Sept. 2, 2005

Final Stats

Contact: Brian McCann

LORETTO, Pa. -- Cleveland State struggled offensively all afternoon, recording just eight shots, as the Vikings fell, 3-0, to St. Francis (PA) on Friday afternoon. The loss drops Cleveland State to 0-2 on the season.

"We didn't come out and play very hard this afternoon," head coach Derrek Falor said. "We were flat on the bus, we were flat in warm-ups and consequently, we were flat on the field. It will be very hard for us to win any match in which we play like this."

Injuries forced the Vikings to play the match without three starters, defender Maggie Pugliese and midfielders Lisa Conway and Heather Clapacs.

"The injuries diminished our ability a little bit, but they weren't enough to affect the outcome of the match. If we had come out strong and played like we were capable of doing, we could have won today," Falor said.

St. Francis opened the scoring at the 25:36 mark when Kirsten Hoffsmith headed home a cross from Marina Accordo.

The Viking defense held until midway through the second half when St. Francis' Nicole Khanna fed a breakaway pass ahead to Vivian Villar, who then moved in and scored past Viking goalkeeper Erin Withrow at the 59:53 mark.

St. Francis added its final goal in the 60th minute when Villar assisted on a Vinzie Zuill goal.

St. Francis had a 10-8 advantage in shots with both Withrow and St. Francis keeper Melanie Stockman recording three saves.

The Vikings continue their season-opening four-match road trip on Sunday when CSU plays at Ohio University beginning at 1:00 p.m.