Akron Continues League Play at Northern Illinois

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GAME NO. 4 - AKRON AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS NOTES (3/14)

No. 5 Akron (2-0-1, 1-0-0 MAC) at Northern Illinois (1-3-1, 0-1-0 MAC)
Sunday, March 14
NIU Soccer and Track and Field Complex
DeKalb, Ill. • 1 p.m. ET

Series History: Akron leads 26-4-1
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com ($ associated with NIUHuskies.com All-Access)
Television: www.GoZips.com ($ associated with NIUHuskies.com All-Access)
Live Stats: www.GoZips.com

WHAT'S AHEAD
The fifth-rated University of Akron men's soccer team opens a two-game road swing through Illinois with a 1 p.m. ET showdown at Northern Illinois on Sunday, March 14. The match will be broadcast on NIUHuskies.com All-Access channel, which is a subscription-based service.

HEAD COACHES
Northern Illinois: Ryan Swan (Drury, 2000), Overall Record: 125-80-12 (12th Season)/Northern Illinois Record: 19-33-4 (Fourth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 149-61-24 (14th Season)/Akron Record: 102-40-16 (Eighth Season)

SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois comes into play on Sunday, March 14, having dropped its Mid-American Conference Opener, 1-0, to West Virginia on March 6.

Junior Nick Markanich leads the Huskies in goals (3), assists (2), points (8), shots (26) and shots on goal (12). Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Martin Sanchez has recorded nine saves on the strength of a 1.26 goals against average.

As a team, Northern Illinois is 37th in the NCAA in assists (7). Individually, Sullivan is fifth in the NCAA in assists per game (1.00) and seventh in assists (4).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Northern Illinois are meeting for the 32nd time in program history with the Zips owning a 26-4-1 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron earned a 3-2 victory over the Huskies on Senior Night on Nov. 2, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 2, 2019 - AKRON, OHIO)
A goal from sophomore Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) with 2.7 seconds remaining in regulation lifted the University of Akron men's soccer team to an improbable come-from-behind 3-2 Mid-American Conference victory over Northern Illinois on Senior Night at FirstEnergy Stadium on Nov. 2, 2019.

The Zips registered three unanswered goals, including a brace from David Egbo, over the final eight minutes of regulation to erase a 2-0 deficit and earn the triumph.

Akron posted a season-best 31 shots in the affair, including a season-best 12 shots on goal. Egbo directed the Zips' offensive attack, equaling a career-high with a team-best seven shots, including a trio on net. Adding four, four, three and three shots, respectively, for Akron was Christian Lue Young, Mani Austmann, senior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) and Jackson. Nick Markanich led the Huskies with a team-high two shots.

Northern Illinois goalkeeper Martin Sanchez was stellar in net for the Huskies registering nine saves, while Tor Saunders earned the victory without having to make a save.

Jackson's game-winning tally at the 89:57 mark was off a high-arching shot from the corner of the 18-yard box that garnered a fortuitous bounce over a sliding Sanchez and into the back of the net. Earning the assist on the tally was Strachan.

The two sides battled through a scoreless opening 45 minutes with the Zips registering a 12-1 margin in first-half shots, including a 4-0 edge in shots on goal.

Strachan nearly opened the scoring in the match in the fourth minute (3:55) as his header off a free kick from junior Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio) was pulled in for a save by Sanchez.

Senior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal) struck a ball in the 33rd minute (32:09) that was thwarted by diving save from Sanchez.

Northern Illinois assumed a 1-0 lead at the 50:03 mark when Alex Welch delivered the Huskies' first corner kick of the night into the corner of the six-yard box where Anthony Markanich headed home his fifth goal on the campaign.

The Zips were unable to register a shot on goal in the second half until Lue Young's strike in the 67th minute (66:49), a shot that was denied by a save from Sanchez.

Akron was whistled for a foul in the box in the 72nd minute (71:51) resulting in Northern Illinois being awarded a penalty kick, one that Louis Sala connected on to give the Huskies' a 2-0 lead.

Junior Pol Hernandez (Teia, Spain) got off a laser in the box at the 78:56 mark for Akron that only a spectacular diving save from Sanchez prevented the Zips from cracking the scoring column.

Facing a two-goal deficit, Akron responded when Egbo scored at the 81:53 mark to bring the Zips within a goal, 2-1. The ball was played in from the wing with assists from Hernandez and Pacheco.

Just over a minute later in the 83rd minute (82:55), Egbo leveled the match at two with a diving header for a goal.

