2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #62 Cleveland State Vikings

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019.

We started looking ahead to 2019 with a few of our team recaps last week and continued things this past week with Marist, Siena, Hartford, and Binghamton.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#62 Cleveland State Vikings

Conference: Independent
2018 Record: 4-10
Head coach: Dylan Sheridan (2nd Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Michael Wilson (21)
Assists: Michael Wilson (14)
Points: Michael Wilson (35)
Faceoffs: Danny Tesler (135-of-267; 50.6%)
Ground balls: Danny Tesler (70)
Caused turnovers: Skylar Jimenez (14)
Goals against average: Stephen Russo (10.63 GAA)
Save percentage: Stephen Russo (51.5%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: D Parese Williams (7 GBs, 4 CTs, 2 Gs, 3 As)
Senior scoring departing: 5 of 183 points (2.7%)
Senior starts lost: 1 of 140 (0.7%)

Season Summary

The Vikings played their first season with a schedule of only Division I opponents, and they held their own for the most part. After winning five games last year (one against a Division I team), Cleveland State won four games in 2018, including a big road win against defending SoCon champion Air Force in late February. They also recorded their first home win against a Division I team against Lafayette and almost came close to doing it against Mercer.

They also came up close in multiple games. They lost by four to Bellarmine and one against eventual MAAC champion Canisius. But the biggest surprise of the season was allowing Duke, the eventual national runner-ups, to less than 10 goals. The Blue Devils scored nine in the game, but Cleveland State only put up three tallies. The Vikings scored more than 10 goals in just four games, with their highest being 19 against Hampton.

For two full classes worth of student-athletes, the Vikings saw some of their freshmen contributing to the team, and a few of them led the team in notable categories. Attackman Michael Wilson was the team’s best offensive contributor with 35 points. Tristan Hanna and Derek Radke also recorded double-digit points, joining sophomores such as Jack Frickleton, Tristen Copeland, and Nick Wendel. Defenseman Skylar Jimenez joined sophomores Isaac Atencio and Brandon Ruditz on the starting close defense unit and led the team with 14 caused turnovers.

Danny Tesler continued his run at the faceoff X, winning just over 50% of his draws on the season. In goal, freshman Stephen Russo started 10 games with a 51.5% save percentage.

Looking Ahead

As a new team, the Vikings won’t lose a ton of players. They had their first senior day as a program, as defenseman Parese Williams graduated from Cleveland State.

Despite the lone loss, the entire team should return for next season. There’s 39 players out of 40 that are supposed to return. Another class of players will come in, and depending on the size of the roster the Vikings want to carry, cuts might begin to arrive.

Cleveland State has had the chance to compete against other teams and players for the first two seasons as a Division I program. In Year 3, some of the Vikings may have to compete with their own guys if they want to stay on the team.

Here’s who the Vikings will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from school’s official releases and other websites.