Fitzgerald’s Brace Sparks No. 19 Akron to 4-0 Win Over Cleveland State

Tuesday, October 26

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

9-3-3, 2-1-1

Cleveland State

9-6-0, 8-1-0

Cleveland St.

Akron

Fitzgerald’s Brace Sparks No. 19 Akron to 4-0 Win Over Cleveland State

October 26 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF) | POSTGAME COMMENTS

AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron sophomore Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) registered his first career multi-goal effort to spark the 19th-rated Zips (9-3-3) to a 4-0 non-conference triumph over Cleveland State (9-6-0) on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Fitzgerald earned the brace collecting goals in the 16th (15:23) and 36th (35:55) minutes, respectively, while junior Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and sophomore Ryan Kingsford (Herne Bay, England) added second-half tallies for Akron at the 50:27 and 60:05 marks.

Freshman Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.), the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, directed the Zips' offensive efforts with a game-high six shots, as part of an overall 14-3 edge in shots for Akron on the evening.

Senior GK Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) recorded one save for the Zips to garner Akron's sixth shutout of the season.

Fitzgerald scored what proved to be the game-winning tally at the 15:23 mark knocking in a deflection off a blocked shot by Shokalook to give the Zips a 1-0 lead.

A left-footed strike from 12 yards out in the 36th minute (35:55) by Fitzgerald off an assist from freshman Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario) extended Akron's lead to 2-0.

Ritaccio connected on his first goal of the year tapping in a deflection off a shot from senior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) at the 50:27 mark to push the Zips' advantage to 3-0.

Kingsford capped the scoring on the night on set piece that saw sophomore Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio) serve a ball into the box off a corner kick which sophomore Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) flicked towards the net to Kingsford, who tapped the ball into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

UP NEXT
The Zips travel to DeKalb, Ill., for a showdown with league-leading Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 30. The tilt with the Huskies is slated for 3 p.m. ET.