AKRON, Ohio -- Behind goals from junior Roque Viegas Jr. (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Syracuse), sophomore Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) and junior Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais), the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team earned a 3-1 win at 21st-ranked Akron on Sunday afternoon (April 4), completing a season sweep over the Zips. 

"I thought the guys were brilliant today," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Our guys came in with a positive attitude, they were excited to play and, to a man they were exceptional. Everyone was really bought in to what we were trying to do, from the coaching staff through the entire team and we are delighted with the result today."

The win was just the second all-time for the Huskies against the Zips in Akron, and the first since 1990, snapping a 14-game road winless streak in the series. The victory marks just the second time in program history that NIU has recorded back-to-back wins over Akron (Oct. 14 and Nov. 5, 2006). 

"It's incredible," Swan said of sweeping Akron. "This is a really good Akron team; I still believe they are going to challenge for the conference championship, and I have nothing but respect for their program. I think we have seen a change in the mentality of our team, they don't fear playing in big games, they have an excitement to playing them and I thought that we deserved to win it today."

NIU (5-5-1, 4-3-0 MAC) nearly opened the scoring in the eighth minute as freshman Malcolm Ward (Youngs, Australia/Newington College) got in behind the Akron defense and rounded Zips goalkeeper Will Meyer before laying the ball off to junior Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) whose shot was saved on the goal line by Akron defender Carlo Ritaccio who had scrambled his way back to cover for his goalkeeper. 

Viegas scored his first goal as a Huskie to give NIU a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. Senior Carlos Valdez (Houston, Texas/Richland College) tracked down a ball just before the end line and clipped in a cross from the right side to an unmarked Viegas in the box who powered his header at goal, off the hands of Meyer, and into the net. 

NIU sophomore goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) was tested for the first time in the 35th minute as Diogo Pacheco's shot from a tight angle was pushed away by the NIU goalkeeper, helping the visitors take a one-goal lead into the interval.

Less than three minutes into the second half the Huskies nearly doubled their advantage. A slotted ball into the box found the run of junior Adrian Corona (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) who smashed a shot off the near post.

Banuelos did double the lead for NIU in the 56th minute. Sophomore Luis Hernandez (Dallas, Texas/Lone Star) floated a corner toward the back post, over the hands of Meyer, where Banuelos rose the highest and headed home his third goal of the season, giving the Huskies a 2-0 lead. 

Just 88 seconds later, Anthony Markanich added a third. Banuelos chipped the ball into the box and a slight touch off an Akron defender took it beyond an outstretched Nick Markanich, but Anthony Markanich was following behind and his shot went in off the underside of the crossbar as NIU was in front by three in the 58th minute.

Anthony Markanich nearly added another goal in the 70th minute as he slalomed through the Akron defense and forced an excelled save at close range from Meyer.

Four minutes later, a mistake at the back by Akron gifted a chance to NIU as Banuelos was one-on-one with Meyer. The Huskie forward rounded the goalkeeper and sent a shot on goal from a tight angle that was cleared off the line by the Akron defense.

The Huskies had the ball in the back of the net a minute later, but Nick Markanich was ruled to be offside. 

Akron added a consolation goal in the 85th minute as a cross from Jaden Wright was deflected into the path of Tonny Temple who headed home from inside the six-yard box, ending the NIU shutout. 

Sanchez finished with three saves in goal for NIU, Meyer was also credited with three for Akron. 

NIU will return to action on Wednesday afternoon, April 7, as it travels to take on SIU Edwardsville. Kickoff against the Cougars in Edwardsville is scheduled for 3 p.m.