The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Michigan
Men's Soccer Upset at Michigan in Overtime
October 18 | Men's Soccer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 4 University of Akron men's soccer team was defeated by Michigan, 1-0, in the first overtime period at U-M Soccer Stadium Tuesday.
A scramble in front of the net led to a chip-shot goal winner by Latife Alashe in the 97th minute. The goal tainted a career night for UA goalkeeper David Meves, who finished the game with a nine saves.
For the Zips (10-2-2), it was just their third regular-season road defeat in their last 31 matches. It was also their first loss to a school from the Big Ten since 2008, snapping a 13-game unbeaten streak (12-0-1) against the conference.
It was a fairly even played game throughout with both teams earning chances to score.
Akron had a number of opportunities to win the game but was a bit unlucky. Aodhan Quinn rang the cross bar with a bender in the 96th minute and a Michigan defender came off the line to clear balls twice during regulation.
Wolverines keeper Adam Grinwis had a strong performance as well with five saves, including two point-blank stops of UA striker Darren Mattocks. Michigan, which had suffered eight one-goal losses this fall and three overtime defeats, improved to 5-10-1 with the upset.
The game was played in a steady downpour and the wet field conditions were a factor for both teams.
The Zips avoided a disaster in the fourth minute when Chad Barson slipped on the wet grass deep in UA territory and left Tyler Arnone with an open path to the keeper. But Meves was up to the task and turned away Arnone's shot from the top of the box.
The Wolverines missed another opportunity in the sixth minute when Mathew Rickard hit the right post. Latif Alashe was there to collect the rebound in the front of the net, but his subsequent shot sailed wide right.
Akron had its share of chances too, its first coming on a well-struck ball from DeAndre Yedlin in the opening minutes of the match that was stopped by U-M keeper Adam Grinwis from medium range. Thomas Schmitt then pulled Grinwis out of position late in the first half, but a Michigan defender came off the line to clear the shot.
Michigan nearly broke through in the 37th minute when Adam Shaw lined a laser headed for the upper right hand corner of the net. But Meves soared to his left and made a beautiful hand save.
The Zips were a bit unlucky after earning a corner kick early in the second half. Quinn provided perfect service to Chad Barson near the back post in the 48th minute, but Barson's header was sent away by Michigan midfielder Luca Schioppa near the goal line.
UA was turned away once again in the 72nd minute on a terrific save by Grinwis following Akron's sixth corner kick of the game. After Quinn's service was punched out by the keeper, Wil Trapp fired a rocket from 25 yards out into a Wolverine defender. Mattocks collected the carom and fired point blank on Grinwis from the near left flank but was denied.
U-M finished the second half with a flurry but this time it was Meves' turn to shine. The Preseason All-American made a great stop of Michigan's Noble Sullivan on a 1v1 in the 89th minute. Then, he was there again to smother Kofi Opare's strike behind a wall of defenders seconds before the end of regulation.
Akron will next jump back into Mid-American Conference play Friday at Buffalo. The Zips and Bulls will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (ET)
