Opening Whistle
The Vikings split their week with a home and away game, starting with a trip to NKU on Thursday, followed by hosting Wright State on Sunday.
 
Last Game Out
Cleveland State was shutout at home by Milwaukee on a very hot October Saturday afternoon, 5-0. The Vikings had eight shots in the game, with three on frame. The corner kick margin favored the home team, 6-5.
 
About Northern Kentucky
The Norse are sitting second in the league standings with a 7-2-4 overall record and a 4-1-0 Horizon League mark. The Norse are 5-0-0 at home this season. Northern Kentucky had a stretch of three straight shutouts before falling to Milwaukee, 3-2.
 
Megan Molner leads the offense with eight goals and 17 points. Lilly Yordy is tops in assists with seven. Megan Gessner has started every game in goal, racking up 44 saves and four shutouts.
 
Series History
This will be the 12th meeting with NKU holding a 6-5-0 advantage. The Norse have won four of the last five meetings including the previous two. Last season, the Green and White were shutout at home, 4-0.
 
About Wright State
The Raiders are in third place with a 6-5-2 overall record and a 3-0-2 mark in the league. Wright State is on a seven-game unbeaten streak and have tied its previous two games. The team doesn't have a midweek game and are 3-2-0 on the road this season.
 
Caitlin Burger and Samara Nunn are tied for the team lead in goals (3), assists (3), and points (9). Kiera Sarka has played the majority games in goal, recording 46 saves and two shutouts.
 
Series History
Wright State holds a 14-7-2 edge in the all-time series, defeating the Vikings last season at home, 3-2. Cleveland State won the last game on Krenzler Field in 2023, 3-1.
 
Goal Watch
Mayra Sesmas has 15 career strikes, which is tied with Kathryn Ramicone for the fourth most all-time. The senior is presently six back of tying Vickie Havas' mark of 21, which was set from 2012-15.
 
Points List
Sesmas sits on 37 points for her career, which is fifth all-time, and is currently 20 behind the program leader, Natalie Daniels (2008-11).
 
Collecting Clean Sheets
Elyse Broderick has recorded four shutouts in her career, which is tied for sixth all-time.
 
Head Coach Mark Sappington
Sappington is in his second season with the Green and White after being named the fourth head coach in program history before last season. In his first season, the team went 2-14-1 overall and 2-8-0 in the league.
 
Preseason Poll
The Cleveland State women's soccer team has been chosen to finish eleventh in the Horizon League for the 2025 season, as voted on by the league coaches.
 
Milwaukee took the No. 1 spot after receiving 10 first-place votes for 120 points. Northern Kentucky was second with 105 points, and Detroit Mercy was third with the final first-place vote for 98 points. The Vikings slotted in the final spot with 27 points.
 
Up Next
Following these two games this week, the Vikings head to Robert Morris on Thursday, Oct. 16 for a 4 p.m. kickoff.