Akron and Western Michigan Battle to a 0-0 Double-OT Draw

Wednesday, April 14

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

4-3-2, 3-3-1MAC

Western Michigan

6-3-1, 4-3-1MAC

Western Michigan

Akron

Akron and Western Michigan Battle to a 0-0 Double-OT Draw

April 14 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio - In a men's soccer showdown with Mid-American Conference title implications on the line, the University of Akron men's soccer team battled Western Michigan (6-3-1, 4-3-1 MAC) down to the wire before the two conference adversaries exited with a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Wednesday, April 14 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The two sides will square off again on Sunday, April 14 in Kalamazoo, Mich., with both squads still alive to garner the MAC regular season crown and automatic NCAA Tournament berth. The Zips (4-3-2, 3-3-1 MAC) will need a victory over the Broncos and some outside help in the other two league contests to force potential tie-breaking scenarios. A road triumph over Western Michigan would also strengthen the Zips' resume for a potential at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.

"It was a hard-fought draw," Akron head men's soccer coach Jared Embick commented. "The guys left it out there. We just didn't have enough left in the tank. I love the effort. I love the grit. We just couldn't find the goal today."

The Broncos earned a 11-10 advantage in shots on the evening, while the Zips posted the edge in shots on goal, 4-3.

Freshman Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) registered a team-high three shots for Akron, while junior Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio) added two shots, with both falling on goal. Western Michigan was led by a game-high four-shot performance from Dylan Sing.

Senior GK Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) was stellar in net for the Zips recording three saves, and numerous punch-outs in the box to thwart shot attempts by the Broncos. Isaac Walker pulled in four stops for Western Michigan.

"It is an opportunity lost when you look at the standings," Embick said. "It's a tremendous effort. When you look at our situation with four subs and a lot of them are guys that don't play a lot. They're guys that are here for the future. They had to play a lot of minutes and they're not fully fit. It was a lot of heart. I don't want to call it an opportunity lost because I know where we're at. I want to praise the determination and the effort to try to get the win."

The Zips are scheduled to visit Western Michigan for a 12 p.m. tilt on Sunday, April 18.