The University of Akron Athletics
10th-Ranked Men's Soccer Breezes By Owls, 7-0
September 19 | Men's Soccer
Behind five first-half goals, the 10th-ranked University of
Akron men's soccer team powered past Florida Atlantic, 7-0, in its
Mid-American Conference opener Friday afternoon at Lee Jackson
Field.
Hermann Trophy candidate Steve Zakuani led the charge with two goals
and a pair of assists for the Zips, who eclipsed their goals total
for the season in one game. Teal
Bunbury and Darlington Nagbe each added a pair of goals of
their own in the lopsided victory.
"I knew at some point a team was going to feel our offensive
wrath," said UA head coach Caleb
Porter. "We didn't have a good showing last weekend offensively
and I felt we were fatigued. But our focus heading into this game
was to get fresh and have some fun. I really liked our personality
today. We went out, worked hard and had fun."
Akron (4-1-2, 1-0-0 MAC) dominated the box score – posting an
18-4 shots advantage, including a 12-3 edge in shots on goal. Both
tallies were season highs for the Zips, who also recorded highs for
points (21), goals (7), assists (7).
After scoring six goals in its first six games, Akron wasted little
time jumping on the Owls (2-6-0, 0-2-0), who were shut out by
Buffalo, 3-0, in their MAC opener Wednesday. Bunbury took a pass
from Zakuani on the left side of the box and banged home a shot off
the keepers' back just 10 minutes into the contest for his first
collegiate score.
Then in the 22nd minute, Zakuani proved why he is one of the best
players in the country with his first of two highlight drives to
put UA up 2-0. After a feed from Blair
Gavin, the speedy forward split a pair of defenders and fired
from 17 yards out to beat FAU goalie Phillip Lamarre.
Nagbe scored his first goal in an Akron uniform in the 32nd minute
off a pair of passes from Zakuani and Kofi
Sarkodie before Zakuani took center stage again.
This time, the talented sophomore took a pass from Anthony
Ampaipitakwong near midfield, beat back-to-back defenders in
one-on-one situations, then slammed the ball into the lower
left-hand corner of the net from seven yards in the 34th
minute.
"That was a special effort and one of the better goals I've seen in
a while," Porter said of Zakuani's second score of the game.
Zakuani has now recorded five goals, four assists and 14 points in
seven games this year.
"We needed a game like this," Zakuani said. "We hadn't been scoring
too much lately but the coaches have been telling us to keep
working hard and the goals will come."
Nagbe found the net for the second time before the half, scoring on
a header from seven yards off a free kick in the 42nd minute.
"When you're coming off the bench it feels really good to
contribute," said Nagbe, who entered the game in the 26th minute.
"The most important thing today was that everyone had fun. The
offense played well, the defense got another shut out –
everything was perfect."
The Zips didn't let up in the second half, adding two more scores
to put the game well out of reach. Local product Cameron
Carris, who redshirted last season as a freshman, recorded his
first goal in an Akron uniform to cap off the scoring for the game.
Carris was a standout at Walsh Jesuit High School.
For the defense, it was the unit's fifth shutout in seven games.
Individually speaking, senior goalkeeper Evan Bush
recorded his school-record 40th career shutout with a trio of
saves. The tri-captain is just three shutouts shy of becoming the
MAC's all-time leader.
Akron will next host long-time rival Cleveland State Sunday at 6
p.m. UA leads the all-time series with the Vikings, 33-10-3.
Zips Notebook: UA improved to 15-0-1 in MAC
openers and 13-0 in league openers at Lee Jackson Field ... Akron
also moved to 33-2-3 on their home field since 2005. The Zips have
out-scored their opponents 97-16 during that stretch ... UA has now
out-scored FAU, 14-1, in two all-time meetings ... senior
tri-captain Ossie Michalsen made his first start of the
season Friday ... Several Zips players made their season debuts
against the Owls, including Aaron Tipton, C.J.
Kaufman, Hunter Dorton and Carris.
