Souto Powers No. 5 Akron Over Michigan State, 4-1

Wednesday, October 21

Akron, Ohio

7 pm

University of Akron

11-2-1

Michigan State

7-5-2

Michigan State

Akron

Souto Powers No. 5 Akron Over Michigan State, 4-1

October 21 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF) | PHOTO GALLERY | VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

AKRON, Ohio - The fifth-rated University of Akron men's soccer team parlayed the first career hat trick for junior Victor Souto (Sao Paulo, Brazil) into the Zips' seventh consecutive victory with a 4-1 decision past Michigan State (7-5-2) on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

Akron (11-2-1) was able to secure the triumph on the talents of Souto, who collected each of his three tallies on penalty kicks, including a pair in the first half. The multi-goal performance was the first of Souto's career and sixth of the year for an Akron player.

The goals were key as the Zips were outshot in the affair, 14-11, including 7-5 on net.

Souto registered a game-high four shots for Akron, while contributing two strikes apiece was redshirt sophomore Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) and junior Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.). Ken Krolicki paced the Spartans with four shots.

Senior goalkeeper Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) narrowly missed posting his sixth shutout of the season as a 90th minute (89:35) top-shelf goal from Michigan State's DeJuan Jones ended the bid for the clean sheet. Fenlason finished the affair with six saves, while Zach Bennett made one stop for the Spartans.

Sophomore Richie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario (Canada)) strong offensive surge in front of the net resulted in a tripping foul in the box to set up the first penalty kick of the evening at the 24:59 mark. Souto confidently strode to the line and delivered the ball into the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winning tally.

Najem nearly extended Akron's lead to 2-0 in the 29th minute (28:33) as he fired a laser that just missed finding the upper 90 of the net.

Gainford played a role in the Zips' next goal as he served the corner kick into the box where the Spartans were called for a handball. Souto again strode to the line and connected on the penalty kick to give Akron a 2-0 lead.

The Zips took a 2-0 lead into the intermission with each side recording six shots in the initial stanza.

In the 58th minute (57:47) the Spartans were called for their third foul in the box of the game to set up another penalty shot for Souto, who hammered the ball into the net to push Akron's lead to 3-0.

Just over a minute later at the 58:57 mark, Gainford notched his sixth goal of the year on a pair of give-and-go passes from Laryea and Souto.

Jones capped the scoring in the affair with his second goal on the campaign in the 90th minute (89:35).

Twenty-two Zips were able to gain playing time in the tilt.

Akron will have little time to reflect on the victory as the Zips face a stiff Mid-American Conference test with a 12 p.m. showdown at Western Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 24.