Game No. 6
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 12 | 7:00 PM
Location: Cleveland, Ohio | Krenzler Field
Teams: Cleveland State (1-3-1, 0-1-0) vs. Detroit (1-4-1, 0-1-0) 
Follow: Live Stats
 

Opening Whistle
The Vikings play their first home league game of the year against Detroit on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
 
Facts Behind the League
Cleveland State is 4-2-1 in the first Horizon League home game of the year under head coach Sinisa Ubiparipovic.
 
Overall, in home Horizon games, the Green and White are 19-6-6 overall.

First Half Lockdown
The Vikings have yet to concede a goal in the opening 45 minutes of play through five contests. 
 
Last Game Out
The Green and White were shutout by Oakland in the league opener on Wednesday, 2-0. Following a scoreless first half, the Grizzlies converted on a corner kick in the 49th minute and doubled the lead in the 82nd minute with a goal from 30 yards out.
 
Cleveland State held an 11-10 edge in shots with each team putting three shots on frame. The Green and White held a commanding 7-3 advantage in corners. Tom Mertz paced the game with four shots including two on frame.
 
About the Titans
Detroit has dropped two straight games, entering the contest with a 1-4-1 overall record and a 0-1-0 mark in the league. The Titans are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Colonials at home and have one mutual opponent thus far in Mercyhurst, who they tied 2-2 on September 1.
 
Johnny Strickler leads the offense with four goals, while Thero Mitchell has two goals and three assists. Drew Pierson paces the team in assists with four. Colin Monroe has started four games in goal, including the last three, accumulating seven saves and one shutout.
 
Series History
This will be the 39th meeting between these two teams, with Detroit Mercy holding a 19-14-5 advantage. Last season the Vikings shutout the Titans 2-0 on the road, and the last meeting on Krenzler Field in 2024 concluded in a 2-2 draw.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 remain home on Saturday, Sept. 22 as Green Bay visits Krenzler Field at 2 p.m.