Game No. 5
Date/Time: Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 7:00 PM
Location: Rochester, Mich. | Oakland Soccer Field
Teams: Cleveland State (1-2-1, 0-0-0) vs. Oakland (1-2-1, 0-0-0) 
Follow: Live Stats
 

Opening Whistle
The Vikings will open its Horizon League title defense with a pair of league games this week, starting with a trip to Oakland on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
Facts Behind the League
Cleveland State is 1-4-2 in the first Horizon League game of the year under head coach Sinisa Ubiparipovic, which includes a 0-3-0 mark against the Grizzlies.
 
Overall, in road Horizon games, the Green and White are 14-15-3 overall.
 
Last Game Out
The Green and White played No. 19 FAU to a home scoreless draw on Saturday night. Aleksander Kolar recorded five saves in the first half and added two in the second half for a career-high seven saves. Ognjen Bozovic led the offense with two shots.
 
About the Grizzlies
Oakland enters the league opener with a 1-2-1 overall record and is coming off a 7-2 loss at Grand Canyon on Thursday. The lone win came at home versus UIC by a score of 3-2. OU has scored seven goals and is led by Cal Kurzawa with seven points on three goals and two assists. Stephen Gilbert paces the team in assists with two. Cole Thompson has played every minute in goal, accumulating 21 saves.
 
Series History
This will be the 25th meeting between these two teams with Oakland holding a 13-11-0 advantage. In the last five games, Cleveland State maintains a 3-2 edge, including a 1-0 win on Krenzler Field last year. Lennart Heck netted the game-winner last year in the 88th minute.
 
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 will play its first home league game of the year on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. versus Detroit Mercy.