ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland Men's Soccer continues its search for its first win of the season, traveling to Cleveland State to take on the Vikings on Saturday.

The Golden Grizzlies' 0-4-3 record entering the match does not reflect their ability as a team. After playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the league—including three matchups against nationally ranked top-25 teams—Oakland is poised for a positive run as Horizon League play begins.

In 2024, Oakland began the season 0-4 before flipping the switch and winning its final five matches en route to earning the No. 1 seed in the conference championship.

The Golden Grizzlies still stack up as one of the top statistical teams in the Horizon League, ranking fourth in goals scored (9), assists (10), and shots on goal (31) entering the week. They also rank fourth in team saves (25), with their strong rotation of keepers—Cole Thompson, Aiden Smith, and Sebastian Stanaj—continuing to be one of the league's stronger units.

Cleveland State enters the match winless at 0-2-3, most recently playing Milwaukee to a scoreless draw. The Vikings have struggled offensively to start the season, ranking in the bottom three of the conference in shots (37), shots on goal (15), and goals (4). They have recorded just one multi-goal game this year, compared to three such games for the Golden Grizzlies.

Historically, Oakland has dominated the series. The Golden Grizzlies hold a 12-5 record against the Vikings, winning seven of the last 10 meetings and scoring three or more goals in five of those contests.

In last season's matchup, Oakland secured a 2-1 home victory behind a game-winning goal from Jack Klomparens in the 41st minute.

The two teams face off in primetime on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. at Krenzler Field, with the game streamed live on ESPN+.