Sept. 10, 2007

Contact: Brian McCann

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Match 6 at Akron (3-0-1)
Date: Friday, Sept. 14, 2007
Time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
Site: Lee Jackson Field (3,000) - Akron Ohio
Series: Akron leads, 2-0
Last Mtg.: Akron 1, @CSU 0 (9/15/06)

Match 7 vs. Canisius (0-3-1)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Site: Krenzler Field (1,000) - Cleveland, Ohio
Series: Canisius leads, 1-0
Last Mtg. @CC 2, CSU 0 (9/17/04)

SETTING THE SCENE: Fresh off a pair of road victories last week, Cleveland State (2-3) continues its non-conference schedule this week when the Vikings play a pair of matches. CSU closes a four-match road trip when it plays at Akron on Friday, Sept. 14 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Lee Jackson Field. The Vikings then close out the week when they return home to host Canisius on Sunday, Sept. 16 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Krenzler Field.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings took to the road for the first time during the 2007 season, playing three matches in three different states. Here is a synopsis of those contests:

Match 3: CSU 5, IPFW 4 (2OT) (Sept. 5, Fort Wayne, Ind.): Jennifer Wieand scored CSU's final two goals, including one with 1:31 left that forced overtime and the game-winner in the second overtime period as the Vikings rallied from a 4-2 second half deficit to claim the program's first road win ever. Shayna Back, Abbie Kakias and Nicole Howard added the other CSU goals and Kelly Zinkiewich recorded nine saves in goal for her first win.

Match 4: Temple 8, CSU 1 (Sept. 7, Philadelphia, Pa.): Shayna Back scored in the 15th minute but eight different Owls scored, including the first goal just 13 seconds into the contest, as Temple routed the Vikings, 8-1. Kelly Zinkiewich made eight saves but Temple scored five times in a 16-minute span in the second half.

Match 5: CSU 3, Delaware State 0 (Sept. 9, Dover, Del.): Shayna Back and Sylvia Olsby scored goals in the first seven minutes of the match and Jennifer Wieand added an insurance marker late in the second half as the Vikings claimed their second road win of the season. CSU outshot the Hornets, 21-2 and Kelly Zinkiewich made one save in recording her first career shutout.

PREVIEWING THE VIKINGS: The fourth season of Viking women's soccer has begun with promising results as CSU owns a 2-3 record with both wins coming on the road. With eight starters and 15 leterwinners from last year's team that won a school-record three matches, head coach Derrek Falor has the most depth and experience in program history. The strength of the squad is on offense where the tandem of senior Shayna Back (3 goals, 2 assists, 8 point), junior Jennifer Wieand (3-2-8) and freshman Sylvia Olsby (2-2-6) have the Vikings to significantly increase their scoring. Returning midfielders Heather Clapacs and Allie Riczo have been joined by newcomers Jessica McCloy and Marley Greiner to give CSU a solid group of playmakers. Depth on defense has been a problem in each of the last three seasons, but Falor has as many as eight skilled defenders to call upon this year. Led by returning starters Amber Rasmussen and Natalie Wilson, the unit has good experience to build on. Additionally, transfer Emily Arpidone (Virginia Commonwealth) and freshman Nicole Howard have helped to should fortify the backline. CSU has a new face in goal as freshman Kelly Zinkiewich (36 saves) takes over as the starter.

SO MUCH FOR THAT ROAD STREAK: The Vikings entered their three-match road swing last week having never won a match away from home in the history of the program. The streak ended at 32 matches (0-31-1) when CSU claimed a 5-4 overtime win at IPFW on Sept. 4. The Vikings then further put that streak to rest when they blanked Delaware State, 3-0, on Sunday (Sept. 9).

. . . OT STREAK FALLS AS WELL: The Vikings win over IPFW on Tuesday (Sept. 4) marked the first time in program history that CSU won a match in overtime. The Vikings were 0-2-1 in matches decided in the extra period heading into the season.

WELCOME BACK JEN: The return of junior Jennifer Wieand after missing the entire 2006 season following knee surgery has given the Viking offense a big boost this year as she shares the team lead with three goals and two assists for eight points. Wieand entered last season as CSU's career scoring leader with three goals and three assists (nine points) and her absence from the lineup limited an offense that was still significantly more efficient from the season before.

BACK TO HER OLD TRICKS: Senior forward Shayna Back had an outstanding week, scoring a goal in all three contests to share the team scoring lead with teammate Jennifer Wieand. Back, who holds the CSU season and career marks for goals and points, has three goals and two assists for eight points this year.

A LONG WAY TO SCORE: Freshman Sylvia Olsby has provided the Vikings with a scoring spark off the bench this year, ranking third on the team in goals (2) and points (6) while starting just two of the five matches to date. Olsby is the first soccer player in the history of the program from the state of Washington. Cleveland State is a long way from home for Olsby, approximately 2,450 miles from her native Seattle.

THEN THERE WERE SEVEN: The Viking roster this season includes seven players who were part of the initial recruiting class that served as the backbone of the program's first team in 2004. The list includes seniors Shayna Back, Samantha Casey, Heather Clapacs and Amber Rasmussen and juniors Abbie Kakias, Maggie Pugliese and Jennifer Wieand.

NEXT UP: The Vikings take to the road for the final time in September when CSU plays at Indiana State on Friday, Sept. 21. The Vikings then start a three-match homestand on Sunday, Sept. 23 with a 1:00 p.m. contest against Cincinnati.