CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State (6-3-3, 4-1-2) defeated NKU (1-9-2, 1-4-1) 5-3 on Saturday evening, extending its unbeaten streak to seven straight.
The Green and White obtained a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute on
Fefo Granados' first collegiate goal off a pair of passes from
Massimo Caruso and
Ognjen Bozovic. Seven minutes later,
Uzman Ramees doubled the margin off a through ball from
Tom Mertz.
The Norse got a goal back a minute later, but a Mertz goal in the 34th minute off assists from
Bora Eldem and Ramees made it 3-1. Five minutes later, Eldem netted his first career goal off passes from Bozovic and Ramees to lead 4-1 at halftime.
Northern Kentucky netted goals in the 54th and 67th minutes, trimming the deficit to 4-3. However,
Domenic Ruggiero team-best seventh goal put the game away for good as the freshman finished off passes from Ramees and Mertz.
Cleveland State held a 16-11 edge in shots and 11-4 advantage in shots on goal. Each team had two corner kicks.
Ramees led the game with five points on a goal and three assists. Mertz and Bozovic also finished with a pair of assists each.
Mertz finished with a game-high five shots with four on frame.
Aleksandar Kolar made one save in goal for the win.
The Vikings will have a week off before heading to Wright State on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
