Akron Opens Campaign with 7-1 Win Over Wright State

Thursday, August 26

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Wright State

Akron Opens Campaign with 7-1 Win Over Wright State

August 26 | Men's Soccer

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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer team opened its 2021 fall campaign in dominating fashion on Thursday, Aug. 26 at FirstEnergy Stadium as freshman Ryan Kingsford (Herne Bay, England) netted a pair of goals to propel the Zips (1-0) to a 7-1 triumph past Wright State (0-1).

Six different Akron players netted goals in the affair as freshmen Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah), Kingsford, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.) along with junior Renato Kauzlaric (Zagreb, Croatia), redshirt sophomore Ivan Nikolic (Toronto, Ontario) and senior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal) each found the back of the net for the Zips.

Akron's seven goals represents the second-highest goal output for the Zips in a season opener in program history, only surpassed by a 10-0 triumph past Cincinnati on Sept. 6, 1975.

Akron finished the tilt owning an 18-6 edge in shots, including posting a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal.

Clapier directed the offensive efforts for the Zips registering a game-high five shots, while adding two strikes apiece was Kingsford and Nikolic. Six different Raiders recorded a shot for Wright State.

Senior goalkeeper Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) made one save in net for Akron, while his counterpart, Bryson Najarian, collected three stops for Wright State.

Clapier opened the scoring in the 16th minute (15:23) with a strike to the upper 90 to give Akron a 1-0 lead.

Kingsford extended the Zips' advantage to 2-0 at the 32:00 mark scoring his first collegiate goal beating the keeper 1v1 for what proved to be the game-winning tally.

Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal garnered his first collegiate goal in the 35th minute (34:34) on a give-and-go off an assist from freshman Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.).

Nikolic extended Akron's margin to 4-0 at the 41:09 mark heading in his first collegiate tally off a free kick from the corner by Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal.

The Zips outshot Wright State in the first half, 7-3.

Kauzlaric connected on his first goal in an Akron uniform in the 52nd minute (51:28) courtesy of an assist from Clapier.

Joe Kouadio spoiled the Zips' shutout bid at the 59:19 mark with his first goal of the season.

Kingsford completed scoring a brace with a tally in the 65th minute (64:58) off the second assist of the night by Clapier.

Pacheco capped the scoring efforts for Akron at the 71:13 mark securing his initial goal of the year courtesy of an assist from Nikolic.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to East Lansing, Mich., for a 7 p.m. tilt at Michigan State on Monday, Aug. 30.