Opening Whistle
For the second straight season, the Vikings will open the year with Santa Clara, this time making the trip out West on Thursday, Aug. 20.

Build Off Last Season
Cleveland State made its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance and second under head coach Ubiparipovic after winning the Horizon League Regular Season and Tournament Championships. In the first-round matchup at Marshall, the Green and White fell, 1-0.

Key Returners
Cleveland State brings back #HLMSOC Freshman of the Year and Third Team All-League honoree, Uzman Ramees. Ramees was the second straight player to receive this award after playing in all 19 games as a midfielder. Ramees led the team in assists (4) and was tied for the team lead in points (13). He also added four goals.
 
Tom Mertz received his second straight All-League honor, this time being recognized on the First Team. The sophomore played in all 19 games, scoring three goals, all of which came in league play.
 
Lennart Heck was recognized on the Second Team after playing in 18 games on the backline. Heck was the anchor of four shutouts, while scoring a goal and adding three assists.
 
Ognjen Bozovic gained Third Team All-League honors in his first season with the Green and White. Bozovic played in 18 games in the midfield, tallying three goals, one of which was the game-winner against Detroit Mercy.

Season Openers
The Green and White are 1-3-3 all-time in openers under head coach Sinisa Ubiparipovic, which includes three straight draws. The lone victory came in 2022 at home against Canisius, 4-0.
 
About Santa Clara
The Broncos are coming off a 6-5-7 overall season, which included a 4-2-2 mark in home games. Niv Berkovitz and Will Wiersdorf are both back after leading the team in goals (6), and top assist man Simon Diagana (5) also returns. Jackson Ozburn, who started all but one game in goal, is back with 48 saves and seven shutouts.
 
Series History
This will be the sixth meeting between these two teams with Santa Clara holding a 4-0-1 advantage. These two teams last met in California in 2011 with the Green and White falling, 2-0.

Ubiparipovic Background
Two-time Horizon League Coach of the Year, Sinisa Ubiparipovic enters his eighth season as the head coach of the Vikings. In his time, the Green and White have made NCAA Tournament appearances and won two Horizon League Regular Season and Tournament Championships. On the field, his squads are 51-44-20 overall (.530 winning percentage), and 31-21-11 (.579 winning percentage) in league games.
 
Preseason Poll
Cleveland State was picked to repeat as Horizon League Champions after picking up 111 points. Green Bay was slated to come in second with 95 points and league newcomer, NIU is third with 92 points.

Up Next
The Vikings make its home debut on Friday, Aug. 28 against Mercyhurst at 7 p.m.