ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland hosts Cleveland State in a match to decide the Horizon League champion, with an NCAA Regional bid at stake. Oakland faces the Vikings at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. The match can be viewed on ESPN+.

In the Horizon semis, Oakland defeated the UIC Flames, 3-1 on the strength of nine saves from keeper Finn Jurak and two goals from captain Noah Jensen. The Golden Grizzlies avenged their lone 2-0 Horizon League loss to UIC, which happened Sept. 25. 

Against the Vikings in the regular season, the Golden Grizzlies had an incredible comeback, scoring four goals in the second half to win 4-3 after trailing 3-0. The Vikings finished second in the Horizon, one point behind Oakland in the final standings. 

Cleveland State is led by the Horizon's leading goal scorer, Bojan Kolevski. Jannis Schmidt of CSU is second in the conference in assists (10), one behind Jensen for the lead. Schmidt was named conference Player of the Year this season.

Oakland's leading goal scorer, Mikey Ketteman, was named to the Horizon League first team. Ketteman is third in the conference in goals, with 10. Jensen was also named to the All-League first team. He still leads the conference in assists (11) and is fourth in the nation in total assists.

The winner secures an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament. 




TEAM NOTES:

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FLAMES DOUSED
Oakland secured their spot in the title game after defeating the Flames in the Horizon League semifinals. The Golden Grizzlies defeated UIC 3-1, with Noah Jensen scoring the first and last goal. Mikey Ketteman added the game-winning goal on a PK as well, his team-leading 10th on the season. 

The Golden Grizzlies got out to a quick 1-0 advantage after Jensen took a cross from Owen Smith and fired it past the UIC keeper. That was the fifth goal of the season for Jensen, a mark which would not last long. 

After halftime, UIC found the equalizer shortly into the second half. It took them two tries after goalkeeper Finn Jurak saved a PK in the 58th minute. Eduardo Garcia found a crack in the defense, scoring the Flames lone goal in the 63rd minute. 

In the 68th minute, Ketteman grabbed the lead back for Oakland after drawing a PK. Ketteman put the ball dead center, blowing right by the goalkeeper diving to his right. Ketteman's 10th goal was the game-winning point for Oakland. Shortly after, Jensen added an insurance goal on another PK, putting the ball through in the 72nd minute. Jensen's sixth goal put him at tied for second on the team in scoring with Dylan Borczak.

Oakland won despite being out-shot by UIC 19-9. Jurak was big between the posts, recording nine saves and only allowing the one goal. 

STARS IN THE HORIZON
Oakland received seven all-league nominations as a team, and Head Coach Eric Pogue was named Coach of the Year. Noah Jensen and Mikey Ketteman received first team honors, with Reid Sproat, Dylan Borczak, Charlie Braithwaite and Ville Ahola named to the second team. Kai Garvey also received recognition on the All-Freshman team.

The full regular season honors can be found below:

Horizon League Men's Soccer Award Winners

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Player of the Year: Jannis Schmidt, CSU
Offensive Player of the Year: Bojan Kolevski, CSU
Defensive Player of the Year: Thomas M'Barek, CSU
Goalkeeper of the Year: Jonathan Kliewer, DET
Freshman of the Year: Jesse Randall, NKU
Coach of the Year: Eric Pogue, OAK
 
All-League First Team

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Bojan Kolevski (F), CSU
Jannis Schmidt (MF), CSU
Thomas M'Barek (D), CSU
Jake Keldermann (D), MK
Logan Farrington (F), MKE
Paolo Gratton (MF), MKE
Jesse Randall (F), NKU
Mikey Ketteman (F), OAK
Noah Jensen (MF), OAK
Jacob Graiber (D), UIC
Jonathan Kliewer (GK), DET
 
All-League Second Team

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Pablo Kawecki (MF), CSU
Demetri Pliakos (F), DET
Kyle Bandyk (D), DET
Charlie Braithwaite (D), OAK
Dylan Borczak (F), OAK
Reid Sproat (D), OAK
Ville Ahola (MF), OAK
Younes Dayekh (F), UIC
Harvey Slade (MF), WSU
Reece Allbaugh (F), WSU
Andres Vaquez (GK), UIC
 
All-Freshman Team

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Adi Vaknin (F), MKE
Gabe Anguil (MF), MKE
Hugo Espejo (MF), MKE
Philip Riewerts (D), MKE
Jesse Randall (F), NKU
Kai Garvey (MF), OAK
Noe Bijoe (D), RMU
Josh Torres (F), UIC
Brock Pickett (MF), WSU
Connor Osterholt (F), WSU
Jonathan Kliewer (GK), DET

TOP OF THE CLASS
Noah Jensen is a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS award, one of 10 finalists in the nation. Jensen is fourth in the country in assists (11) and 11th in assists per game (0.61). Voting for the Senior CLASS award can be found here. Fan voting counts for 1/3 of the ballot, with the remaining 2/3 made up of votes from coaches and media. 

