Final Stats

AKRON, Ohio – Two goals on either side of halftime helped lift sixth-ranked Akron to a 4-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University men’s soccer team on Saturday night at First Energy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field. Richie Laryea scored three goals for the Zips as the Huskies fall to 7-4-0 on the season, 1-1-0 in Mid-American Conference play.

“A lot of credit has to go to Akron,” said NIU head coach Eric Luzzi. “They had eight days rest and they were very sharp, very good tonight. We have seen them play six or seven times and we got their best game. We are disappointed, the guys are disappointed. I told them after the game that the disappointment has to drive us on to make sure that we take care of what we need to take care of in our upcoming games, and give us a chance at some redeeming performances, to hopefully give us a chance to see Akron again at some point.”

The first good chance of the contest fell to Akron in the 18th minute as the Zips played the ball around the top of the box to Sam Gainford on the left side. His shot tried to beat NIU senior goalkeeper Andrew Glaeser (Walla Walla, Wash./Walla Walla/Oregon State) back across his body to the far post but the Huskies goalkeeper got down low to his left to palm it away.

After the first attempt on goal for the Huskies from senior Bertrand Gaschot (Austin, Texas/Westwood) went wide in the 27th minute, Akron came back the other way as Laryea who crossed to Adam Najem at the top of the box, but Najem’s shot was safely into the hands of Glaeser.

Akron (10-2-1, 2-0-0 MAC) opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. An initial shot from Goncalo Soares was blocked but the ball fell to Laryea and he was able to deflect the ball past Glaeser and just over the line for the goal.

The Zips doubled their advantage just four minutes later. Off an Akron corner, the service deflected off a Huskie to Victor Souto just outside the box and Souto curled a shot past Glaeser to give Akron a 2-0 lead.

NIU nearly cut the Akron lead in half just before the intermission. Off a free kick just across the halfway line, junior Richard Hall’s (Billericay, England/The Billericay School) initial service was headed across the box to sophomore Giovanni Pacheco (Pasadena, Texas/Pasadena). Pacheco’s volley from 15 yards looked certain to find the top corner but Akron goalkeeper Jake Fenlason tipped it just over the bar as the Zips took a 2-0 lead into the break.

The Huskies went immediately on the front-foot to start the second half as Gaschot took a shot from just outside the box that forced a save from Fenlason and was pushed out for a corner, but the corner was cleared by the Zips.

Akron came right back and Robby Dambrot forced a pair of saves from Glaeser from close range as the Huskie goalkeeper stood strong to a shot and the rebound in the 51st minute.

In the 54th minute, Glaeser came up with another save as a through ball put Pau Belana in alone on goal and his shot was pushed around the post by Glaeser.

Akron scored a third in the 60th minute. Glaeser made a save of the first shot by Gainford but Laryea pounced on the rebound and gave the Zips a 3-0 lead.

Two minutes later, Laryea scored again. Soares and Gainford combined to play Laryea in alone on goal and Lareya made no mistake, finishing past Glaeser to give the Zips a 4-0 advantage.

Glaeser finished the contest with nine saves while the Huskies forced Fenlason into six stops in the contest.

NIU will return home on Wednesday night, Oct. 21, when the Huskies host Loyola-Chicago in their final non-conference game of the season. Game time between the Huskies and Ramblers is scheduled for 7 p.m.