Zips Advance to Sweet 16 Downing Syracuse, 3-1

Sunday, November 18

Hamilton, NY

2:00 PM

University of Akron

12-6-2

Syracuse

7-7-4

Akron

Syracuse

November 18 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF) | POST-GAME COMMENTS | GOAL HIGHLIGHTS

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The University of Akron men's soccer team garnered second-half goals from junior Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) and senior Morgan Hackworth (Brandenton, Fla.) to propel the Zips (12-6-2) to a 3-1 victory over Syracuse (7-7-4) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 18, on the campus of Colgate University.

Akron advances to face top-seeded Wake Forest on Sunday, Nov. 25, in a 5 p.m. match. The Zips will be playing in the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in the last 10 seasons and 10th time overall since the 2003 campaign.

The Zips have now won six straight matches on the strength of outshooting the Orange, 20-18, including 11-7 on net.

Sophomore David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) and Zajac directed Akron with a team-high four shots apiece, while Mohamed, senior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea) and sophomore Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) added three, two and two shots, respectively. Hugo Delhommelle led Syracuse with a game-high five shots.

Senior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) pulled in five saves for the Zips, while Hendrik Hilpert posted eight stops for the Orange.

Freshman Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) came up with a key play for Akron in the third minute (2:31) as he got in front of a shot off the foot of Ryan Raposo for a team save.

Lundt turned in back-to-back saves at the 20:35 and 21:19 marks, respectively, off the leg of Delhommelle. He finished the opening stanza turning in four saves for the Zips.

Senior Abdi Mohamed (Westerville, Ohio) gave the Zips a 1-0 lead at the 36:43 mark connecting on his first goal of the season. Egbo knocked a ball off the Syracuse defender in the box which Mohamed corralled and redirected the rebound into the corner of the net.

The Orange netted the equalizer in the 42nd minute (41:54) when Massimo Ferrin scored his fifth goal of the year.

Akron was outshot in the opening half, 12-10, including 6-5 on goal.

Freshman Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio) nearly extended the Zips' lead to 2-1 at the 52:00 as his shot off a pass from Zajac narrowly missed hitting the underside of the crossbar for a goal.

Kahsay added a strike of his own from inside the box in the 71st minute (70:31), one that was slightly off target high of the net.

Tajon Buchanan delivered a solid shot in the box for Syracuse at the 71:22 mark, one that also went high.

Zajac scored what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 74th minute (73:47) for his seventh goal of the season. Mohamed struck a ball from the corner of the box, approximately 15 yards out, that deflected off the hand of Hilpert for a save. Zajac was right on the spot to punch in the rebound for the goal.

A defensive miscue allowed Egbo to get a 1v1 opportunity in the box in the 78th minute (77:33), but unfortunately for the Zips, Hilpert garnered a clutch save on the shot.

Hackworth capped the scoring headed home his fourth goal of the season at the 80:03 mark. Freshman Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) served a ball in from outside the box into the far post where Hackworth connected for the game's final score.

Lundt thwarted another shot from Raposo in the 84th minute (83:30) with a diving save.

Mohamed and Kahsay capped the Zips' efforts on the day with shots on goal at the 88:06 and 89:23 marks, respectively.