The University of Akron Athletics
No. 1 Akron Posts 5-1 Win over Northern Illinois
October 21 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 21, 2005
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio -- - A bizarre opening 30 minutes of play, which resulted in three penalty kicks, gave way to a dominating performance by the Akron offensive attack as the top-ranked Zips (13-0-1, 4-0-0 Mid-American Conference) men's soccer squad recorded a 5-1 victory over Northern Illinois (9-4-2, 2-1-0 MAC) Friday night at Lee Jackson Field. With the win, Akron has clinched the No. 1 seed for the MAC Tournament, which will be held Nov. 11-13 at Jackson Field.
Cold, rainy conditions were a factor in a spirited contest with 38 fouls and seven cautions between the two schools. The Huskies were flagged for a hand ball in the box, setting up a penalty kick for Ross McKenzie (Whangamata, New Zealand/Mount Albert) which gave Akron a 1-0 lead at 19:09. The advantage was short-lived as a tripping call on the Zips in the box allowed Kevin Woerner to convert his PK attempt at 20:41.
McKenzie narrowly missed a goal in the 25th minute when his shot bounced off the post and back into the field, but he got another chance, converting his second free kick of the game at 29:59 as NIU was again called for a hand ball. That would end the scoring in a first half which saw Akron hold a commanding 11-2 advantage in shots taken.
The Zips wasted little time taking a 3-1 lead just two minutes
into the second period as McKenzie recorded his third goal of the
night, the second time this season he has recorded three scores in
a single match. This score came in the field of play as he juggled
the ball on his foot around the defense, bringing NIU keeper Steve
Goletz out of the net and shooting around him for the score.
McKenzie led Akron with five shot attempts, three of which were on
goal.
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Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor/UIC) got in on the scoring act with his 11th goal of the season in the 67th minute. Coming off an NIU foul, Ubiparipovic sent his direct free kick of the top of Goletz' head as the Zips took a commanding 4-1 lead.
Northern Illinois' best shot of the second half came at 77:11 as Fraser Gibson's indirect free kick sailed toward the net, but freshman Andrew Tipton (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake), who earned the start in place of an injured Matt Augustin (Silver Lake, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit), cleared the shot out to keep the Huskies scoreless in the second half. Akron has now outscored its opponents 33-1 in the second half of play.
Junior Brendan Murphy (Chesterland, Ohio/West Geauga) tallied his second goal of the season with a tap-in at 84:58 off a well-played ball from Kristian Gaustad (Bergen, Norway/Soccer Academy of Danielsen) and Amico DiFranco (Chesterland, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin).
Akron closes out Mid-American Conference play on the road Sunday as it travels to Western Michigan (6-6-2, 2-1-1 MAC) for a 1 p.m. match at the WMU Soccer Complex.
1 2 Total
Northern Illinois 1 0 1
No. 1 Akron 2 3 5
UA: Ross McKenzie (Penalty Kick)- 19:09
NIU: Kevin Woerner (Penalty Kick)- 20:41
UA: Ross McKenzie (Penalty Kick)- 29:59
UA: Ross McKenzie (unassisted)- 47:10
UA: Sinisa Ubiparipovic (unassisted)- 66:40
UA: Brendan Murphy (Kristian Gaustad, Amico DiFranco)- 84:58
