DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team fell to No. 23 Akron, 7-0, on Saturday night.

Akron (7-4-1, 2-0-0 MAC) opened the scoring on the first shot of the contest as Sam Gainford beat NIU junior goalkeeper Drew Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) at the near post from inside the box in the fourth minute to give the Zips a 1-0 lead. 

A turnover by the Zips in the 18th minute led to a chance for NIU as sophomore Giovanni Pacheco (Pasadena, Texas/Pasadena) whistled a shot just over the top of the Akron goal.

Akron doubled its advantage in the 28th minute on Gainford's second goal of the contest. Stuart Holthusen fed Gainford who cut in toward goal from near the endline and fired a shot past Donnally to give the Zips a 2-0 lead. 

The Zips scored their third of the night as Manuel Cordeiro got his head on the end of a cross from Robby Dambrot in the 31st minute and powered his headed into the net. 

With less than three minutes to play before halftime Akron added to its lead. Combination play from the Zips down the wing led to a cross that was deflected to Dambrot who was all alone in the box. His shot beat Donnally to give Akron a 4-0 lead at intermission. 

Four minutes after halftime Akron added another goal. Brad Ruhaak rose highest at the back post and headed in a corner kick from Pau Belana as the Zips took a 5-0 lead in the 49th minute. 

NIU's (1-7-4, 0-1-1 MAC) best chance of the match came in the 52nd minute as a mix-up in the back for the Zips led to an opportunity for freshman Christian Molina (Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek), but his shot was cleared off the line by an Akron defender. 

Five minutes later the Zips were on the scoresheet again. Niko De Vera lined up a shot from near the top of the box that was blocked by the Huskie defense, De Vera then latched onto the deflected ball and fired a shot past Donnally for Akron's sixth goal of the night. 

Akron finished the scoring in the 78th minute as Reggie Laryea scored the seventh for the Zips. A cross from Nate Shultz found Laryea near the top of the box and his shot found the back of the net. 

NIU will return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 18, as it travels to Chicago to meet the 13th-ranked Loyola Ramblers. Game time at Loyola is scheduled for 7 p.m.