The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Michigan State
Zips' Home Unbeaten Streak Snapped by Michigan State
November 02 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – For the first time since the 2007 season, The University of Akron men's soccer team suffered a defeat on its home field Wednesday night as visiting Michigan State escaped with a 1-0 victory.
The loss snapped an NCAA-record streak of 48 consecutive unbeaten matches at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
MSU's Adam Montague found Rubin Bega with space in the middle of the field, and at the 86:33 mark, Bega found the back of the net to sink the sixth-ranked Zips, who fell to 12-3-3 on the season.
It was a cruel result for UA, which out-shot Michigan State 17-5 for the match and 14-4 in the second half alone. In fact, before Bega's game-winner, Akron had earned a 15-4 advantage on shots and a 5-3 margin on frame.
UA had one last chance to find the equalizer just one minute later when Matt Dagilis, who made his second consecutive start at center back, appeared to break the goal line with a header following a corner kick by Scott Caldwell. But MSU keeper Jeremy Clark, who finished with six saves, came up with his biggest one of the night to deny the Zips.
It was the second of two unfortunate misses for Akron, which also saw freshman Wil Trapp ring the cross bar in the first half with a mid-ranged blast in the 29th minute following a quick restart.
After being held to just three shots in the first 45 minutes, the Zips came alive after halftime; matching that total in the first eight minutes. Caldwell and Darren Mattocks, who finished with a game-high five shots, had chances to score during that surge but Clark was there to deny UA each time.
With the quick start, Akron was the clear aggressor in the second half and began to control the game with a number of additional scoring opportunities.
The first came in the 67th minute when Luke Holmes skipped a great strike off a free kick from 23 yards out following a run by Thomas Schmitt. But Clark went down to his knees to scoop it up behind a wall of defenders.
Another deep run by Schmitt led to second dangerous strike by Holmes off a free kick in the 75th minute that was punched out by Clark. Mattocks pounced on the rebound and redirected it back into the box but Clark was there once again to make the stop.
UA will wrap up the regular season Sunday at Mid-American Conference opponent Florida Atlantic. The Zips and Owls will kick off at 2 p.m. (ET)
