The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Cleveland State
Men's Soccer Shuts Out Cleveland State, 5-0
October 28 | Men's Soccer
HIGHLIGHTS
AKRON, Ohio — Akron men's soccer picked up its sixth shutout of the season with a 5-0 victory over Cleveland State in non-conference play on Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The five goals were the most scored by the Zips this season.
The Zips improved to 9-5-1 overall, while the Vikings fell to 5-10 overall.
"It all started with our pressure and our effort," said Akron head coach Jared Embick. "Tonight we saw a hungry team."
In the sixth minute, senior forward Saad Abdul-Salaam (Gahanna, Ohio) fed the ball to sophomore midfielder Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) who found the back of the net to put the Zips on the board first.
In the 10th minute, Najem launched Akron's first corner kick to freshman forward Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) who ripped it to CSU goalkeeper Aleksander Drobac for the save.
In the 18th minute, Najem drilled his second goal into the left side of the net off of a free kick. The Zips led, 2-0.
In the 30th minute, CSU switched keepers, inserting sophomore Nick Ciraldo.
In the 41st minute, Najem netted the first hat trick of his career, assisted by Abdul-Salaam and Holthusen.
The Zips' school record for goals in a game by a single player is seven by Pete Milich in the 9-4 win over Frostburg State on Nov. 3, 1962. The last Zip to score a hat trick was Reinaldo Brenes in the 4-0 win over Buffalo on Sept. 29, 2012.
"It didn't really hit me until the end of the game," Najem said. "We had to get the win. We wanted to dominate."
"He just played his game," Embick added. "He's the best in the country."
The Zips, who held Cleveland State shotless in the first half, led 3-0 at intermission.
In the 53rd minute, Holthusen left the game with an injury. Freshman forward Adi Dakwar (Upper Galili, Israel) came in the game.
In the 60th minute, senior midfielder Clint Caso (Kinnelon, N.J.) almost gave the Zips another goal, but the play was called offsides.
Redshirt freshman forward Sam Gainford (Whitehaven, England), assisted by Abdul-Salaam, fired the Zips' fourth goal on the night in the 77th minute.
One minute later, junior Andrew Souders (Amherst, Ohio) booted an unassisted goal into the net to give Akron a 5-0 lead. The goal was the first of his collegiate career.
Cleveland State had its first shot on goal in the 85th minute of play, and UA goalkeeper Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) punched it over the top of the net. The Vikings followed with their only corner kick.
Overall, Akron had 20 shots to CSU's one. The Zips had seven shots on goal. Akron had five corner kicks to Cleveland State's one.
Fenlason recorded one save in his sixth shutout while playing all 90 minutes. CSU's Drobac had one save in 28 minutes of action, while Ciraldo had three saves in 62 minutes of work.
Akron travels to Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 1 for an 8 p.m. ET contest.
"We need to put that effort out," Embick said. "When the guys get going, we can beat anybody."
