The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Topple No. 3 Maryland To take Westfield Cup Title
August 21 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 21, 2005
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer team defeated its second ranked opponent in as many days as they upset #3 University of Maryland, 2-0 to win the inaugural Westfield Cup title Sunday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field.
"This was a wonderful weekend for collegiate soccer in northeast Ohio and we are excited to have this caliber of teams visit our home field to start the season," said UA head coach Ken Lolla.
Yohann Mauger (Rennes, France-Marc Bloch/Int'l Business School of Rennes), Ross McKenzie (Whangamata, New Zealand-Mount Albert School), Ossie Michalsen (Bergen, Norway-Soccer Academy of Danielson) and Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Mentor, Ohio-Mentor HS/Illinois-Chicago) earned all-tournament team honors for the Zips.
Mauger and Ubiparipovic led the Zips' offense on the day, with Mauger recording one assist and Ubiparipovic accounting for the second goal with his corner kick leading to a Maryland own goal. The Terps out-shot the Zips 9-6 in the game while holding a 6-5 advantage in shots on goal.
Evan Bush (Concord, Ohio-Lake Catholic HS) had a stellar game
between the posts for Akron, recording six saves in the shutout. He
finished the weekend allowing no goals and posting seven saves.
|
|
"We are making a statement to ourselves and to other teams that it is going to be tough for them to beat us here," Lolla said. "We believe we can play with anyone in the country."
After a defensive struggle in the first half, Mauger gave the Zips 1-0 advantage less than five minutes into the second half, launching a 35-yard shot just right of the Terps' goalie at the 49:19 mark. The shot was the first on goal for Akron in the game.
Akron took a 2-0 lead when Ubiparipovic's corner kick sailed in front of the goal and off a Maryland defender for an own goal at 61:47.
The Zips were given a one-man advantage when Maryland's David Glaudemans tackled Ubiparipovic from behind and was given a red card with 17:57 left in the first half. The advantage would not help in the half as the game entered the intermission knotted at 0-0.
Neither offense was very active in the half as Akron was held to just one shot, none directed at the goal, while Maryland had two shots and one shot on goal. Both teams attempted two corner kicks each in the half.
The Zips will open the regular season on September 2 when they play host to Evansville at Lee Jackson Field. The opening kick is set for 7:30 p.m.
2005 Westfield Cup All-Tournament Team:
Yohann Mauger, The University of Akron
Ross McKenzie, The University of Akron
Ossie Michalsen, The University of Akron
Sinisa Ubiparipovic, The University of Akron
Maurice Edu, The University of Maryland
Kenny Bentz, The University of Maryland
Stephen King, The University of Maryland
Jay Needham, Southern Methodist University
Jeff Harwell, Southern Methodist University
Mpho Moloi, The University of Connecticut
O'Brian White, The University of Connecticut
