Akron and Western Michigan Pick Up Non-Conference Victories
Tuesday's Scoreboard
Akron 1, Creighton 0
Western Michigan 2, Xavier 1
SIUE 0, Evansville 0
Northern Illinois 2, Drake 2
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Akron 1, Creighton 0
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron men's soccer team parlayed a staunch defensive effort along with a goal from senior Morgan Hackworth (Bradenton, Fla.) in the 49th minute (48:49) into a 1-0 victory over No. 8 Creighton (9-3-1) on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The defensive performances of the Zips' backline of senior Abdi Mohamed (Westerville, Ohio), sophomore Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) and freshmen Pol Hernandez (Teia, Spain) and Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) along with redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Tor Saunders (Bothell, Wash.) limited Creighton, who came into the contest ranked fourth in the NCAA at 17.50 shots per game, to 10 shots en route to collecting the shutout.
Akron (6-5-2) registered a 14-10 advantage in shots on the evening, including a 6-3 edge on goal to secure the win.
Senior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea) paced all players with a game-high four shots for the Zips, while Ritaccio and junior Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) added two strikes apiece. Sven Koenig led the Bluejays with a game-high four shots, including three on frame.
In his first start and action of the season, Saunders made three saves for Akron in net en route to earning the clean-sheet triumph. Paul Kruse registered five stops for Creighton.
The Bluejays maintained the early pace of play in the tilt recording the initial four shots of the evening, including a save off of Koenig's shot at the 6:48 mark by Saunders.
In the 21st minute (20:37) redshirt junior Skye Harter (Copley) played a beautiful ball into the box to a surging Kahsay for a 1v1 opportunity. Unfortunately for Akron, Kahsay's shot went wide of target.
Inserted into the line-up at the 25:40 mark sophomore Dennis Cole (Freetown, Sierra Leone), playing in only his second game of the season, posted his first career shot as a Zip, one that was blocked in the box at the 27:26 mark.
In the 29th minute, Mohamed served a ball into the box to Strachan off a corner kick, one that he headed on frame before the shot attempt was punched out for a save by Kruse. The ensuing deflection swung to Ritaccio, who attempted a strike from three yards out that was blocked by the Creighton defender to thwart the scoring chance.
Ritaccio followed with a header attempt off a corner kick from Mohamed at the 31:32 mark, one that sailed wide.
The two sides entered the intermission locked in a scoreless draw with the Zips owning an 8-5 margin in shots.
Akron finally broke through in the 49th minute (48:49) when Hackworth headed home a pass from the corner of the box by Zajac for his second goal of the year and his first game-winning tally as a Zip. The assist was Zajac's team-leading fifth on the campaign.
Kahsay nearly found the back of the net at the 54:58 mark as his shot in the box off a pass from Ritaccio was blocked.
Less than three minutes later in the 58th minute (57:18), Harter played a ball into Zajac in the box, who got off a shot that was denied by a save from Kruse.
Redshirt freshman Braden Petno (Hudson, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal) each registered shots on goal at the 58:47 and 65:34 marks, respectively, for the Zips that were stopped by saves from Kruse.
Saunders completed the shutout recording saves off the foot of Koenig at the 71:43 and 86:29 marks, respectively.
In addition to Cole and Petno, Akron also got strong contributions off the bench from senior Marco Micaletto (Reading, England), redshirt junior Christian Lue Young (Plantation, Fla.) and freshmen Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio) and Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy) to preserve the victory.
The Zips resume Mid-American Conference play traveling to DeKalb, Ill., to battle Northern Illinois in an 8 p.m. ET tilt on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Western Michigan 2, Xavier 1
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan men's soccer team scored off a Xavier University own goal six minutes into overtime to prevail 2-1 over the Musketeers during its final non-conference match of the 2018 season on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at WMU Soccer Complex.
Western Michigan, now 8-5-2 overall, traded goals with Xavier in both halves before the Brown & Gold secured their first overtime victory of the season.
"It was a story of two halves and the conditions played a factor," said head coach Chad Wiseman. "We were very good in the first 45 minutes and probably left a goal or two out there."
The Broncos controlled the majority of play in the first half and took a 1-0 lead just under 24 minutes in. Paul Liagre managed to make a great play from the right corner, sending a cross in over Xavier defenders onto the foot of Mike Melaragni for his second of the season.
WMU held a 4-2 lead in corner kicks while shots were 3-3 and the home team did not allow a shot on goal from the Musketeers heading into the break. During a windy day at WMU Soccer Complex, the momentum swung in the visitors' favor in the second half.
Xavier came out strong in the second frame and tied the game at 1-1 10 minutes in. A WMU handball inside of the box granted the Musketeers a penalty box, in which Samson Sergi converted past Lukas Von Lienen.
The Broncos ended up mostly playing defense for the rest of regulation, as Xavier outshot WMU 10-2 in the second half. However, the Western Michigan back line held strong, along with Von Lienen tallying two saves to force the overtime period.
"The second half was a different story," Wiseman commented. "Xavier pinned us in for long stretches and really controlled the entire period. We had a couple counters but no really good chances at goal. Lukas had a big save with about 15 minutes left to keep us in the game."
Six minutes into the overtime frame, a Musketeer foul gave WMU a free kick around 10 yards outside of midfield. Von Lienen took the free kick and booted an arching ball into the box that deflected off a Xavier defender into the goal for the overtime game-winner.
"We will take the OT goal and enjoy the victory," Wiseman said. "Xavier probably deserved more from the game. There is something to be said about finding ways to win games and today we did just that. I am proud of the guys for finding the result today."
Next up, the Broncos will begin a three-game stretch of Saturday Mid-American Conference contests, heading to Bowling Green State University on Oct. 20. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Bowling Green, Ohio.
SIUE 0, Evansville 0
Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE men's soccer battled Evansville to a scoreless draw in double overtime Tuesday at McCutchan Stadium.
The tie extends SIUE's unbeaten streak to eight games and runs the Cougars' record to 9-1-4. Evansville moved to 3-5-6.
"A tie is a result," SIUE Head Coach Mario Sanchez said. "And to get one of the road against a solid Evansville team is good. I am happy because overall we played well. We just didn't create enough on the attacking end."
SIUE's defense, backed by sophomore goalkeeper Noah Heim recorded its sixth shutout of the year. Heim made five saves on his way to his sixth shutout.
"Tonight was a very positive performance on the defensive end," Sanchez added. "It had been a couple of games since we had a shutout so it was nice to get the shutout. I can't even single any one player out. The whole team contributed."
Frederik Reimer, Evansville's goalkeeper made four saves while also recording the shutout.
SIUE outshot Evansville 14-13. The Purple Aces put six shots on frame compared to SIUE's four.
The Cougars return to Mid-American Conference play Saturday when they take to the road to play at West Virginia. The Mountaineers are just ahead of SIUE in first place in the MAC.
"West Virginia is having a great year," Sanchez said. "It is a great opportunity for the program and it's the beauty of playing in the MAC. The guys are excited and we're looking forward to it."
Northern Illinois 2, Drake 2
Box Score
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