Sept. 3, 2008

Contact: Brian McCann

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Match 4
Akron (2-0) at Cleveland State (0-3)
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Site: Krenzler Field (1,680), Cleveland, Ohio
Series: Akron leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: @Akron 1, CSU 0 (9/14/07)

Match 5
Cleveland State at Robert Morris (0-1)
Date: Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Time: 5:00 p.m. EDT
Site: North Athletic Complex (1,000), Moon Township, Pa.
Series: Series Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: @CSU 3, RMU 1 (9/28/07)

SETTING THE SCENE: Cleveland State concludes its four-match in eight day stretch by playing a pair of contests this week. The Vikings host Akron on Wednesday (Sept. 3) beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Krenzler Field and then head out on Friday, Sept. 5 for a 5:00 p.m. match at Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pa. Cleveland State is off to an 0-3 start, having been outscored, 9-2 this year, including 7-2 in the second half.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings took to the road for the first time in 2008, playing a pair of matches in New York. Here is a synopsis of those contests:

Match 2: St. Bonaventure 4, CSU 1 (Aug. 29, Olean, N.Y.)
Two St. Bonaventure goals in the first 17 minutes of the second half broke open a tie game and led to a 4-1 Viking loss. Freshman Natalie Daniels scored the lone CSU goal off a pass from Jennifer Wieand in the 52nd minute to tie the game at 1-1 but the Bonnies answered back 10 minutes later by scoring off a misplay by CSU goalie Kelly Zinkiewich.

Match 3: Niagara 2, CSU 1 (Aug. 31, Niagara, N.Y.)
Two first half Niagara goals proved to be too big of an obstacle to overcome as CSU dropped a 2-1 decision at Niagara. The Vikings pulled to within a goal at the 75:46 mark when Natalie Daniels scored her second goal of the year with an assist to Sylvia Olsby, but CSU could not score the equalizer.

PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: Fifth-year Viking head coach Derrek Falor is optimistic about the prospects for another improvement on the playing field this fall as CSU returns eight starters from last year's 5-14-1 squad. Add into the mix a batch of 10 newcomers and Falor has the deepest and most talented lineup in program history. Senior Jennifer Wieand returns after setting CSU records for goals (8), points (19) and shots (63) last year and she will be joined up front by sophomore Sylvia Olsby (3G, 3A, 9 points) and freshman Nikki Bevilacqua. The midfield lineup has been rebuilt and will be centered around sophomore Allie Riczo, who redshirted last season. She will be joined at center mid by freshman Natalie Daniels (2 goals) with freshmen Samantha Salamon and Rachel Strongoli starting outside. The defensive lineup is a veteran one with juniors Jessica McCloy and Danielle Ultican getting the starting nod in the middle with seniors Abbie Kakias and Maggie Pugliese starting outside. Sophomore Kelly Zinkiewich returns in goal after starting all 20 matches last year, posting a 2.33 goals against average with 124 saves.

DANIELS FINDS THE MARK: Derrek Falor said during the preseason that he thought freshman Natalie Daniels would be a key member of the lineup this year. Little did he know that after two weekends of play, the Olympia, Wash. midfielder would lead the team in goals (2), points (4) and shots (9).

THE FRESHMAN CLASS: Natalie Daniels isn't the only freshman making her mark this year as the CSU starting lineup has featured three freshmen in each of the first three contests. Joining Daniels at midfield have been Rachel Strongoli (Glenwillow, OH/Solon) and Samantha Salamon (Northfield, OH/Walsh Jesuit). Last year, four freshmen combined to make 41 starts during the season.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES: CSU has looked like two different teams through the first five matches of the year (counting exhibitions). The first half Vikings have played well defensively, allowing just three goals and 18 shots but being shutout offensively. In the second half, CSU has picked up the offense, scoring three times, but has allowed 10 goals and has been outshot 36-29.

BEVILACQUA BACK: One reason for the offensive struggles during the early season has been a knee injury that kept freshman forward Nikki Bevilacqua (Cortland, OH/Lakeview) out of the lineup in the first two games. The fastest player on the team, Bevilacqua returned to play several short shifts against Niagara, recording one shot.

SENIOR CLASS: The 26-player 2008 roster includes just three seniors, but those seniors have been through the high points and the low points of women's soccer history as each was part of the inaugural recruiting class but has missed a season along the way because of a knee injury. Abbie Kakias, who sat out the inaugural season in 2004, is joined by Maggie Pugliese (2005) and Jennifer Wieand (2006) as the senior class this year with each of the trio serving as team captains.

WIEAND EYES SCORING MARK: An assist on Natalie Daniels' goal at St. Bonaventure on Friday moved senior Jennifer Wieand closer to setting three Viking career records. Wieand enters the week with career totals of 11 goals, 29 points and 114 shots, needing two goals, two points and six shots to break the school marks. Shayna Back, who graduated last spring, holds the records for goals (12) and points (30) while current assistant coach Heather Clapacs has the record with 119 shots. Wieand set the CSU single season records last year for goals (8), points (19) and shots (63)

SAUNDERS EARNS SOME TIME: Despite seeing just 107 minutes of action the last two seasons, sophomore netminder Shannon Saunders has made the most of her opportunities this season. She came off the bench midway through the first half at Niagara and shutout the Purple Eagles over the final 58 minutes, making a pair of saves.

NEXT UP: The Vikings travel to Ohio on Friday (Sept. 12) before returning home to host Eastern Kentucky on Sunday (Sept. 14).