The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Buffalo
Akron captures 10th-consecutive MAC regular-season title with 4-0 victory past Buffalo
November 08 | Men's Soccer
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HIGHLIGHTS
AKRON, Ohio – The Akron men's soccer team earned its 10th-consecutive Mid-American Conference regular-season title and 17 title overall on the strength of a 4-0 victory past Buffalo (5-10-2, 1-2-2 MAC) on Saturday, Nov. 8, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
By virtue of its triumph past the Bulls, the Zips (11-6-1, 4-1 MAC) collected the top seed and the right to host the MAC Men's Soccer Championship to be hosted at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field next Friday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 16.
In the opening game second-seeded West Virginia will battle third-seeded Bowling Green at 4 p.m. before the top-seeded Zips host the No. 4 seed Western Michigan at 7 p.m. in semifinal action. The championship match will be on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m.
"A dominating performance, we played well and clinched the MAC, that is what we wanted to do to host the conference tournament next week," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented. "Our attitude and mentality was there, we worked, everyone was talking, and we showed that we wanted it and that was the most important thing."
The Zips garnered their first corner kick of the game at the 7:04 mark by sophomore forward Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) resulting in a header by sophomore defender Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) that was blocked.
It was only fitting on Senior Night that senior midfielder Clint Caso (Kinnelon, N.J.) delivered the game's first goal in the 13th minute (12:27) striking a header that bested Buffalo goalkeeper Waleed Cassis off a corner kick from Najem. The tally represented the first career goal for Caso, while Najem collected his third assist of the season.
Freshman forward Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) nearly extended Akron's lead to 2-0 at the 18:25 mark as his header went wide.
Najem pushed the Zips' advantage to 2-0 in the 27th minute (26:03) registering his team-leading 11th goal of the season striking a ball from the corner of the 18-yard box that found the corner of the net. Earning assists on the tally were freshman midfielder Richie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario) and junior forward Sean Sepe (West Islip, N.Y.).
A Buffalo penalty just outside of the box resulted in a free kick by Najem at the 35:01 mark, one that went high.
The Zips posted a 9-2 advantage in shots in the initial stanza, including 2-0 on net.
The Bulls recorded their first shot on goal in the affair in the 61st minute (60:18) but junior goalkeeper Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) was in position for the save
Redshirt freshman forward Sam Gainford (Whitehaven, England) a back-footed shot at the 60:48 mark that nearly bested Cassis for the goal.
Just over two minutes later in the 64th minute (63:16) Gainford found the back of the net for this third goal of the season off an assist from Sepe.
Freshman forward Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.) capped the scoring for the Zips with his second goal of the season at the 80:48 mark. Registering assists on the tally was Najem and sophomore midfielder Dener Dos Santos (Missouri City, Texas).
Akron finished the game registering a 17-5 margin shots, including 6-2 on goal. A game-high five shot performance from Gainford led the Zips, while Russell Cicerone paced the Bulls with a two shots.
Fenlason recorded two saves in the game for Akron en route to notching his seventh shutout of the season. Waleed made two stops for Buffalo.
Honored in pre-game Senior Night ceremonies was Caso, forward Saad Abdul-Salaam (Gahanna, Ohio) and manager Foday Kromah.
The Zips will open the Mid-American Conference Championship on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7:00 p.m. versus Western Michigan.
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