Akron's Campaign Draws to a Close Following 1-0 Setback to Bowling Green

Friday, November 15

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

6-10-2

Bowling Green

13-6-1

Bowling Green

Akron

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

Akron's Campaign Draws to a Close Following 1-0 Setback to Bowling Green

November 15 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Follow Akron Men's Soccer on Twitter and Facebook

BOXSCORE | POST-GAME COMMENTS | PHOTO GALLERY

AKRON, Ohio - A goal from Chris Sullivan in the 18th minute (17:43) proved too much for the University of Akron men's soccer team to overcome as the Zips' 2019 campaign drew to a close after a 1-0 setback to Bowling Green (13-6-1) in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Championship on Friday, Nov. 15 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The loss will end a run of 12 consecutive seasons that Akron (6-10-2) earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament dating back to 2007, while the fourth-seeded Falcons advance to face sixth-seeded West Virginia in the title tilt of the MAC Championship at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17.

Akron statistically dominated Bowling Green and garnered good looks and scoring chances, but were unable to find the back of the net en route to falling to the Falcons.

The Zips finished the contest with a 20-6 edge in shots, including a 14-1 margin in the second half and a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal. Junior David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) recorded a career- and game-high seven shots to direct the Zips' offensive efforts, while sophomore Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy) and freshmen Mani Austmann (Gardabaer, Iceland) and Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) added three shots apiece. Sullivan and Zach Buescher tallied two shots each for the Falcons.

Anthony Mwembia posted four saves en route to earning the clean sheet in goal for Bowling Green, while redshirt junior Tor Saunders (Seattle, Wash.) made one stop in net for the Zips.

Akron nearly scored the game's first goal at the 2:21 mark as Jackson found the back of net off a pair of passes from Austmann and Egbo. Unfortunately, the tally was wiped off the scoreboard as the Zips were whistled for an offsides call.

In the seventh minute (6:36), Egbo served a ball over the Falcons' defensive back line that found the foot of Austmann, who connected on a strike that was thwarted by a save from Mwembia.

Bowling Green capitalized on its next shot on goal as Sullivan struck a ball from the corner of the box to the upper 90 for what proved to be the game-winning tally at the 17:43 mark off an assist from Matt Walters.

Sullivan nearly extend the Falcons' lead to 2-0 in the 25th minute (24:04) as his strike struck the crossbar before being cleared out of danger.

Egbo followed with a shot of his own at the 30:17 mark that also hit the crossbar, before narrowly missing the top of the net on a strike in the 36th minute (35:06).

Only a clearance off the line from Buescher for a team save at the 43:30 mark off senior Christian Lue Young's (Plantation, Fla.) shot prevented the Zips from entering the intermission all square at one.

Akron finished the initial stanza posting a 6-5 margin in shots.

Milanese had a strike from three yards out in the 49th minute (48:13) pulled in for a save by Mwembia.

Jackson later had a 1v1 scoring opportunity in the box at the 79:25 mark go high, before sophomore Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) saw his shot on goal in the 84th minute (83:05) denied by a save from Mwembia.

Milanese had another shot on goal at the 84:22 mark thwarted by a clearance off the goal line by Kale Nichols for a team save.

Jackson posted the final shot on goal of the evening with a header in the 90th minute (89:33) that was saved by Mwembia.

The contest marked the final home game in the decorated career of senior Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), while also donning the Akron uniform one final time against the Falcons was Lue Young, Tom Smart (Birmingham, England) and Leonard Sohn (Richmond Hill, Ontario).