Friday's Scoreboard
Akron 3, Robert Morris 0
North Carolina 3, Georgia Southern 0
West Virginia 3, Penn State 1
Bowling Green 3, Cleveland State 0
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
Akron 3, Robert Morris 0
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio – A trio of second-half goals, including the first career tally for sophomore Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) propelled the No.19 University of Akron men's soccer to a 3-0 triumph over Robert Morris (0-3) on Friday, Sept. 3 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Zips (3-0) finished the evening recording a 24-0 advantage in shots, including an 8-0 edge in shots on goal, en route to collecting the first shutout of the season for senior goalkeeper Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio).
Freshman Ryan Kingsford (Herne Bay, England) led Akron's offensive efforts with a game-high five shots, while freshmen Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) and Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) added four and three shots, respectively.
The Zips dominated the pace of play in the opening stanza, but Akron was unable to plant a strike in the back of the net despite outshooting Robert Morris by a count of 10-0.
The Zips came out of the intermission with a renewed focus on maximizing their scoring opportunities and it paid off in the 52nd minute (51:39) when Fitzgerald scored what proved to be the game-winning goal off an assist from Kingsford.
Akron continued to pepper the Colonials' defensive third with shot after shot before the Zips extended their lead to 2-0 at the 73:32 mark on a score from sophomore Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio). Freshman Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.) continued his torrid scoring streak to begin his Akron career delivering a corner kick that was flicked in the box and off of senior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) to the foot of Jackson for the goal.
Freshman Nick Scott (Fairview, Pa.) capped the scoring with his first career tally at the 88:01 mark. He struck a high bender from the corner of the box that floated over the shoulder of the Robert Morris goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
North Carolina 3, Georgia Southern 0
Box Score
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Ernest Bawa's goal in the 43rd minute of Friday's contest was the deciding goal to lift No. 6 UNC over Georgia Southern 3-0. The Tar Heels improve to 2-0-1 on the season, while the Eagles fall to 1-2-0.
In the first half, both teams had a feeling out process, before Samuel Odame fouled a UNC player outside the area, giving the Tar Heels a free kick. Bawa would take the free kick in the 43rd minute and put the ball into the top left corner to beat Jokull Blaengsson.
Heading into the half, Georgia Southern was outshot 6-1, as Adam Davie put the lone Eagles shot on frame. In the 75thminute, UNC would add to their lead, as Gerit Wintermeyer found the back of the net. Wintermeyer drove down the right side of the field, beating the Eagles to tally the Tar Heels second goal of the evening.
In the 86th minute, UNC would tack on a third and final goal in the match as Cameron Fisher and Ernest Bawa played a little give and go through the middle of the Eagles defense to beat Blaengsson.
West Virginia 3, Penn State 1
Box Score
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Sept. 3, 2021) – The West Virginia University men’s soccer team earned a 3-1 win over No. 17 Penn State on Friday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Playing in front of 1,484 fans, the Mountaineers earned their second consecutive win over a top-20 opponent with the result. Redshirt sophomore defender Bjarne Thiesen scored the game-winning the goal in the 53rd minute, while freshman defender Frederik Jorgensen (34th) and fifth-year senior midfielder Pau Jimenez Albelda (89th) also found the back of the net in the victory.
The win marked the first time WVU has defeated back-to-back ranked opponents since Oct. 18-21, 1998.
“I was pleased with how we finished the (first) half by taking the lead,” WVU coach Dan Stratford said. “When we scored the second, it felt like it could turn into a game that could’ve gotten away from (Penn State), but hats off to them and their effort. They fought their way back into the game to get it to 2-1.”
WVU (3-0) went a man-up in the 23rd minute, after a Penn State player was booked for his second yellow card of the night and was sent off. From there, the Mountaineers earned plenty of scoring chances, beginning with a near-goal in the 28th minute off a header by junior forward Tony Pineda.
However, the opportunity was saved by the PSU goalkeeper to keep the match scoreless.
In the 34th minute, though, WVU opened the scoring with Jorgensen’s goal. The Aarhus, Denmark, native buried a shot after receiving the ball inside the box off the foot of junior midfielder Luke McCormick. The tally marked the first of Jorgensen’s career.
West Virginia went on to outshoot Penn State (1-1-1), 7-2, in the first half.
Up a goal and a man, the Mountaineers doubled their lead early in the second half when Thiesen won a header in the air off a corner kick. Redshirt sophomore midfielder/defender Sergio Ors Navarro was credited with the assist on the score, which made it 2-0.
Moments either, WVU was forced to clear a ball off the line, marking the first big, scoring chance for Penn State on the evening. But the Nittany Lions wouldn’t go away, cutting their deficit to one with a goal in the 83rd minute, reigniting some pressure on the hosts.
Just minutes later, though, Jimenez Albelda put the finishing touches on the win with a well-struck goal, following a beautiful pass from senior defender Aaron Denk Gracia in the back line.
In all, WVU held a 16-8 advantage in shots, including 9-4 in shots on goal. Jorgensen led the squad with a pair of attempts, both of them on frame.
West Virginia also topped PSU in corner kicks, 6-4.
In goal, fifth-year senior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky made two saves in the win, including the 200th of his career. With the victory, WVU improved to 9-20-2 against the Nittany Lions all time, including 5-1-1 since 2006. Prior to Friday night, the two squads hadn’t met since 2015.
Next up, the Mountaineers return to action on Monday, Sept. 6, when they take on Loyola (Maryland) at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET
Bowling Green 3, Cleveland State 0
Box Score
