Previewing Cleveland State's 2022 men's lacrosse schedule

Courtesy: Cleveland State Athletics

The Cleveland State Vikings are the 18th team in our 2022 men’s college lacrosse schedule preview series and the third team from the newly rebooted ASUN. Cleveland State went 3-7 overall as an independent in 2021.

Cleveland State joins Air Force, Bellarmine, Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris, and Utah in the new ASUN conference. Their conference tournament will be held May 5-7 at Milton Frank Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama. The top four teams in the ASUN standings qualify for the postseason tournament.

Here's their entire 2022 spring schedule:

WHO'S IN?

• Ohio State Buckeyes (2/12)

• Michigan Wolverines (2/26)

• Canisius Golden Griffins (3/5)

• St. Bonaventure Bonnies (3/11 & 3/13)

• Hampton Pirates (3/19)

• Air Force Falcons (4/16, also joining ASUN)

• Detroit Mercy Titans (4/23, also joining ASUN)

WHO'S OUT?

• Bucknell Bison (15-9 L)

• Notre Dame Fighting Irish (19-5 L)

• Marquette Golden Eagles (10-5 L)

CIRCLE THESE DATES

• 2/19 vs. Mercer: Cleveland State's series with Mercer has had all four contests decided within four goals. Both teams have won games by multiple goals, but Mercer has won both one-goal contests including a one-goal game last year where neither team scored for the final 11:25. Sean Goldsmith also didn't play in this one for Mercer.

• 3/11 at St. Bonaventure & 3/13 vs. St. Bonaventure: Outside of conference competitions last year in men's and women's lacrosse, I don't think I've ever seen a scheduled home-and-home within a weekend. Campuses are separated by about three hours so a decent bus ride for a mid-March weekend. Will also be interesting how both teams adjust and respond after the first game.

• 4/2 at Bellarmine: A huge game for the history of the program. It's their first ever conference game in their seventh season. It's been a journey and joining a conference, specifically the ASUN in this case, probably helped the men's lacrosse program stay as an active program. Having a home matters. The Vikings split their two meetings with Bellarmine last year.

• 4/23 at Detroit Mercy: Robert Morris and Air Force will probably be the two best teams in the conference. The other four could finish anywhere between third and sixth. I have a feeling Cleveland State should make it to the ASUN Tournament. They went 1-3 against ASUN foes last year (didn't play Air Force or Robert Morris), but they went 3-2 against their future conference rivals in 2019. The losses: Robert Morris and Air Force. The UDM game could decide tournament hopes.