CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Vikings (0-2-0) were handed its second straight 2-1 loss to open the season as the Green and White fell to Mercyhurst (1-2-0) on Friday night in the home opener.
The opening half went scoreless despite
Alex De Nittis nailing the post in the 19th minute from outside the box.
Stephen Yerian had to come up big with six saves on seven shots.
Cleveland State opened the scoring in the 50th minute behind
Domenic Ruggiero's second goal of the season as the freshman headed in a free kick from
Massimo Caruso.
Mercyhurst pulled even in the 75th minute with a header off a corner and scored the game-winner in the 87th minute on a volley from the top of the box.
The Vikings finished with eleven shots in the game as De Nittis and Ruggiero each had two. De Nittis had a team-best two shots on goal.
Yerian completed the night with a career-high nine saves.
Cleveland State will now go back on the road to face Canisius on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.
