU leads, 3-2-1
Last Meeting: CSU 0, Buffalo 5 (9/4/05), @ UB Stadium

Match 6
Cleveland State at Niagara
Date: Sunday, Sept. 18, 2009
Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT
Site: Niagara Field (1,000), Niagara, New York
Series: CSU leads, 4-2-3
Last Meeting: CSU 3, Niagara 3 (2OT) (9/12/08), @ Krenzler Field

SETTING THE SCENE: The Cleveland State men's soccer team will continue its five-match road stretch when they travel to New York for two contests this weekend. They will face Buffalo on Friday (Sept. 18) at 7:00 p.m. and Niagara on Sunday (Sept. 20) at 3:00 p.m. The Vikings are 1-2-1 going into this weekend after ending their physical, double overtime match against IUPUI in a 2-2 draw.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings were in action once last week. Here is a synopsis of the contest:

Match 4: CSU 2, IUPUI 2 (2OT) (Sept. 11, Kuntz Stadium)
Aaron Adkins scored first for CSU with an open shot from ten yards out giving CSU a 1-0 lead. IUPUI tied the match at the beginning of the second half at 1-1, not long before Slavisa Ubiparipovic took the lead back for the Vikings with a header from five yards out. IUPUI would be the last to strike as they scored with ten minutes remaining in regulation time, bringing the score to 2-2. Neither team was able to score during the two physical overtime periods.

2009 SEASON PREVIEW: With 12 seniors returning, including six in the projected starting lineup, the men's soccer team will bring experience and depth to the field this season. All-league first team honoree senior Slavisa Ubiparipovic returns up front after leading the team in goals (5), assists (4) and points (14) last season. He is joined by freshmen Aaron Adkins and Admir Suljevic who both earned high school All-America honors following their senior campaigns, giving the Vikings a loaded front row. Experience is the key to the midfield this season, as all three starters return: Marco DiFranco, Kevin Malone and Josh Williams. Together they had six goals and seven assists last season. The entire defense returns for 2009 after posting six shutouts last season. Leading the charge will be seniors Eric Tattersall, Mitch Boyer and Anthony Baraldi and junior Audric Kilroy. They played in a combined 61 matches last season, allowing only 29 goals. Although Nick Harpel is only a junior, he certainly has experience after playing every second in goal last season, recording 104 saves and six shutouts. Backing up Harpel in the net this season will be freshman Brad Stuver.

FRESHMAN FEELING: 2008 Adidas High School All-American Aaron Adkins is already comfortable on the collegiate field following a solid preseason. His first collegiate goal came against St. Bonaventure when he beat the goalie low and to the left from five feet out, off assists by Admir Suljevic and Slavisa Ubiparipovic. He tallied his second career goal against IUPUI when he beat the keeper from five yards out from a pass by Stephen Byer. Adkins has played in all four matches, recording two goals, four points, eight shots and six shots on goal.

WICKED WILLIAMS: Senior Josh Williams has tallied a goal in two of the first four matches for the Vikings. He is now tied for first on the team in goals.

HARPEL SAVES THE DAY: Junior goalkeeper Nick Harpel is leading the Horizon League in saves per game after two weeks of play. Harpel has a save average of 7.50 and has played in two matches for the Vikings recording 15 saves.

LOCAL FLAVOR: Kazemaini has found talent in the local area with 18 players in the current roster from the Greater Cleveland area, 15 of which have been on the starting lineup so far this season. The 2009 roster represents 14 local high schools, six of which reached the state tournament while a CSU player was on the roster, with three schools being crowned state champions; St. Ignatius (2008-Justin Cree, 2005 & 2004-Audric Kilroy), Walsh Jesuit (2006-Justin Mancine) and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (2004-John Wargo).

EYES ON SULJEVIC: 2008 High School All-American Admir Suljevic was listed on the College Soccer News "Top 100 Freshmen To Keep An Eye On In 2009." The list is compiled of freshmen soccer players from coast-to-coast who are likely to make an impact on their collegiate team. A Wickliffe, Ohio native, Suljevic played his prep career at Wickliffe High School, where he recorded 36 goals and 11 assists for 83 points during his senior campaign, earning him Ohio Division III Player of the Year honors.

...AND SULJEVIC STARTS FAST: During his first four collegiate contests, Admir Suljevic has handed out 2 assists with a pair of shots on goals. He recorded an assist against St. Bonaventure and Santa Clara.

NEXT UP: The Vikings will return to Krenzler Field to open Horizon League play against Loyola and UIC. They will face Loyola on Friday (Sept. 25) at 7:00 p.m. and UIC on Sunday (Sept. 27) at 1:00 p.m.