Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State women's soccer team (2-9-4, 2-3-3 HL) returns to action on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest against Cleveland State at Farmers National Bank Field. The Penguins and Cleveland State (4-10-1, 3-5-0) are tied for sixth in the HL standings with nine points while Wright State sits in seventh place just one point back and IUPUI is eighth two points behind. The top six teams advance to the HL Championships which are slated for later this month.

Sunday's Promotion
The Penguins will honor five seniors prior to Sunday's contest. Penguins to be honored ahead of the contest are Zeeyana Jivraj, Lauren Snow, Bethany Rasile, Erica Barney and Jordan Evans.

Last Time Out
On Thursday, the Penguins lost 1-0 at Purdue Fort Wayne. The lone goal in the contest came by the Mastadons in the 31st minute off a penalty kick. The Guins had eight shots in the contest.

Picking Up the Points
YSU has nine points in the league standings for the first time since 2014. During the 2014 season the Penguins had three wins and a tie for a total of 10 points. YSU also had nine points in 2012 on the strength of three victories.

Series vs. Cleveland State
The Penguins and Vikings have met 18 times on the pitch. Cleveland State owns an 11-6-1 lead in the all-time series which dates back to 2004. YSU dropped a 3-2 contest at Cleveland State back on March 4. The last contest in Youngstown was a 2-0 CSU victory on Sept. 26, 2018. After back-to-back wins by the Guins, Cleveland State has won five of the last six meetings.

Kirkpatrick Stepping Up in Net
Sophomore Goalkeeper Brooklynn Kirkpatrick has started five of the past six games in net for Penguins. Kirkpatrick picked up her first career shutout in a 0-0 tie against UIC on Oct. 2. She garnered her second shutout of the campaign in YSU's 1-0 win over Northern Keutucky. In the last 383 minutes played, she had surrendered just two goals - both penalty kicks. Against Wright State on Sept. 19, she turned in an impressive performance in the net against Wright State on Sept. 19 with a career-high 10 saves. 

Sizer Now in Top 10
With her second goal this season, junior Marcella Sizer has posted 10 goals during her career. She now ranks tied for 10th in career goals and ranks 10th with 23 career points. Sizer is now tied for the team lead with Regan LaVigna and Abriana Rondin with two goals.

Four First Career Goal Scorers
The Penguins have had four players notch their first career goals this season. Chloe Casello scored on a header against Kent State on Aug. 26. Maddie Root guided a shot off the post into the net against Marshall on Sept. 2. Erika Maliska gave the Guins a 1-0 lead over Detroit Mercy in the second half of the contest on Sept. 23. Most recently, Gianna Weigel chipped in the eventual game-winner in the first half last Sunday against NKU at Farmers National Bank Field.

2021 Captains
Senior Jordan Evans, junior Abriana Rondin and sophomore Brooklynn Kirkpatrick were named team captains after a vote by their teammates prior to the season.

Favorable Schedule
YSU's final two games following Sunday's tilt are against teams behind the Penguins in the Horizon League standings. IUPUI (Oct. 23) has seven points and Robert Morris (Oct. 27) has five points.

Up Next
Youngstown State plays its final two games of the regular season on the road. The Guins visit IUPUI on Saturday in a 10 a.m. contest vs. the Jaguars.