Second-Half Rally Lifts Cleveland State Past Akron, 3-1

Tuesday, October 29

Cleveland, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

4-9-2

Cleveland State

7-5-1

Akron

Cleveland St.

Second-Half Rally Lifts Cleveland State Past Akron, 3-1

October 29 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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BOXSCORE | POST-GAME COMMENTS

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A pair of second-half goals from Gabriel Pewu proved too much for the University of Akron men's soccer team to overcome as Cleveland State (7-5-1) registered a come-from-behind 3-1 triumph over the Zips (4-9-2) at Krenzler Field on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

Despite playing the match without the services of four starters, Akron statistically dominated the Vikings equaling season-high marks in shots (22) and shots on goal (10) en route to posting a 22-10 advantage in shots, including a 10-5 margin in shots on goal.

Freshman Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) and sophomore Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio) each set career-high marks in shots and shots on goals as the Zips' duo posted six shots apiece, while recording four and three shots on goal, respectively. Pewu directed the Cleveland State attack with a two-goal effort on the strength of a team-high three shots.

Omeed Naeemy finished the evening garnering nine saves in goal for the Vikings, while redshirt junior Tor Saunders (Seattle, Wash.) registered a pair of stops in net for the Zips.

Sophomore Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy) earned the initial strike on goal in the match with a shot that was saved by Naeemy in the third minute (2:19).

Senior Christian Lue Young (Plantation, Fla.) struck a header inside the six-yard box off a corner from Biros that was pulled in for a save at the 15:22 mark by Naeemy.

Jackson registered shots on goal for the Zips in the 20th (19:32) and 24th (23:17) minutes, respectively, that were denied by a pair of saves from Naeemy.

Biros gave Akron a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute (23:19) connecting on his first goal of the season. He redirected a deflection off of a shot by Jackson that was punched out for a save by Naeemy. Jackson earned the assist on the tally.

Jackson added his third shot on goal in the initial stanza at the 30:16 mark, a strike pulled in for a save by Naeemy.

The Vikings leveled the contest at one at the 42:03 mark as Vlad Jandric bested Saunders to the far post off an assist from Andrew Nicholas.

Akron registered a 10-2 edge in first-half shots, including a 6-1 margin in shots on goal.

Lawrence Karpeh nearly gave Cleveland State a 2-0 lead in the 47th minute (46:30) as his shot in the box went just wide of the corner of the net.

The Vikings were thwarted again at the 47:11 mark when an offsides call negated a goal.

Cleveland State continued to pressure the attack and assumed a 2-1 lead at the 62:38 mark when Pewu redirected a deflection off a save of Stjepan Mijic-Barisic's shot into the corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season.

Pewu extended the Vikings' lead to 3-1 adding his second tally of the evening and ninth of the year in the 65th minute (64:23) in a 1v1 opportunity that found the corner of the net.

Biros and Jackson each had their strikes on net at the 69:17 and 76:15 marks, respectively, thwarted by saves from Naeemy.

The Zips continued to battle over the final few minutes as Biros had his free kick in the 89th minute (88:12) deflected high of the net by a save from Naeemy. Junior Daniel Strachan's (Lakewood, Ohio) shot at the 88:50 mark was then stopped by a save from Naeemy.

Up next for Akron, the Zips welcome Northern Illinois to FirstEnergy Stadium for Senior Night on Saturday, Nov. 2. Akron will honor seniors, Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), Lue Young, Tom Smart (Birmingham, England) and Leonard Sohn (Richmond Hill, Ontario) in pregame festivities prior to its 7 p.m. contest with the Huskies.