STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Cleveland State (3-5, 1-0) used a strong second half to overcome Wagner (0-8, 0-1) 14-8 in the NEC opener on Saturday afternoon. Today's contest was the inaugural game in the NEC, and the Green and White have now won three straight conference openers dating back to the ASUN.

Amiri Austin opened the scoring for the third straight game off a pass from Adam Van Voorhis to lead 1-0 with 13:28 remaining in the quarter. Wagner responded with four consecutive goals to claim a 4-1 advantage with 8:13 left in the opening frame.

The Vikings answered the run with three straight goals to even the game at four apiece with 2:55 showing. The goals came from Michael Care, Xander Johnson, and Creed McDonald. However, the Seahawks closed the quarter with two unanswered to lead 6-4.

Wagner extended its lead to 7-4 after striking with 10:35 to go in the first half. Will Adair got the goal back a minute later as the Green and White trailed by two. Neither team scored again in the half as the home remained in front, 7-5.

McDonald bagged his second goal to open the second half as the Vikings trailed by one with 11:54 showing. Just 30 seconds later, Alex Van Voorhis tied the game off a feed from Johnson. Johnson then struck with his second of the game to put Cleveland State ahead 8-7 with 10:08 to go in the third.

Wyatt Robertson scored the final two goals of the quarter as the Vikings defense shutout the Seahawks to lead 10-7 heading into the fourth.

The Seahawks tallied their lone second-half goal just a little over a minute into the fourth to trail 10-8. Johnson and McDonald scored the next two goals to complete their hat-tricks as the margin stood at 12-8 with 8:28 remaining in the game.

Care found the back of the net with 6:01 showing and then assisted on a Dylan Tomarchio score with 4:09 remaining as the Green and White won the conference opener, 14-8.

Johnson finished with five points on three goals and two assists. Alex Van Voorhis finished with a game-best three assists.

Brennen Hickey, Robbie Brazanskas, and Drew Graves had three ground balls apiece. Stewart went 9-of-23 in the faceoff circle and Graves forced a team-best two caused turnovers. Justin Dalum made ten saves in the cage.

The Green and White conclude their four-game road trip with Le Moyne on Saturday, March 22 at noon.