Akron Earns 5-3 Triumph Past No. 18 Florida International

Thursday, August 25

Miami, Fla.

7:00 PM

University of Akron

1-0-0

#18 Florida International

0-1-0

AKRON

FIU

Akron Earns 5-3 Triumph Past No. 18 Florida International

August 25 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BOXSCORE (PDF)

MIAMI, Fla. – Led by a brace from sophomore Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.), the University of Akron men's soccer team registered a 5-3 triumph past No. 18 Florida International (0-1) in the season opener for both schools on Thursday, Aug. 25.

Shokalook netted goals for the Zips (1-0) in the 43rd (42:33) and 85th (84:58) minutes, while junior Joel Sangwa (Phoenix, Ariz.), junior Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) and freshman Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) added tallies at the 2:30, 16:31 and 88:21 marks, respectively.

Akron registered a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal on the evening, despite being outshot overall, 14-12.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Sangwa opened the scoring in the match heading home his first career Akron goal off a corner kick from sophomore Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.) in the third minute (2:30).
• Fitzgerald netted what proved to be the game-winning goal for the Zips in the 17th minute (16:31) sliding a ball into the corner of the net courtesy of an assist from Shokalook.
• Shokalook gave the Zips a 3-1 halftime lead connecting on a strike from the corner of box at the 42:33 mark off an assist from junior Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio).
• The Panthers cut Akron's lead to 3-2 with a goal in the 84th minute (83:03) before Shokalook pushed the Zips' advantage to 4-2 at the 84:58 mark thanks to assists from Paulus and junior Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio).
• Florida International netted another tally in the 86th minute (85:28) to make it a 4-3 Akron lead before a breakaway 1v1 goal by Dobrejevic, his first career tally, bookended a 5-3 Akron victory.

UP NEXT
Akron opens its home campaign welcoming VCU to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 7 p.m. match on Monday, Aug. 29.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Season ticket plans for the 2022 men's soccer season, which include a ticket to all home games, 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.