The University of Akron Athletics
Zips, Bulls Play to 0-0 Tie, Akron Claims MAC Crown on Penalty Kicks
November 13 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 13, 2005
Box Score | Photo Gallery
AKRON, Ohio -- - It took over 110 minutes for a champion to be crowned, but the University of Akron men's soccer team (17-1-2) prevailed, 7-6 on penalty kicks over the Buffalo Bulls (13-3-2) Sunday afternoon in the Mid-American Conference title game at Lee Jackson Field. The contest officially goes into the books as a 0-0 double overtime tie for both schools.
Geir Nyheim (Bergen, Norway/U. Pihl) sent his shot on the ground and around UB goalkeeper Daniel Bell to give Akron a 7-6 advantage on penalty kicks. Buffalo's Andrae Clarke stepped up to the line and sent his attempt to the right, but UA keeper Evan Bush (Concord, Ohio/Lake Catholic) blocked the mid-height shot with his forearm for the championship.
The Zips claimed back-to-back MAC tournament titles for the first time in school history. Akron also recorded its school-record 14th shutout of the season.
"I am proud of our guys for sticking with it," said UA head coach Ken Lolla. "Buffalo made it difficult on us with their defensive game plan, yet we did well to keep our composure and the guys came through in the penalty phase."
The Zips held a commanding 17-4 advantage in shot attempts for
the game but could not get by a Buffalo team that was content to
sit back and defend for most of the game. Akron's first quality
chance in the first half came with 20:34 to play as Ross McKenzie
(Whangamata, New Zealand/Mount Albert) rifled a shot from 15 yards
out on the right side, only to have Bell punch the ball over the
top of the cross bar.
|
|
Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor/UIC) had the ball on a restart at 30:50, but saw his shot glance just off the top of the bar and over the net. Ubiparipovic tallied three shots on the afternoon, while the Zips were led by McKenzie's five attempts.
Buffalo managed just two shots in each half and were unable to connect with the ball in either of the overtime periods. The game was a physical one with a combined 38 fouls and six cautions. Both teams also had to battle wind gusts of up to 30 mph.
Justin Sadler (Boiling Springs, Pa./Cumberland Valley/Drexel) made good on his first penalty attempt and was matched by UB's Lee Catchpole. That was followed by Yohann Mauger's (Rennes, France/Marc Bloch/Int'l Business School of Rennes) successful try in the upper right corner. Bush got a hand on Matt Stuczynski's attempt, but the ball cleared the line to tie things at 3-all.
Both teams easily made their next three tries to finish the initial round of five. From this point on the attempts would be one-for-one, with just one save or missed attempt needed for the victory. Corey Sipos (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic/Fresno State) made it 6-5 Akron, and Bush got a hand on Dave Chojnowski's shot but could not punch the ball high enough out of the net as the slate was evened at 6-6.
Bush, Ubiparipovic, defender Ossie Michalsen (Bergen, Norway/Soccer Academy of Danielsen) and Mauger represented the Zips on the all-tournament team.
The Zips will learned their NCAA Tournament fate on Monday at 4 p.m. as the 48-team field is announced live on ESPNews. It is the fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance for Akron.
1 2 OT1 OT2 Total
Buffalo 0 0 0 0 0
Akron 0 0 0 0 0
Akron claims title, 7-6 on penalty kicks