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Noah Jensen notched a league-best 11th assist on the season and added the game-winning Golden Goal in overtime as the Golden Grizzlies beat the Northern Kentucky Norse, 2-1. The overtime win made Oakland the 2021 Horizon League Regular Season champions, and gave them hosting rights for the Horizon League Tournament. In the crucial final game of the season, Alessio Carbone recorded nine saves to limit NKU to just one goal. 

The double overtime win was the first time Oakland won a double overtime game this season. They are 1-1-2 in double OT games in 2021. 

PANTHERS PUMMELED 
The Golden Grizzlies are coming off a 4-3 win in overtime against the Milwaukee Panthers. A tightly-contested Horizon League match was decided in the 94th minute, when Sebastian Nuzzo scored the game-winning goal for Oakland. Alessio Carbone saved a career-high seven shots, including a pivotal save in the 93rd minute to keep Oakland alive. 

The win over the Panthers put Oakland at 7-1-1 in conference play with one match remaining. 

STREAK BROKEN
Prior to the 3-0 loss against Bowling Green Tuesday, Oct. 26, Oakland was on a five-game win streak. The three goals allowed against the Falcons were the most goals let up by the Golden Grizzlies since Oct. 9. 

Currently, the Golden Grizzlies have still not lost a Horizon League match since Sept. 25. 

ALL YOU NEED IS ONE
The Golden Grizzlies secured a 1-0 victory against IUPUI in Indianapolis. The defensive battle was decided by Dylan Borczak's sixth goal of the season, which he put in the top left corner in the 75th minute. Mikey Ketteman notched his third assist on that goal, and Oakland escaped Indy without allowing a single shot on goal. 

UNBEATEN STREAK
Men's soccer is unbeaten in its last six Horizon League games. It began on Sept. 29, when the Golden Grizzlies rolled past Robert Morris, 4-0. OU followed the triumph with a 2-2 tie at Detroit Mercy and wins against Cleveland State, Green Bay, Wright State and IUPUI. On the season, Oakland is 6-1-1 versus conference opponents, good for second in the HL standings, only behind Cleveland State.  

BREAKOUT WEEK FOR BORCZAK
Dylan Borczak, a redshirt senior from Detroit, Mich., posted six points on three goals to lead the Oakland men's soccer program to victories over Green Bay and Wright State in Horizon League play. Borczak had his first multi-goal performance of the 2021 season in OU's 3-2 comeback win at Wright State, as he scored in the ninth and 85th minute of the contest. Both scores were equalizers in the eventual overtime triumph. He added a goal in Oakland's 3-1 victory versus Green Bay earlier in the week. The impressive play led to Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week honors.

JENSEN AND BORCZAK NAMED 2021 SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATES
Noah Jensen and Dylan Borczak were two of 30 national men's soccer student-athletes who excel both on and off the field selected as candidates for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award®. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must classify as an NCAA Division I senior or graduate student and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
 
NEW GUY UP TOP
Since moving to forward in place of Charlie Braithwaite, who moved to defense, Mikey Ketteman leads the team in goals (9) and points (21), ranking third and fifth in the league. 
 
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION 
Dylan Borczak ranks second on the team goals (6), second in points (19) and fifth in assists (2). Braithwaite sits third on the team in goals (5) after moving from forward to defender earlier this season. Ville Ahola is tied for second on the team in assists (3) and scored the game-winning goal against Purdue Fort Wayne (9/11).
 
CLUTCH CAPTAIN
Noah Jensen ranks first in the Horizon League with a team-leading 11 assists. His 13 points through 15 matches was the seventh-highest mark in the conference. Jensen scored back-to-back goals to rally Oakland from a 3-0 deficit to a 4-3 win over Cleveland State, handing the Vikings their first loss in league play (10/9). He also scored his first goal of the season at DePaul (9/18). He completed the hat trick with assists on all of Oakland's three goals against Purdue Fort Wayne (9/11). Last season, Jensen led the nation last year with 14 assists.

