Akron Suffers 2-0 Setback to Top-Rated Stanford in College Cup Semifinals

Friday, December 8

Chester, Pa.

6:00 PM

University of Akron

18-4-2

Stanford

18-2-2

Stanford

Akron

Photo by: Jeff Harwell

Akron Suffers 2-0 Setback to Top-Rated Stanford in College Cup Semifinals

December 08 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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CHESTER, Pa. – A goal in each half proved too much for the second-ranked and fifth-seeded University of Akron men's soccer team to overcome as ninth-seeded and top-rated Stanford (18-2-2) registered a 2-0 triumph past the Zips (18-4-2) in the College Cup semifinals on Friday, Dec. 8, at Talen Energy Stadium.

The Cardinal bettered Akron in shots in the affair, 13-7, including posting a 6-5 margin in shots in goal. It marked only the third time on the campaign in which the Zips, who surrendered only 14 goals all season, have been bested in shots in a contest.

The loss marked the final games in a Zips' uniform in the distinguished careers of seniors Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia), Nate Brown (Scarborough, Ontario), Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal), Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.), Dener Dos Santos (Joinville, Brazil), Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), Stuart Holthusen (Liverpool, England), Barth-Luther Mouafo (Douala, Cameroon) and Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio).

Freshman Joao Moutinho (Lisbon, Portugal), a first-team United Soccer Coaches All-America honoree, directed Akron's offensive production recording a team-best two shots, while adding one shot apiece was De Vera, redshirt sophomore Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), sophomore Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario), junior Morgan Hackworth (Bradenton, Fla.) and freshman David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria). Foster Langsdorf and Corey Baird led Stanford with a game-high three shots apiece.

Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) pulled in four saves for the Zips, while Nico Corti made five saves en route to earning the clean sheet for Stanford, who has not surrendered a goal in NCAA Tournament play this season.

Less than a minute into the affair, Jared Gilbey got off a shot for the Cardinal that was pulled in for a save by Lundt.

Harter recorded the first shot for the Zips on the evening playing a ball from distance on net in the eighth minute (7:38), one which Corti denied with a save.

Just over a minute later, De Vera played a ball down the sideline and into the box to Zajac, whose header at the 8:57 mark went just wide of frame.

The Cardinal slowly began to pepper the Zips' attack with five consecutive shots, including save by Lundt at the 18:30 mark off a shot by Baird.

Unable to defensively clear a ball in the box in the 26th minute (25:30) enabled the Cardinal to assume a 1-0 lead when Langsdorf headed home a ball from eight yards out off an assist from Baird for his team-leading 14th tally of the year.

The Zips didn't get off a shot the remainder of the half and were outshot in the opening stanza, 9-2, including 4-1 on goal.

Lundt made a sliding save of a strike by Baird in the 52nd minute (51:58) from 10 yards out to prevent a Stanford scoring chance.

Akron's best scoring opportunity came in the 61st minute with back-to-backs shots from Egbo and De Vera at the 60:26 and 60:31 marks, respectively.

Egbo got a step on the defender in the box and uncorked a shot that Corti made a diving save off of before De Vera knocked back the deflection, which was smothered for a stop for a save.

Sam Werner extended the Cardinal' lead to 2-0 in the 79th minute (78:52) striking a ball from the corner of the six-yard box which hit the cross bar and deflected down into the corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Moutinho got some pressure on the Stanford defense over the final three minutes of play placing shots on frame at the 87:11 and 88:55 marks, respectively, both of which were thwarted by saves from Corti.