AKRON DOWNS BOWLING GREEN IN MAC OPENER, 2-0
A pair of first-half goals lifted the seventh-ranked Akron to a 2-0 triumph past Bowling Green in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools on Sunday, March 7, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Zips opened defense of its 2019 MAC regular season title avenging a 1-0 setback suffered against the Falcons in the semifinals of the 2019 MAC Tournament, on the strength of the first collegiate goals from junior Federico Serra (Cagliari, Italy) and sophomore Tonny Temple (Millville, Pa.).

Akron finished the contest registering a 12-8 edge in shots, including a 6-0 margin in the opening half, while outshooting Bowling Green on goal, 5-3.

Will Jackson led the Zips with a team-high three shots, while Serra added two strikes of his own. Seven other Akron players garnered one shot apiece in the tilt. The Falcons received four and three shots, respectively, from Jacob Erlandson and Kale Nichols.

Senior GK Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) recorded his first clean sheet as a member of the Akron men's soccer program pulling in three saves en route to earning the shutout. Logan Kowalczyk posted a trio of stops for Bowling Green.

Serra had his initial shot of the game ping off the post in the 24th minute (23:41) before successfully converting on a penalty kick to give the Zips a 1-0 lead at the 27:59 mark after the Falcons were whistled for a handball in the box. The goal was the first of Serra's collegiate career.

Temple extended Akron's edge to 2-0 in the 45th minute (44:30) as his header from eight yards out off a pass from the corner of the box by freshman Nick Scott (Fairview, Pa.) found the back of the net. The tally and assist were the first of the collegiate careers for Temple and Scott, respectively. Daniel Strachan also garnered an assist on the tally for his pass from the midfield to Scott.

Diogo Pacheco added a shot on goal at the 52:59 mark for the Zips that was pulled in for a save by Kowalczyk.

Akron was forced to play the majority of the second half a man down after the Zips were assessed a red card in the 54th minute (53:38).

Jackson delivered a shot on net at the 56:47 mark that was again denied by a save from Kowalczyk.

Meyer thwarted shot attempts by Bowling Green with saves in the 75th (74:38), 82nd (81:06) and 90th (89:17) minutes, respectively, to preserve the shutout.

SHOKALOOK'S GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS AKRON TO 2-1 OT WIN OVER MARSHALL
A golden goal in the 99th minute (98:05) from freshman Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) propelled the seventh-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team to dramatic 2-1 overtime victory past No. 9 Marshall in the Zips' home opener on March 2 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Shokalook headed home his first collegiate goal from 12 yards out to off a stellar serve into the box from Federico Serra, who earned the assist on the tally.

The Zips outshot the Thundering Herd on the afternoon, 12-4, including a 4-2 edge in shots on goal. Diogo Pacheco, who scored Akron's first goal at the 13:35 mark off an assist from Colin Biros, directed the Zips' offensive attack with a game-high three shots, including two on frame. Freshman Ryan Combe (York, Maine) also recorded three shots, while Shokalook finished the contests with two shots. Vitor Dias, who netted Marshall's lone goal in the affair in the 20th minute (19:01), led the Thundering Herd with a team-high two shots.

GK Will Meyer recorded one save for the Zips in net, while his counterpart, Oliver Semmle, made two stops for Marshall.

Pacheco got the scoring started for the Zips connecting on his second goal of the season at the 13:35 mark of the first half off a ball served in from the corner by Biros.

Shokalook followed with a shot on goal in the 18th minute (17:54) that was pulled in for a save by Semmle.

The Thundering Herd netted the equalizer at the 19:01 mark as Dias scored off an assist from Milo Yosef.

The Zips registered a 3-2 edge in first half shots.

Pacheco nearly gave Akron the lead in the 65th minute (64:19) as only a diving save from Semmle prevented the acrobatic strike from finding the back of the net, while Meyer notched the save on a shot by Vinicus Fernandes at the 81:52 mark.

The game-winner was set up by trademark Akron passing in the midfield as Biros passed a ball to Serra, who delivered a strike to a diving Shokalook for the golden goal.

A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (as of games on March 12) (.768), with an overall record of 212-53-32. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 190-59-35 (.731), Maryland, 197-61-40 (.728), North Carolina, 187-63-42 (.712) and Creighton, 186-69-28 (.707). Akron made 12 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-18), earning a first-round bye in eight seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in eight of the last 12 years. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 33 times, including 17 of the past 19 seasons.

SERRA NAMED MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Akron junior Federico Serra was recognized by the Mid-American Conference as its Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday, March 8.