JENSEN NAMED NIKE® HORIZON LEAGUE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Oakland men's soccer team midfielder Noah Jensen was named Nike® Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week after posting five points with his team-leading fifth assist followed by scoring the final two goals, including the game-winner, to lead Oakland from a 3-0 second-half deficit to 4-3 win over #HLMSOC leader Cleveland State. The victory was the Vikings' first loss in league play.

FIRST TIME HELPERS
In Oakland's epic 4-3 comeback over Cleveland State (10/9), Robbie Cleary recorded his first two career assists, while Kai Garvey and Sebastian Nuzzo recorded their first career assists. Cleary and Garvey also added assists against Green Bay (10/13).
 
HAYES ON THE BOARD
Kieran Hayes recorded his first career goal against Robert Morris (9/29) from his defensive position.
 
SPROAT STEPS UP
Reid Sproat scored his second career goal in Oakland's 2-2 double-overtime draw at Detroit (10/2).
 
FINN FOR THE WIN
Finn Jurak picked up the shutout and win in his first start of the season in Oakland's 4-0 victory over Robert Morris (9/29).
 
CLEAN SHEET CARBONE
Freshman goalkeeper Alessio Carbone recorded a shutout in back-to-back games against Purdue Fort Wayne, and Dayton. He also notched his first career clean sheet in a double-overtime scoreless draw at Butler. His three shutouts rank fourth in the league.
 
DOUBLE OT WOES
Oakland is 1-1-2 in the four games that have gone to double overtime.

SEASON REWIND
Nov. 11 – Oakland 3 vs UIC 1 
Oakland secured their spot in the title game after defeating the Flames in the Horizon League semifinals. The Golden Grizzlies defeated UIC 3-1, with Noah Jensen scoring the first and last goal. Mikey Ketteman added the game-winning goal on a PK as well, his team-leading 10th on the season. 

Oct. 30 – Oakland 4 vs Milwaukee 3
The Oakland men's soccer team overcame nearly 60 minutes of shorthanded play to secure a 4-3 overtime victory over Milwaukee on Saturday night at the Oakland Soccer Field. Noah Jensen tallied a match-leading three assists, while Charlie Braithwaite led the offense with a career-high two goals. Sebastian Nuzzo recorded the game-winning Golden Goal in overtime. Goalkeeper Alessio Carbone had a career-best seven saves, while Reid Sproat scored one goal, and Adam McAleenan added his second assist of the season.

Oct. 23 – Oakland 0 at #14 Bowling Green 3
The Golden Grizzly men's soccer program's five-match win streak came to an end against No. 14 Bowling Green, 3-0, on Tuesday night at the Oakland Soccer Field. Dawsun Schrum and Mohammad Jamal Issa tallied shots on goal in the loss, while goalkeeper Finn Jurak had one save. The nationally-ranked Falcons scored three first-half goals in the non-conference finale. OU held BGSU scoreless in the second period, but could not reach the scoreboard, resulting in a 3-0 loss. 

Oct. 23 – Oakland 1 at IUPUI 0
Dylan Borczak posted the lone goal for the Golden Grizzlies, his seventh of the season. The strike to the top left corner got by the goalkeeper in the 75th minute, breaking a long scoring drought for both sides. Mikey Ketteman recorded his third assist of the season on Borczak's game-winner. The Golden Grizzlies defense held the Jaguars in check, goalkeeper Finn Jurak recorded zero saves in a clean sheet victory. Oakland out-shot IUPUI 17-12, including a 4-0 advantage in shots on goal. The Jaguars committed 12 fouls to Oakland's eight, including four yellow cards. 

Oct. 19 – Oakland 2 at No. 29 Louisville 1
Mikey Ketteman and Owen Smith scored goals two minutes apart in the first half to propel the Oakland men's soccer program to a 2-1 victory over Louisville. The win extended the Golden Grizzlies win streak to a season-high four games. Noah Jensen added his team-leading seventh assist of the year on Ketteman's score. Goalkeeper Finn Jurak totaled a match-best five saves in the victory, which tied his season-high in the category. Four of the saves occurred in the second half. The Cardinals came into the non-conference matchup ranked 29th in the Division I Men's Soccer RPI and nearly perfect at 8-1 in home games. Louisville had outscored opponents 23-1 in its last six home contests, including shutouts over nationally-ranked Wake Forest, Boston College, and North Carolina. To add, the Cardinals ranked first nationally in scoring offense, averaging 2.77 goals per game.

