Akron Opens MAC Play Hosting Bowling Green

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GAME NO. 3 - AKRON VS. BOWLING GREEN NOTES (3/6)

No. 7 Akron (1-0-1) vs. Bowling Green (2-2-0)
Sunday, March 7
FirstEnergy Stadium
Akron, Ohio • 1 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 48-9-5
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Live Stats: www.GoZips.com

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron men's soccer team commences defense of its Mid-American Conference regular season title as the Zips welcome Bowling Green to FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, March 7. The 1 p.m. clash with the Falcons will be broadcast on ESPN+.

FAN UPDATE:
Our current university COVID-19 protocols are allowing a limited pass list by the players and coaches for immediate family members to attend home men's soccer games at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The University continues to work closely with state and local health officials on protocols for hosting events and making appropriate adjustments throughout the coming weeks to expand the number of spectators in each venue.

Please follow GoZips.com, the Akron Athletics app and all Zips' social media platforms for the most-recent and up-to-date information.

HEAD COACHES
Bowling Green: Eric Nichols (Ohio State 2002), Overall Record: 149-113-32 (16th Season)/Bowling Green Record: 90-91-30 (12th Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 147-61-24 (14th Season)/Akron Record: 100-40-16 (Eighth Season)

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Bowling Green are meeting for 63rd time in program history with the Zips owning a 48-9-5 series advantage, including a 26-4-1 mark at home. A year ago, the Zips bested the Falcons, 2-1, on Oct. 12 at FirstEnergy Stadium, before Bowling Green edged Akron, 1-0, in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Nov. 15, 2019.

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN:
Bowling Green comes into play on Sunday, March 7, having dropped back-to-back 1-0 setbacks following a opening the campaign with victories over Dayton and Syracuse.

Senior Chris Sullivan leads the Falcons i assists (4), points (6), shots (9) and shots on goal (2), while freshman Kyle Cusimano directs Bowling Green in goals (2). Sophomore goalkeeper Logan Kowalczyk has recorded six saves on the strength of a 1.00 goals against average.

As a team, Bowling Green 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).

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 15, 2019 - AKRON, OHIO)
A goal from Chris Sullivan in the 18th minute (17:43) proved too much for Akron to overcome as the Zips' 2019 campaign drew to a close after a 1-0 setback to Bowling Green in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Championship on Nov. 15, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

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. David Egbo recorded a career- and game-high seven shots to direct the Zips' offensive efforts, while junior Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy), Mani Austmann and sophomore 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 Tor Saunders 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 Christian Lue Young's 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 junior 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.

SHOHALOOK'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 Tuesday, 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 junior Federico Serra (Cagliari, Italy), 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. Senior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal), who scored Akron's first goal at the 13:35 mark off an assist from junior Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio), 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.

Senior GK Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) 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.

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 5) (.767), with an overall record of 211-53-32. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 189-59-35 (.730), Maryland, 195-61-40 (.726), North Carolina, 187-63-42 (.712) and Creighton, 185-68-28 (.708). 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.

AKRON IN MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE OPENERS
The Zips' contest versus Bowling Green marks the opening game in Akron's 10-game conference slate in its 28th season in the Mid-American Conference. In the previous 27 conference openers, Akron owns a 23-2-2 mark. A year ago, the Zips earned a 2-1 win over Bowling Green on Oct. 12, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Akron and Bowling Green are opening conference play against one another for the third consecutive season.
• Twelve of the 16 matches between Akron and Bowling Green with head coach Jared Embick on the Zips' sideline have resulted in a shutout, including five of the last nine, with the Zips owning a 10-1-1 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored Bowling Green, 92-25 all-time in 31 home games against the Falcons.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 42 all-time meetings with Bowling Green.
• Having netted goals in each of Akron's first two games this season, Diogo Pacheco has scored tallies in back-to-back tilts for the second time in his career.
• Eleven Zips have registered a shot this season, including three newcomers.
• Akron owns a 1-0-1 mark against ranked squads in 2021.
• Diogo Pacheco is rated 12th in the NCAA in goals per game (1.00), 27th in points per outing (2.00) and 31st in shots per contest (3.50).
• 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), points (2), and shots on goal (2) and third in shots (3).
• Since 2010, the Zips are 22-3-0 at FirstEnergy Stadium in regular season conference games. Overall during that span, including postseason, Akron boasts a 37-5-1 mark versus league foes at home.
• Diogo Pacheco is Akron's active career leaders in goals (9), points (22), shots (57) and shots on goal (25). Colin Biros directs the squad in assists (6), Will Jackson paces the team in game-winning goals (3), while senior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) has appeared in a team-high 76 games.
• The Zips own a 101-40-16 mark over the last eight seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 101 wins are ranked third in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 68 of the squad's last 120 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 22 of its last 43 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 59-10-5 record in its last 74 home matches.

UP NEXT
Akron is scheduled to travel to DeKalb, Ill., for a 1 p.m. ET match at Northern Illinois on Sunday, March 14.

The University of Akron Athletics

Players Mentioned

Mani Austmann

Colin Biros

Ryan Combe

David Egbo

Will Jackson

Christian Lue Young

Will Meyer

Marco Milanese

Diogo Pacheco

Carlo Ritaccio

Tor Saunders

Federico Serra

Jason Shokalook

Daniel Strachan

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