Sept. 15, 2008

Contact: Brian McCann

Complete Release in PDF Format

Match 8
IPFW (0-7) at Cleveland State (3-4)
Date: Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Site: Krenzler Field (1,680), Cleveland, Ohio
Series: Series Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: CSU 5, @IPFW 4 (2OT) (9/4/07)

Match 9
Cleveland State at Kentucky (1-3)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008
Time: 12:00 noon. EDT
Site: UK Soccer Complex (1,500), Lexington, Ky.
Series: First Meeting

SETTING THE SCENE: Cleveland State faces its final week of the non-conference season when the Vikings play a pair of matches. CSU opens the week against IPFW on Friday, Sept. 19 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Krenzler Field. The Vikings then take to the road, playing at Kentucky on Sunday, Sept. 21 beginning at 12:00 noon at the UK Soccer Complex. The Vikings (3-4) take a school-record three match win streak into the week, claiming each win by a single goal.

REVIEWING LAST WEEK: The Vikings played two more non-conference matches last week, including their third home match-up of the year. Here is a synopsis of those contests:

Match 6: CSU 2, Ohio 1 (Sept. 12, Athens, Ohio)
Danielle Ultican and Emily Arpidone each scored their first career goals, Arpidone's coming with just 5:19 left as the Vikings rallied to defeat Ohio, 2-1. It was CSU's first-ever win over a MAC opponent. Kelly Zinkiewich made four saves in preserving the win.

Match 7: CSU 1, Eastern Kentucky 0 (Sept. 14, Krenzler Field)
Sylvia Olsby scored her first goal of the season with 9:13 left as CSU pushed its winning streak to three with a 1-0 win over Eastern Kentucky. Playing on a windswept field, CSU controlled play in the final 45 minutes, out-shooting the Colonels, 10-4 in the second half and 13-11 for the match. Zinkiewich made six saves in recording her school-record third career shutout.

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 senior Abbie Kakias, 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 (3 goals) with freshmen Samantha Salamon and Rachel Strongoli starting outside. The defensive lineup is a veteran one with juniors Jessica McCloy and Emily Arpidone getting the starting nod in the middle with senior Maggie Pugliese and freshman Jordan King 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.

A WIN STREAK: It is obvious that the Viking soccer program has grown up gradually as CSU continues to post program firsts from time to time, even in its fifth season. With consecutive wins over Robert Morris, Ohio and Eastern Kentucky, the Vikings have recorded their first successive victories in program history. Prior to this period, the best CSU could do was win two out of three matches early last season.

. . . AND FIRST WIN OVER THE MAC: The 2-1 win at Ohio on Friday (Sept. 12) marked the first win against a Mid-American Conference school in 15 career matches.

ZINKIEWICH EYES SAVE MARK: With 33 saves in seven matches this season, sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Zinkiewich is closing in on second place on the career saves list. Zinkiewich has 157 career saves, including 124 last year, 16 short of second place Ashley Kidwell, who had 173 stops from 2004-06.

. . . AND RECORDS THIRD CAREER SHUTOUT: Kelly Zinkiewich had a good week last week, allowing just one goal in two matches to lower her goals against average to 2.05. She made four saves in the win over Ohio and came back to stop six shots to record her school-record third career shutout vs. Eastern Kentucky on Sunday.

AN ODD SCORING PATTERN: Through seven matches this year, the Vikings have scored eight goals, none of which has been credited to any of the players at forward. Midfielder Natalie Daniels leads the way with three goals with five different players adding one goal each. Forwards Jennifer Wieand (11 career goals) and Abbie Kakias (4) have yet to score this year.

. . . INCLUDING A PAIR OF FIRSTS: The win over Ohio on Friday (Sept. 12) came courtesy of goals from a pair of unlikely players as Danielle Ultican (34 career matches) and Emily Arpidone (26) each scored their first career goals.

WIEAND EQUALS TWO RECORDS: With four shots and an assist against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, senior Jennifer Wieand moved closer to setting three Viking career records. Wieand equaled the school mark with 30 points and 119 career shots. She enters the week with career totals of 11 goals, 30 points and 119 shots, needing two goals, one point and one shot to break the respective 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)

WINNING ON THE ROAD: CSU's 3-4 record includes a 2-2 record in road matches this season, tying the school record for road wins in a season. It was set last year when the Vikings beat IPFW and Delaware State on the road. So far, CSU has beaten Robert Morris and Ohio away from home.

NEXT UP: The Vikings open Horizon League play at home against Wright State on Friday, Sept. 26 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Krenzler Field.