Zips, Bearcats Play to 0-0 Tie

April 13 | Men's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio -

There was very little offense to be had as the Akron men's soccer team battled the Cincinnati Bearcats to a 0-0 tie in a spring exhibition game held at Lee Jackson Field Thursday night.

Conditions were not ideal from the start as the teams took the pitch in rainy, 30-degree weather. Akron's first scoring opportunity came at 18:15 when senior Pablo Moreira (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville) came free on a breakaway but sent his shot just high.

The Zips had another opportunity at 24:44 when freshman Steve Zakuani (London, England/Gladesmore Community School) sent a cross in front of the net, but a charging Moreira just missed getting his foot on the ball.

Cincinnati was held without a shot in the first half and did not get a chance at the Akron net until the 60th minute. The Zips finished the game with a 6-4 advantage on shots, and took nine corner kicks to the Bearcats' five.

Despite it being a scrimmage, both teams were physical from the start with a total of 35 fouls being called. In addition, Cincinnati was hit with a red card in the 33rd minute but because it was a scrimmage it was decided that the Bearcats would be allowed to continue with 11 players on the field.

Playing a 3-5-2 formation, the Zips went with a starting lineup of GK Evan Bush (Concord, Ohio/Lake Catholic), D Devin McKenney (North Olmsted, Ohio/North Olmsted/Dayton), D Corey Sipos (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic/Fresno State), D Matt Augustin (Silver Lake, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit), MF Matt Tutich (Westmont, Ill./Hinsdale Central), MF Steve Kalan (Highland Heights, Ohio/Mayfield), MF Ben Zemanski (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy), MF Stefan Ostergren (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover), MF Elliot Bradbrook (Kent, England/Leigh City Technology/Ashland), Moreira and Zakuani.

Head coach Caleb Porter also had a chance to evaluate MF Vedran Ilic (Belvidere, Ohio/Guilford), MF Ryan Hathcock (Auburn, Ala./Auburn/UAB), MF C.J. Kaufman (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic), MF Johnny Grebenc (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville) and D Andrew Tipton (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake).

Akron is back in action this weekend as it plays host to Tiffin and Cleveland State on Saturday. Tiffin and CSU will kick things off at 4 p.m., followed by the Zips and Vikings at 5:20 p.m. The evening ends with Akron vs. Tiffin at 6:40 p.m. All games will be 70 minutes and will take place at Lee Jackson Field on the UA campus.