KENT, OHIO – Cleveland State (0-1) opened the 2024 campaign with a 2-1 loss to Kent State (1-0) on Thursday evening. The contest marked the first game for the Vikings under head coach Mark Sappington.

The Golden Flashes capitalized on a giveaway in the back in the 36th minute for the opening goal. One minute later, Kent State doubled the margin as Thea Oberhoff finished off a pass from Siena Stambolich. 

Cleveland State would go into the intermission trailing, 2-0, and looking for its first shot of the game.

Madison Ott made seven huge saves through the first 33 minutes of the second half to keep the deficit at two.

Mayra Sesmas nearly got Cleveland State on the board in the 78th minute as her shot from 30 yards out barely sailed over the crossbar. However, she got redemption a minute later with an absolute strike from the top of the box to trail 2-1.

Cleveland State had a final chance to equalize with five minutes left, but Taylor Demmerle's shot was saved as the Golden Flashes claimed the opener, 2-1.

Ott, making her college debut in goal, made 11 saves on the night. Sesmas finished with two of the three Green and White shots.

The Vikings remain on the road to face Dayton for the first time ever on Wednesday, August 21 at 7 p.m.