Wednesday's Scoreboard
Akron 2, SIUE 0
Bowling Green 3, West Virginia 0
Northern Illinois 3, Western Michigan 2
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Akron 2, SIUE 0
Box Score
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - The 10th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team scored a goal in each half en route to notching a key Mid-American Conference road victory earning a 2-0 decision past SIU Edwardsville (4-2-0,1-2-0 MAC) on a rain-drenched Wednesday, March 17, at Ralph Korte Stadium.
Junior Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy) scored what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 13th minute (12:50), while senior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) netted a tally in the 65th minute (64:51) to propel the Zips to the triumph.
"Great bounce-back performance today," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented. "The effort was tremendous. We dealt well with the game and the conditions. I couldn't be prouder of how we played."
The win marked a milestone in the coaching career of Embick, as the Zips (3-1-1, 2-1-0 MAC) collected the 150th career victory in his distinguished coaching career.
SIU Edwardsville earned a 12-10 edge in shots in the affair, while Akron posted a 7-3 advantage in shots on goal on the afternoon.
Junior Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio) and freshmen Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) and Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) directed the Zips' offensive efforts with a team-high two shots apiece. Vincent Jackson II led the Cougars with a match-best five shots.
In his collegiate debut in net for Akron, freshman GK Josh Hangi (Decatur, Ga.) registered a trio of saves en route to earning his first career shutout in his initial start as a Zip. Lluis Martorell collected five saves in goal for SIU Edwardsville.
Milanese helped the Zips crack the score column first heading home his first goal of the season at the 12:50 mark off an assist from Biros on a corner kick.
Shots were even at three apiece in the opening half, with Akron owning a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal.
The Zips again struck on a set piece in the 65th minute (64:51) on the first goal of the season by Strachan. Biros set up the tally serving in the corner kick to the box to Milanese, who flicked the ball to senior Hazem Sobhy (Cairo, Egypt) in the middle of the six-yard box. Sobhy struck a shot that was saved by Martorell with the deflection going to Strachan, who fired a laser into the back of the net for the score.
Akron's defensive efforts and a pair of saves at the 70:46 and 89:30 marks, respectively, helped preserve the Zips' second shutout of the season, both in conference play.
Akron is scheduled to host Western Michigan in a 3 p.m. tilt at FirstEnergy Stadium on Monday, March 22.
Bowling Green 1, West Virginia 0
Box Score
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Jacob Erlandson's first-half goal lifted the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over West Virginia University Wednesday afternoon (March 17), in Mid-American Conference action at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The win was the second-straight 1-0 victory for the Falcons (4-3-0, 2-1-0 MAC).
Nathan Masters drew the lone assist on Erlandson's winner. Masters sent a free kick into the penalty area from the right side, and Erlandson's header was out of the reach of WVU goalkeeper Steven Tekesky. The Mountaineers (2-2-0, 1-2-0 MAC) were unable to find the equalizer over the remaining 78 minutes.
Logan Kowalczyk made three saves en route to his second consecutive shutout.
Northern Illinois 3, Western Michigan 2
Box Score
DEKALB, Ill. – Sophomore Adrian Lara (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet Township) scored a pair of second half goals to lead a 3-2 comeback victory for the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team against Western Michigan on Wednesday afternoon (March 17) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Freshman Camilo Estrada (Carrollton, Texas/Lone Star) also scored as the Huskies picked up their second win in as many games.
"This was a huge character test for the guys," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "We have nothing but respect for Western Michigan, one of the most consistent teams in the conference during my tenure, so when you go behind against them it is really tough. They scored two nice goals, but the guys responded every time.
"I didn't think our play was great in the first half but as the game went on we grew into it and I'm absolutely delighted with the result."
Lara becomes the first Huskie center back to score two goals in a game since Taylor Cole had a pair of goals against West Virginia on November 6, 2015.
Western Michigan (3-2-0, 1-2-0 MAC) opened the scoring in the 15th minute as Brennan Creek whipped a cross into the box and Dylan Sing flashed a header past NIU sophomore goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) from close range to give the Broncos an early lead.
The Huskies leveled the match in the 35th minute as Estrada scored his first collegiate goal. A cross came in from the right that pinballed inside the six-yard box before freshman Diego Maynez (El Paso, Texas/Lone Star) played it back toward the top of the box where Estrada unleashed a rocket past a diving Isaac Walker who had no chance in goal for Western Michigan as NIU tied the contest at one.
It took Western Michigan just four minutes to retake the lead through Eric Conerty. Max Keenan played the ball into Conerty inside the box with plenty of time and space to pick out the corner at the far post and restore the Broncos lead which they would take into halftime.
Neither goalkeeper registered a save in the opening 45 minutes as all three shots on target found the back of the net.
Maynez had the first attempt on target for NIU just before the hour mark as his shot from just outside the box was tipped over the bar by Walker and out for a corner.
From the ensuing corner, the Huskies were level again as Lara scored his second goal of the season. Sophomore Luis Hernandez (Mesquite, Texas/Lone Star) whipped a corner inside the six-yard box where freshman Harry Jolley (Liverpool, England) rose highest, heading it back off the post. Lara pounced on the rebound off the post, finishing with his own header from inside the six to level the match at 2-2 in the 59th minute.
Five minutes later, Sanchez was called upon to keep the contest tied as he pushed a shot from Daniel Nimick over the crossbar.
NIU (3-3-1, 2-1-0) took its first lead of the match in the 74th minute as Lara scored his second goal of the match off another corner. Senior Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) whipped a dangerous ball inside the six and Lara reacted first, beating Walker to give the Huskies a 3-2 lead.
"He has been fantastic all season, in particular the last few games since conference play started," Swan said of Lara. "He has arguably been our best player, so it is outstanding to see him adding goals as well. He has his first career goal (earlier this season) and getting two today is fantastic, it is just that commitment to get on the end of the ball and keep your composure."
The Huskies held Western Michigan without a shot attempt in the final quarter-hour as they claimed all three points in the contest.
Sanchez and Walker each finished with a pair of saves in the contest.
NIU will conclude its three-match homestand on Sunday, March 21, when the Huskies host Bowling Green. Kickoff against the Falcons is scheduled for 12 p.m.
