ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland women's soccer team welcomes Cleveland State to the Grizz Dome Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+
The Golden Grizzlies (1-1) look to bounce back after falling to UIC, 1-0 in the home opener, while Cleveland State is coming off a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Wright State.
The last two meetings between the Golden Grizzlies and the Vikings (1-1) have been played to a double overtime draw.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Oakland vs. CSU: 3-3-4
Last Meeting: Tie, 2-2 in 2(OT)
At Home: 1-2-2
At CSU: 2-1-2
First-Ever Meeting: (8/13/13) CSU won, 2-1
LEAGUE LEADERS
Carmela Barro is just one of two players in the league to record two assists on the season. Barro recorded both helpers in Oakland's 2-1 win over Youngstown State in the season opener.
Junior
Alexa Sabbagh sits third in the Horizon League in shots (8) and tied for second in shots on goal (5).
The Golden Grizzlies are just one in three teams in the league with goal scorers from multiple players.
TEAM EFFORT, TEAM WIN
Sophomore
Macey Wierenga and freshman
Jackie Reilly recorded their first career goals in Oakland's season opener. Junior
Carmela Barro was responsible for the assists on both goals, while
Alexa Sabbagh also recorded a helper and four shots on the day.
PRESEASON POLL
Oakland was picked to finish fifth in the 2021 Horizon League women's soccer preseason poll, announced by the league office on Monday and voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
The Golden Grizzlies welcome back
Hollie Clement,
Jaimie Leas and
Ashley Postma for their senior campaign.
ABOUT CLEVELAND STATE
After dropping their opener against IUPUI, the Vikings bounced back with a dramatic 2-1 double-overtime victory over Wright State at the Krenzler Bubble. Cleveland State dominated shots 28-9, but the Raiders created an early 1-0 hole with a tally in the 33rd minute.
Maddie Young netted her first marker as a Viking midway through the second half before
Elena Gutlove found the golden goal with less than five minutes to play in the second overtime period. Cleveland State is now searching for its first winning streak since claiming four straight against conference foes during the 2018-19 season as part of a 6-2-1 #HLWSOC showing.
A LOOK AT LAST YEAR
The Golden Grizzlies finished in sixth place a season ago with a 7-8-3 record, 4-3-2 in Horizon League play. Oakland made it all the way to the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship for the second-straight season before bowing out of the tournament after a 2-1 loss to no. 1 seed and tournament champion, Milwaukee.
OFFENSE ON THE RISE
The Golden Grizzlies netted 21 goals in 2019, a vast improvement from 2018 where Oakland scored 10 goals. It is the most goals Oakland has recorded since the 2016 season, led by
Alexa Sabbagh who tallied seven on the year.
In 18 games, nine Golden Grizzlies recorded at least one goal on the year. Oakland emphasized its ability to work as a team as the Black and Gold registered 27 assists on its 21 goals. An impressive 12 Golden Grizzlies recorded at least one assist, led by sophomore
Sami Lopez with five.
ALL LEAGUE HONORS
Alexa Sabbagh,
Kendra Zak and
Jessica Shears earned Horizon League Women's Soccer All-Conference honors. Sabbagh and Zak were named to the All-Horizon League Second Team, while Shears earned Horizon League All-Freshman Team Honors.
Sami Lopez was named to the 2019 Horizon League All Tournament team after Oakland's semifinal appearance.
*Per Horizon League regulations fans are not permitted
