The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Bradley
Akron registers a 3-1 exhibition victory over Bradley
August 22 | Men's Soccer
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BOXSCORE (PDF) | VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer team closed out its exhibition campaign with a convincing 3-1 triumph past Bradley on Saturday, Aug. 22, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Zips benefitted from goals in the affair from sophomore Richie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario (Canada)), senior Sean Sepe (West Islip, N.Y.) and redshirt junior Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) en route to outshooting the Braves, 27-7, including 8-4 on net.
The Zips gained the early advantage when Laryea lifted a ball off a cross served into the box by Sepe and beat Bradley goalkeeper Logan Ketterer in the 11th minute (11:00) to give Akron a 1-0 lead.
The Braves nearly evened the contest at one at the 15:03 mark off the foot of Brad Brown were it not for redshirt sophomore Robby Dambrot (Akron, Ohio) stepping in front of a wide open net to clear out the shot for a team save.
Redshirt sophomore Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) narrowly missed on a strike at the 16:24 mark with his shot sailing just wide.
Sepe staked the Zips to a 2-0 advantage collecting a goal in the 30th minute (29:09). Junior Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) served a ball into the box for Sepe, who bested Ketterer with a strike from 17 yards out.
Junior Victor Souto (Sao Paolo, Brazil) nearly sent Akron into the intermission with a 3-0 lead as his shot at the 42:35 mark went high.
The Zips bettered the Braves in the initial stanza in shots, 13-2, including 4-1 on frame.
Najem had an opportunity to notch a goal in the 63rd minute (62:08) right in front of net to score but Ketterer corralled the shot for the save.
Junior Pau Belana's (Barcelona, Spain) attempted header off a corner kick from Gainford at the 64:38 mark was thwarted by a Bradley save.
Ruhaak capped the scoring for the Zips in the affair registering a goal in the 70th minute (69:03) off a Gainford assist.
Andrew Brown spoiled the Akron shutout bid scoring at the 73:19 mark off an assist from Frank Bak.
Sepe sparked the Zips with a match-high six shots, while Najem, Souto, Belana and Gainford added four, four, three and three shots, respectively. Bradley was led by two shots apiece from Jacob Tyler and Andrew Brown.
Senior Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) garnered two saves for the Zips, while Ketterer pulled in five stops for Bradley.
Following the match the two teams battled for an additional 30 minutes allowing reserves for both sides to get game action. In the extra period, Akron received goals from redshirt freshman Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea), Gainford, sophomore Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.) and sophomore Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.) en route to outscoring Bradley, 4-1.
The Zips will return to action on Friday, Aug. 28, as Akron opens its 2015 campaign with a 7:30 p.m. tilt at VCU.