Oct. 16 – Oakland 3 at Wright State 2
Dylan Borczak scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season and Mikey Ketteman recorded the game-winning Golden Goal in overtime, as the Oakland men's soccer program extended its Horizon League unbeaten streak to five games with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory at Wright State. Charlie Braithwaite helped out with his second assist of the year on Borczak's first goal, while Finn Jurak contributed with four saves in the win. 

Oct. 13 – Oakland 3 vs Green Bay 1
Owen Smith scored his first goal of the season and added an assist while Mikey Ketteman scored the game-winning goal off assists from Robbie Cleary and Kai Garvey as Oakland rolled by past Green Bay, 3-1. Dylan Borzak also added his third goal of the season, Charlie Braithwaite added his first assist while Noah Jensen secured his team-best sixth assist helping the Golden Grizzlies remain unbeaten over their last three league matches.

Oct. 9 – Oakland 4 vs Cleveland State 3
The Oakland men's soccer team completed a comeback for the ages as Dawsun Schrum and Charlie Braithwaite each scored goals followed by two from Noah Jensen to erase a 3-0 second-half deficit and secure a 4-3 win over Cleveland State who was previously unbeaten in Horizon League play. Robbie Cleary posted his first two career assists while Kai Garvey and Sebastian Nuzzo also each recorded their first career assists. Jensen also added a helper for his team-leading fifth assist of the season.
 
Cleveland State (6-5, 5-1HL) took a 1-0 lead into the half off of a penalty kick. Both teams then accounted for six second-half goals starting with CSU who took a commanding 3-0 with goals in the 53rd and 63rd minute.
 
Oakland (4-5-2, 3-1-1HL) turned to its bench for a spark in the offense. In the 68th minute, Cleary took the ball down the left side and slid a pass over the Nuzzo who moved deep towards the end line. Nuzzo then delivered a cross that sailed past the goalmouth and connected with Schrum who tapped the ball which just made it over the goal line to put the Golden Grizzlies on the board.
 
Just two minutes later, Garvey took a pass from Jensen, made a run into the box, and hit a shot right at CSU keeper Omeed Naeemy who made a right-foot save. However, the ball deflected right to a charging Braithwaite who put the rebound into the back of the net cutting the deficit to 3-2.
 
In the 73rd minute, Jensen drove the ball off a free-kick that deflected off the defensive wall and beat Naeemy to the right size for the equalizer.
 
Oakland completed the comeback as Owen Smith sent in a long ball off a free-kick. After a couple of deflections, Garvey shot the ball which was blocked but end up with Cleary who was able to slot the ball through traffic to an unmarked Jensen on the right side who fired the ball into the net for the game-winner.
 
Oct. 6 – Oakland 0 at Western Michigan 1 (2OT)
Finn Jurak made a season-high five saves while Noah Jensen posted two shots on goal and Oakland was edged 1-0 by Western Michigan in double-overtime on Wednesday night at the WMU Soccer Complex.
 
Oct. 3 – Oakland 2 at Detroit Mercy 2 (2OT):
Mikey Ketteman scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season and added an assist while Reid Sproat scored his second career goal as Oakland played arch rival Detroit Mercy to a 2-2 double-overtime draw in Metro Series action on a rainy Saturday night at Titan Field. Ville Ahola and Dawsun Schrum also each added an assist on Ketteman's goal. Oakland is a perfect 5-0-3 all-time against the Detroit Mercy since the inception of the Metro Series in 2014 and 12-3-7 over the last 22 matches.
 
Metro Series All-Time Results:
2021: T Oakland 2 at Detroit Mercy 2 (2OT)
2020-21: W - Oakland 3 vs Detroit Mercy 1
2019: T - Oakland 1 vs Detroit Mercy 1 (2OT)
2018: W - Oakland 1 at Detroit Mercy 0
2017: T - Oakland 0 vs Detroit Mercy 0 (2OT)
2016: W - Oakland 2 at Detroit Mercy 1
2015: W - Oakland 2 vs Detroit Mercy 0
2014: W - Oakland 2 at Detroit Mercy 1 (OT)
 
Sept. 29 – Oakland 4 at Robert Morris 0:
Dylan Borczak scored his second goal of the season and added an assist, Kieran Hayes recorded his first career goal while Mikey Ketteman and Charlie Braithwaite each added a tally each as Oakland rolled past Robert Morris 4-0 (9/29). Mohammad Jamal Issa added his second assist on the season while Finn Jurak picked up the shutout in his first start of the season. The Golden Grizzlies have now outscored the Colonials 14-1 over the last three matches.
 
