CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State (6-2-6) extended their unbeaten streak to three matches with a convincing 3-1 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne (6-2-5) on Saturday afternoon at Krenzler Field. The Vikings controlled much of the play in front of a spirited home crowd of 847 spectators.
Uzman Ramees opened the scoring for Cleveland State in the 43rd minute, finishing a well-worked combination between Peleg Armendariz and Matteo Correia. The Vikings doubled their advantage early in the second half when Armendariz found the net in the 52nd minute off an assist from Ramees. Ramees secured his brace in the 57th minute with a clinical finish from Fefo Granados' service. Iann Topete pulled one back for the Mastodons in the 88th minute, but it proved too late to mount a comeback.
The first half saw Cleveland State establish their dominance early, with Josip Rimac testing the Purdue Fort Wayne defense in the 8th minute with a shot that sailed high. The Vikings' pressure continued as Ognjen Bozovic and Peleg Armendariz both created dangerous opportunities, forcing multiple saves from the Mastodons' goalkeeper. Christian Leon managed Purdue Fort Wayne's best chance of the half in the 15th minute, but his shot was blocked.
Cleveland State maintained their momentum after the break, with Armendariz particularly influential in the attacking third. The Vikings' tactical adjustment to press higher up the field paid dividends, leading to their second and third goals. Purdue Fort Wayne showed more attacking intent in the final thirty minutes, with Shane Anderson and Christian Agyekum both registering shots on target, but struggled to break down a well-organized Cleveland State defense.
The final statistics reflected Cleveland State's control of the match. The Vikings recorded 13 shot attempts to Purdue Fort Wayne's 16, though the Mastodons managed more shots on target (11-5). Cleveland State's disciplined defensive performance was highlighted by their 10 saves compared to Purdue Fort Wayne's 2. The Mastodons held a slight edge in corner kicks (5-1), but couldn't capitalize on these set-piece opportunities.
Uzman Ramees was the standout performer with his two-goal performance, while Peleg Armendariz contributed a goal and an assist in an influential display. Tom Mertz anchored Cleveland State's defense effectively, limiting Purdue Fort Wayne's clear scoring chances. For the visitors, Shane Anderson showed determination with multiple shot attempts, earning a yellow card in the 56th minute for his aggressive play.
Cleveland State's tactical approach of controlling possession and striking quickly on the counter proved effective, particularly in the second half. The Vikings' midfield trio of Armendariz, Correia, and Granados consistently found space between Purdue Fort Wayne's lines, creating numerous attacking opportunities.
The victory strengthens Cleveland State's position in the conference standings, extending their unbeaten run to three matches. For Purdue Fort Wayne, the loss marks their second straight defeat after falling to Green Bay in their previous match, creating urgency to reverse their form as the season enters its crucial phase.
Cleveland State will look to maintain their momentum when they travel to face IU Indy on October 31, while Purdue Fort Wayne aims to snap their losing streak as they visit Detroit Mercy on the same date. Both matches carry significant implications for conference positioning as the regular season approaches its conclusion.