The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
9-3-3, 6-0-0
Creighton
7-5-3, 2-3-1
No. 18 Akron Wins BIG EAST Midwest Title with 3-0 Win Over Creighton
October 23 | Men's Soccer
BOXSCORE (PDF) | POSTGAME COMMENTS
AKRON, Ohio - The 18th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team captured its first-ever BIG EAST Midwest Division title on the strength of a 3-0 victory over Creighton on Wednesday (Oct. 23) at FirstEnergy Stadium.
How it Happened
Akron redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England) drew a penalty kick for the Zips in the 32nd minute (31:48) when he was knocked down in the box for a foul. Jaaskelainen had to momentarily leave the field after the foul setting the stage for junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) to enter the game and calmly strike what proved to be the game-winning goal in the back of the net for the Zips.
Akron maintained the 1-0 lead into the intermission outshooting Creighton in the opening stanza, 7-2.
The Zips extended their lead to 2-0 on a goal from Jaaskelainen - his 17th goal of the season - at the 56:41 mark, assisted by redshirt seniors Victor Gaulmin (Guipavas, France) and Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah).
Less than two minutes later in the 59th minute (58:24), Jaaskelainen netted his seventh multi-goal performance of the season and fourth consecutive outing scoring two or more goals to help Akron extend its lead to 3-0. It marked the 18th goal of the season for Jaaskelainen courtesy of assists from Gaulmin and sophomore Matt Dreas (Covington, Ky.).
Game Notes
- Redshirt junior Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) totaled four saves for the Zips out of four total shots by the Bluejays en route to collecting his fifth clean sheet of the season.
- Akron totaled three shots on goal
- Jaaskelainen registered a game-high five shots in the affair, including two on goal.
- By virtue of earning the BIG EAST Midwest Division crown, Akron has secured a top-two BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship seed and will host a BIG EAST Championship Quarterfinal match on Saturday (Nov. 9) at First Energy Stadium.
Up Next
Akron travels to Milwaukee, Wis., for an 8 pm ET match at Marquette on Saturday (Oct. 26)
Team Stats
Stefan Dobrijevic (1)
AKRON Stefan Dobrijevic PENALTY KICK GOAL.
31:48
Emil Jaaskelainen (18)
Assisted By: Victor Gaulmin , Dyson Clapier
slot from corner of box one touch into corner
56:41
Emil Jaaskelainen (18)
Assisted By: Victor Gaulmin , Matt Dreas
ball slotted from mid into 1v1 from 12 yards to corner
58:24
