Zips Top Buffalo, 2-1 For Share of MAC Title

October 28 | Men's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio -

Despite battling tough conditions both from the sky and on the field, Akron netted two quick goals and held on for a 2-1 victory over Buffalo (9-6-2, 3-2 MAC) Saturday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field.

With the win, Akron improves to 12-4-1 on the season, 4-1 in MAC play. Akron clinches a share of the MAC regular season title, its ninth regular-season crown in 14 years of MAC play.

For the third-straight game the Zips struck early as Ashley Kozicki (Kresgeville, Pa./Pleasant Valley/St. John's) netted his sixth goal of the season at 5:08. Senior defender Jonathan McClain (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne/Wright State) played a thru ball to Kozicki, and the senior slotted it home past UB goalkeeper Daniel Bell from the penalty area.

"We started where we left off from the last game," said head coach Caleb Porter. "We wanted to set the tone early. It's not easy to play good soccer on a rain-soaked field, and I think we were able to do that today."

Akron's second goal of the afternoon came just over a minute later on a series of beautifully executed passes that began with McClain in the back. On the counter attack McClain played the ball to Pablo Moreira (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville) in the far right corner, and Moreira sent the ball in to Matt Tutich (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central) in front of the net. Tutich flicked the ball back to senior midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor), who shot the ball into the upper right for his sixth goal of the season.

"I couldn't be more proud of our seniors," said Porter. "They should be proud of what they did out there today. They left everything they had on the field, and it was a great way to go out."

The Zips dominated play from the outset, taking seven shots to the Bulls' one in the first period. Four of those attempts were on-goal, including a ball from Moreira that nearly curled into the net before Bell got a hand on it. The Zips had another chance to add a score at 15:17 when Elliot Bradbrook's (Kent, England/Leigh City Technology) header was cleared by a UB defender.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, both teams were forced to clear the field for 30 minutes when lightening hit the area. Once play resumed, Buffalo came out with a sense of urgency and managed to get a goal back in the 74th minute. A Buffalo shot was saved by Akron goalkeeper Evan Bush (Concord, Ohio/Lake Catholic), but Bush's save pushed the ball back into play and Sola Abolaji was there to collect the rebound for the score.

"Some teams would crumble mentally after giving up a goal like that," Porter said. "We didn't let it get to us and were able to play on."

The Zips nearly added another score in the waning minutes as Steve Kalan (Highland Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) got free on a breakaway, dishing off to Ubiparipovic whose shot attempt on an open net went off the post.

Bush recorded two saves in his 12th victory of the season, while Bell was tested with six saves to his credit. Ubiparipovic had a team-high four shots, three of which were on frame, while all three of Kozicki's attempts were on target. Akron finished with a commanding 12-4 lead in shot attempts, including a 9-1 advantage on corner kicks.

As the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament, the Zips have earned a bye into the semifinal round on Friday, Nov. 3. The Zips will play the winner of Tuesday's Western Michigan/Bowling Green matchup. The semifinal and final matches are being played on the campus of Northern Illinois.