Akron Earns 4-0 Win Over Chicago State; Zips Will Play for MAC Regular Season Title on Senior Night

Wednesday, November 2

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

11-2-4, 5-0-2

Chicago State

1-13-3, 0-8-0

Chicago St.

Akron

Akron Earns 4-0 Win Over Chicago State; Zips Will Play for MAC Regular Season Title on Senior Night

November 02 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BOXSCORE (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio – The 12th-ranked University of Akron men's soccer positioned itself to play for the Mid-American Conference regular season title on the strength of a 4-0 victory over Chicago State (1-13-3, 0-8-0 MAC) on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Zips (11-2-4, 5-0-2 MAC) will host Western Michigan in a 6 p.m. Senior Night tilt on Sunday, Nov. 6 with the right to host the MAC Championship game on Nov. 12 on the line. Both teams have qualified for the league's championship game on the strength of victories on Wednesday. With a win or tie against the Broncos, Akron will claim its 21st MAC regular season crown and first since 2019 and earn the right to host the league's title game with the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth at stake.

The Zips broke open a scoreless contest in the 38th minute (37:01) when junior Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) scored what proved to be the game-winning tally knocking in a deflection off a save on a penalty kick from junior Ryan Kingsford (Herne Bay, England).

Kingsford extended Akron's lead to 2-0 at the 52:23 mark delivering a strike from atop the six-yard box to the corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season. Sophomore Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) earned the assist on the tally.

Just over a minute later in the 64th minute (63:47), Jackson garnered a brace in the match posting his first career multi-goal outing heading home a corner kick from sophomore Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.) to extend Akron's advantage to 3-0.

Sophomore Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) capped the scoring in the match netting his team-leading eighth goal of the season at the 68:00 mark courtesy of assists from freshman Levi Stephens (Akron, Ohio) and sophomore Terence Okoeguale (Pulheim, Germany).

Junior Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Kingsford led Akron's efforts recording a game-high four shots apiece, while Jackson added a trio of shots. Redshirt freshman GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) recorded one save en route to earning his seventh shutout on the campaign.

UP NEXT
Akron closes out the regular season hosting Western Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 6 in a 6 p.m. tilt at FirstEnergy Stadium.

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Single-game tickets for the 2022 men's soccer season can be purchased now going to GoZips.com/Tickets or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) during our business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

ABOUT ZIPS ATHLETICS
Founded in 1870, The University of Akron (UA) is one of Ohio's most influential public urban research universities, conducting high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributing to the vitality of the local economy, and providing a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. The University offers more than 200 degree programs, including unique, highly ranked associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and law degrees — with accreditations by 35 professional agencies. UA is focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, investment in community and economic growth. Akron sponsors 17 NCAA Division I sports with more than 500 student-athletes. Learn more at gozips.com.