Courtesy of Akron Athletic Communications
2014 MAC Men's Soccer Championship Bracket
Akron 2, Bowling Green 1
AKRON, Ohio – Freshman forward Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.) connected on the game-winning goal in the 79th minute (78:10) to propel the Akron men's soccer team to its 11th Mid-American Conference Championship title on the strength of a come-from-behind 2-1 triumph over Bowling Green (14-6-1) in the championship game of the Mid-American Conference Championship on Sunday, Nov. 16, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
"I thought in the first half we played really well," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented. "The second half, the goal we gave up was a counter. It started off as a corner kick. It's disappointing to give up a goal like that. I think you saw a young team and the character. We're starting to mature. I'm happy with the performance overall."
The game-winning tally was set-up by a pass into the box by senior forward Saad Abdul-Salaam (Gahanna, Ohio) to a cutting Macchione, who struck a shot at the 78:09 mark just in front of the goal that deflected off of junior goalkeeper Nick Landsberger. Macchione punched in the deflection for his third goal of the year to give Akron a 2-1 lead.
The victory gave the Zips (13-6-1) their third-consecutive MAC Championship title and the school's 29th NCAA Tournament berth in program history. Selections for the 48-team field will be unveiled on Monday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com with a quick turnaround for Akron with first-round games taking place on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Akron came out firing to open the affair as junior forward Sean Sepe (West Islip, N.Y.) nearly registered the game's first goal at the 3:02 mark getting behind the Falcons' defensive end and striking a ball that went just wide of the net.
Sophomore Joe Sullivan fired a laser in the box for Bowling Green in the seventh minute (6:11) that junior goalkeeper Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) got a hand on for the save.
Redshirt freshman Sam Gainford (Whitehaven, England) narrowly missed bending a shot into the top corner of the box for the Zips at the 8:36 mark.
Sophomore Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) took the Zips' first corner kick of the game in the 17th minute (16:02) serving a ball into the box that a charging sophomore defender Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) headed just over the crossbar.
Freshman midfielder Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (Portland, Ore.) slid a ball into the box to Gainford, who hit a shot from eight yards out that Landsberger pulled in for a save at the 25:38 mark.
Sepe followed getting off a solid shot in the run of play from inside the box in the 28th minute (27:29) that was stopped by Landsberger for a save.
Gainford continued his offensive assault posting shots at the 31:11 and 34:11 marks, respectively.
Freshman midfielder Richie Laryea's (Toronto, Ontario) shot in the 39th minute (38:16) from 10 yards out was blocked resulting in corner kick for the Zips.
Akron dominated the offensive production in the initial stanza outshooting the Falcons, 13-3, including 5-2 on goal. Gainford registered five first-half shots, while Sepe and Laryea added three and two shots, respectively.
Gainford collected the first shot of the second half in the 53rd minute (52:59) delivering a shot from the top of the box that Landsberger fell on for the save.
Sophomore Jacob Roth struck a free kick for Bowling Green at the 54:49 mark that sailed into the waiting hands of Fenlason.
Garcia-Aguilar appeared to give the Zips a 1-0 lead in the 57th minute (56:31) as he found the back of the net on what was ruled to be a ball kicked across the endline on the play by Akron.
Senior Danny Baraldi got off a shot for the Falcons at the 61:35 mark that sailed high.
The Zips were whistled for a foul just outside the box in the 67th minute (66:28) that Roth bent around the Akron defensive wall and into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season to give Bowling Green a 1-0 lead.
Less than 30 seconds later (66:56) senior Clint Caso (Kinnelon, N.J.) was tackled hard in the box resulting in a penalty kick for the Zips.
Stepping to the line and converting on the scoring opportunity for his team-leading 13th goal of the year was Najem.
Laryea's shot off a free kick by Najem just missed the far post at the 83:09 mark.
Akron finished the tilt owning a 22-7 advantage in shots, including 10-4 on goal. Gainford posted a game-high six shots for the Zips, while contributing four-, three-, three- and three-shot performances were Laryea, Najem, Sepe and Macchione. The Falcons received a pair of three-shot efforts from Roth and Sullivan.
Landsberger pulled in a game-high eight saves for Bowling Green, while Fenlason made three stops for the Zips.
Named to the all-tournament team for Akron was Caso, Gainford, Najem and sophomore midfielder Victor Souto (Sao Paulo, Brazil).
Akron will have a quick turnaround as the Zips are expected to open the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 20, with a potential home game a possibility.
"This is where we have to use our experience from last year," said Embick. "Be confident and see who we have to match-up. It's just about getting the training sessions for these guys ready. It's all about playing our game anyway, so we're going to play Akron soccer, and if we play well, we'll beat anybody."
2014 MAC Men's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Andy Bevin, West Virginia
Jamie Merriam, West Virginia
Greg Timmer, Western Michigan
Nick Wysong, Western Michigan
Max Auden, Bowling Green
Nick Landsberger, Bowling Green
Jacob Roth, Bowling Green
Clint Caso, Akron
Sam Gainford, Akron
Adam Najem, Akron
Victor Souto, Akron