Serra turned in a stellar week to propel the Zips to a pair of victories over No. 9 Marshall (2-1, OT) and Bowling Green (2-0). On the week, he posted a goal and an assist on the strength of three shots, including one on net.

In Akron's 2-1 triumph past the Thundering Herd on March 2, he earned the game-winning assist on Jason Shokalook's game-winner in the 99th minute (98:05).

In the MAC opener against Bowling Green on Sunday, March 7, Serra made his first-ever start for Akron and collected his first collegiate goal, converting a successful penalty kick in the 28th minute (27:59). He finished the affair with two shots and scored what proved to be the game-winning goal.

On the season, he ranks leads the team in game-winners (1), while ranking second in goals (1), assists (1) and points (3) and third in shots (3) and shots on goal (1).

STRACHAN TABBED TO TDS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Daniel Strachan was tabbed by the TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Men's Soccer National Team of the Week, it was announced on Monday, March 8.

Strachan anchored the Zips' defensive efforts a pair of home victories a week ago over No. 9 Marshall and Bowling Green, while offensively adding a shot.

After Akron lost the services of all-conference performer junior Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) just two minutes into play against the Thundering Herd on March 2, Strachan helped spearhead the Zips' backline against a Marshall team that entered the game averaging an NCAA-best 10.50 shots on goal per contest, while ranking second in overall shots per contest (21.75). Akron limited the Thundering Herd to four total shots, including only two on goal, in a 2-1 overtime triumph.

The Zips followed with a 2-0 victory over Bowling Green in the squad's league opener on March 7. Playing a man down for the majority of the second half, Strachan led the defensive efforts of a 10-man side to its first shutout of the season.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Twelve of the 17 matches between Akron and Northern Illinois with head coach Jared Embick on the Zips' sideline have resulted in a shutout, including three of the last five, with the Zips owning a 11-0-1 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored Northern Illinois, 29-9 all-time in 13 road games against the Huskies.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 21 all-time meetings with Northern Illinois.
• Diogo Pacheco scored tallies in back-to-back tilts for the second time in his career with goals versus Kentucky and Marshall.
• Thirteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including five newcomers.
• Akron owns a 1-0-1 mark against ranked squads in 2021.
• Federico Serra and Jason Shokalook are rated 44th in the NCAA in game-winning goals (1), while Will Meyer is 47th in goals against average (.604).
• The Zips are ranked 23rd in the NCAA in winning percentage (.833), 24th in assists per game (2.00), 37th in points per contest (5.33), 38th in goals against average (.604), 45th in goal differential (+3.0) and 49th in shots per tilt (12.67).
• Jason Shokalook, who netted his first career goal, a game-winning golden goal, in a 2-1 overtime win over No. 9 Marshall on March 2, leads the Zips in game-winners (1), while ranking second in goals (1), shots (4) and shots on goal (2) and third in points (2).
• The Zips set season-high marks in shots (14) in a 1-1 double-overtime draw at Kentucky on Feb. 25, while establishing a season-best total in goals (2), shots on goal (5) and saves (3) in a 2-0 win over Bowling Green on March 7.
• On the strength of 24 shots, including nine on goal, the Zips have registered 12.0 shots per game at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2021, while limiting their opponents to 6.0 shots a night.
• The Zips own a 11-9-3 mark in their last 23 matches away from home on the strength of five and three goals, respectively, from Diogo Pacheco and Carlo Ritaccio. The Zips have also posted a 161-100 margin in corner kicks and a 298-255 edge in total shots.
• Diogo Pacheco is Akron's active career leaders in goals (9), points (22), shots (58) and shots on goal (26). Colin Biros directs the squad in assists (6), Will Jackson paces the team in game-winning goals (3), while Daniel Strachan has appeared in a team-high 77 games.
• The Zips own a 102-40-16 mark over the last eight seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 102 wins are ranked third in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 69 of the squad's last 121 matches.

UP NEXT
Akron is scheduled to travel to Edwardsville, Ill., for a 1 p.m. ET match at No. 25 SIU-Edwardsville on Wednesday, March 17.

Akron Continues League Play at Northern Illinois

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Players Mentioned

Mani Austmann

Colin Biros

Ryan Combe

David Egbo

Pol Hernandez

Will Jackson

Christian Lue Young

Will Meyer

Diogo Pacheco

Carlo Ritaccio

Tor Saunders

Nick Scott

Federico Serra

Jason Shokalook

Daniel Strachan

Tonny Temple

The University of Akron Athletics