The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
Akron Advances to 15th MAC Championship Title Game with 2-1 Win over WMU
November 14 | Men's Soccer
Follow Akron Men's Soccer on Twitter and Facebook
Photo Gallery: Semifinal #1 | Semifinal #2
Postgame Quotes | Highlights
AKRON, Ohio – The Akron men's soccer team made the most of a pair of second-half penalty kicks as the top-seeded Zips (12-6-1) notched a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph past fourth-seeded Western Michigan (8-7-4) in the second semifinal of the Mid-American Conference Championship on Friday, Nov. 14, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
With the victory, Akron advances to the championship game of the MAC Championship on Sunday, Nov. 16, against third-seeded Bowling Green. The Falcons registered a 3-2 win in overtime over second-seeded West Virginia. The Zips will be going for their 11th tournament title in program history in the 1 p.m. championship game.
"It was a playoff game – intense, physical, doesn't always go as planned," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented. "You just have to find a way through it. I thought for the most part we were pretty good. We only made a couple of mistakes. But we didn't give them much. It was about us being patient and sticking to it and just keep pushing."
The Broncos garnered the game's initial corner kick in the fifth minute (4:55) by sophomore midfielder Edu Jimenez, one that was corralled by Zips' junior goalkeeper Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.).
Western Michigan registered the first three shots in the affair.
Junior midfielder Sean Connerty struck a free kick for the Broncos at the 23:27 mark that nearly snuck under the crossbar, if not for a strong save by Fenlason.
Redshirt freshman forward Sam Gainford (Whitehaven, England) struck Akron's first shot of the evening in the 27th minute (26:18), a strike that was blocked in the box.
Sophomore midfielder Victor Souto (Sao Paulo, Brazil) followed with a shot at the 26:45 mark.
Gainford evened the shot total at three apiece for the Zips with Akron's first shot on goal in the 34th minute (33:33), one that was corralled by Western Michigan goalkeeper Drew Shepherd for a save.
Gainford struck Akron's third corner kick of the first half at 44:01 marked that was blocked by a Bronco defender.
The two sides entered the intermission with each side recording three shots, including one apiece on frame.
Sophomore midfielder Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) collected his first shot of the evening in the 49th minute (48:54), one that went high.
The Broncos broke the stalemate when junior defender Cam Jensen garnered his second goal of the season for the game's initial tally at the 54:48 mark. Earning assists on the score were freshman defender Zach Bock and junior midfielder Carlos Suarez.
Najem struck again serving a free kick from 20 yards out into the box in the 63rd minute that freshman midfielder Richie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario) got a head on the ball but was unable to connect on as the shot cleared the crossbar.
Opportunity emerged for the Zips when Western Michigan was whistled for a foul at the 70:50 mark after Gainford was tripped in the box resulting in an Akron penalty kick.
Najem calmly stepped to the line and drove home his team-leading 12th goal of the season past Shepherd to square the contest at one.
"We knew they were an organized team from the beginning," said Najem. "Even when they got their first goal, we dropped further back. Like coach said, it was just hard work. Sticking with it and not putting our heads down just to get the opportunity, get the foul in the box and credit to the guys that made the runs and got the touches in the box to fall down. It's great."
The Broncos were again called for a foul in the box in the 75th minute (74:34) when junior forward Sean Sepe (West Islip, N.Y.) was tripped.
Senior midfielder Clint Caso (Kinnelon, N.J.) took to the top of the box and centered the ball on the penalty kick and delivered it into the corner of the net for his second career goal.
"It was another penalty kick," Caso explained. "Adam took the first one. I wanted to take some of the pressure off of him. This week in practice I missed a couple, but I felt confident and I wanted to put the team on my back and get us the lead. All credit to the guys who run hard in the box and getting the fouls. We kept with it and got and the calls we deserved in the second half."
Western Michigan had a scoring chance of its own in the 84th minute (83:28) when junior midfielder Nick Wysong took a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box that was blocked.
The Zips played the final five minutes of regulation with a man-advantage when Suarez for the Broncos was called for a red card.
Akron was able to run out the clock without the Broncos netting the equalizer as the Zips advanced to the title game of the MAC Championship for the third-consecutive year.
On the strength of a 7-2 second-half shot advantage, including 2-1 on net, the Zips finished the affair besting the Broncos in shots, 10-5.
Gainford and Najem led all players with a pair of three-shot performances for Akron, while five different Western Michigan players recorded a shot.
Both Fenlason and Shepherd each notched one save apiece.
Tickets to Sunday's MAC Championship may be purchased online or at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field beginning at Noon on Sunday. Tickets are $15 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission. To puchase tickets online, click here.