Sept. 25 – Oakland 0 vs UIC 2:
Dylan Borczak recorded four of Oakland's six shots on goal but none found the back of the net as the Golden Grizzlies fell 2-0 to visiting UIC in Horizon League action on Saturday at the OU Soccer Field. Alessio Carbone made a season and career-best six saves in goal.
 
Sept. 18 – Oakland 1 at DePaul 3:
Noah Jensen scored his first goal of the season off Adam McAleenan's first assist on the year but it was not enough as Oakland saw its two-game win streak snapped with a 3-1 setback at DePaul at Wish Field.
 
Sept. 15 – Oakland 3 vs Dayton 0:
Mikey Ketteman scored two goals, Charlie Braithwaite posted his first goal of the season while Noah Jensen added three assists as Oakland won its second straight match with a 3-0 shutout over visiting Dayton on Wednesday at the Oakland Soccer Field. Ville Ahola also added a pair of first assists on both of Ketteman's goals. Alessio Carbone posted his second straight clean sheet.
 
Sept. 11 – Oakland 2 vs Purdue Fort Wayne 0:
Ville Ahola scored his first goal of the season followed by Mikey Ketteman's second tally of the year to lead Oakland to its first win of the season with a 2-0 mark over visiting Purdue Fort Wayne to open Horizon League play on Saturday afternoon.  Alessio Carbone picked up his second shutout of the season and first career win making two saves on 11 shots faced while Noah Jensen added his first assist on Alhola's game-winner.
 
Sept. 3 – Oakland 1 at Michigan State 3:
Ketteman scored his first goal of the season while Borczak recorded his second assist as Oakland got off to a quick start but was unable to hold on as the Golden Grizzlies fell 3-1 at Michigan State.
 
Aug. 29 - Oakland 1 vs Michigan 2 (2OT):
Dylan Borczak scored his first goal of the season as Oakland dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to visiting Michigan as the Wolverines scored the game-winning golden goal with under three seconds left in double-overtime.
 
After Borczak's goal came in the 15th minute, it looked like the Golden Grizzles were going to take the lead into halftime but Michigan connected on a long shot for the equalizing goal with just three seconds left in the half tying the game at 1-1.
 
The game remained tied deep into the second overtime as Michigan set up for a corner kick with under 10 seconds left in the game. As the cross came in, U-M's Declan Gaffney connected on a header that Alessio Carbone saved pushing the ball away from the near post. However, the loose ball went right to Marc Ybarra who was able to score off a header for the game-winning golden goal with under three seconds left in the match giving the Wolverines a 2-1 win.

FIRST CAREER SHUTOUT FOR CARBONE
Aug. 26 - Oakland 0 at Butler 0 (2OT):
Alessio Carbone made the most of his first career collegiate start in goal as the freshman recorded a shutout making three saves off 15 shots faced helping Oakland play Butler to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Thursday night at the Sellick Bowl to open the 2021 Fall season. Both teams stood tall on set pieces defensively as they combined for 27 corner kicks with Butler holding an 18-9 advantage.
 
2021 FALL HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
For the second consecutive season, Oakland was picked to finish first atop the Fall 2021 Horizon League Men's Soccer Preseason Poll announced by the league office and voted on by the league's 11 head coaches. The Golden Grizzlies secured 113 points and seven first place votes. Prior to the COVID-19 shortened Spring 2021 season, Oakland was selected to finish in a first-place tie along with UIC.
 
JENSEN AND BORCZAK NAMED TO UNITED SOCCER COACHES 2021 MAC HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Oakland men's soccer student-athletes Noah Jensen and Dylan Borczak were two of 44 national men's soccer players named to the United Soccer Coaches 2021 Men's Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List announced by the national office on Thursday, AUG. 26.  After his historic 2020-21 campaign, Jensen was selected as one of 15 men's soccer national semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy which the highest individual award presented to a player in intercollegiate soccer.
 
The Hermann Trophy, presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club, is the nation's highest individual honor recognizing the nation's National Player of the Year. Division I coaches who are members of the United Soccer Coaches College Services program vote for the award.