Three Second-Half Goals Lift #7 Akron Past Falcons

Wednesday, October 26

Akron, Ohio

7:30 PM

Bowling Green State University

Akron

Junior Rodcliff Hall paced the Falcons with four shots

October 26, 2011 | Men's Soccer

Zips increase NCAA-record home unbeaten streak to 47 matches

By: AKRON, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Darren Mattocks scored two goals and set up a third, leading the seventh-ranked University of Akron past the Bowling Green State University men's soccer team, 3-0, Wednesday night (Oct. 26). The Mid-American Conference match was held before a crowd of 2,344 at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.

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Scroll down for a postgame interview with head coach Eric Nichols

With the win, the Zips improve to 12-2-2 overall and 5-0-0 in MAC play. The victory enabled UA to clinch the MAC regular-season title. The Falcons drop to 7-5-3 and 1-2-1, respectively.

Thomas Schmitt scored the Zips' other goal, while David Meves made two saves to pick up the complete-game shutout for Akron. Fifth-year senior Miguel Rosales made six stops for the Falcons.

On a rainy evening, the teams battled through a scoreless first half, but Mattocks got the Zips on the scoreboard with under three minutes gone in the second period. Scott Caldwell's shot from the top of the penalty area was blocked by a Falcon defender, but the ball went directly to Mattocks, who was wide open approximately 10 yards out.

Rosales quickly came off of his goal line in an attempt to contest the shot. Mattocks actually appeared to mis-hit his shot, but the ball trickled into the lower-right-hand corner of the goal to give the hosts the lead for good.

The Falcons had been held without a shot attempt to that point in the match, but the BGSU offense then came alive. The Brown and Orange had four consecutive shots, including two on goal, in a span of just over seven minutes.

But, Schmitt doubled the Zips lead at the 72:47 mark, and Mattocks picked up his second goal of the night less than four minutes later.

Falcon redshirt junior Zach Lemke hit the crossbar with a shot in the 78th minute, but BGSU could not get on the scoreboard.

Akron held an 18-6 advantage in total shot attempts, and put nine shots on goal to the Falcons' two. UA had eight total shots in the first half, while holding BG without a single shot in that time.

While the Falcons did not get a shot off, BG had several chances in the opening 45 minutes. Just over a third of the way into the period, sophomore Zach Schewee played a ball ahead to freshman Danny Baraldi on the left side of the pitch. Baraldi's cross slid through the box, but no BG player could get to it.

Twenty-five minutes into the period, Baraldi made another long run, but the play ended with offside being called on the Brown and Orange.

Another left-side cross by Baraldi sailed into the penalty area with just over seven minutes left before intermission. But, the ball went behind senior Colin Armstrong, and Lemke could do little more than get a foot on the ball as a defender tugged at him in the box. The ball popped up into the air, and the Zips cleared it away.

With three minutes left in the half, a long free kick by freshman Alex Bechtol sailed into the box. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Silva, a transfer from UA, nearly saved the ball at the left post, knocking it across the goal line. But, it was ruled that the ball had crossed the goal ine before Silva was able to save it, giving UA a goal kick.

Akron's total of eight first-half shots included three on goal, all by Aodhan Quinn.

Mattocks' goal at the 47:23 mark was the first shot of the second half. Then, as mentioned earlier, the Falcons fired four-straight shots.

With just under 35 minutes left, Silva stole the ball in Akron's end and quickly played a ball to junior Rodcliff Hall. Hall had a defender on either side of him, but got the ball, quickly turned and fired in one motion. The shot, from the left side of the box, was hit with great force, but the ball hit the outside netting of the goal.

Five minutes later, Baraldi's low cross slid left-to-right across the box. A clearing attempt by a UA defender was unsuccessful, as the ball went to Hall. The junior, about 15 yards out toward the left side of the box, blasted a one-timer toward the frame. Only an acrobatic leap by Meves kept the ball out of the goal. The UA 'keeper made the save, and a BG follow try sailed wide.

Just over 60 seconds after that flurry, Hall had the ball again in the 'danger zone.' The junior brought the ball down the left side of the field, cut it back along the end line and uncorked a shot. But, the ball went just wide of the near post.

Again, the Falcons got the ball back rather quickly, and Silva hit a hard shot from distance. Meves, however, saw the shot all the way, and was able to make the save.

The Falcons, while ratcheting up the pressure at the offensive end, could not get the equalizer, In the 73rd minute, the Zips doubled the lead.

Schmitt worked a give-and-go play with Mattocks, receiving the return pass and hitting a shot while running right-to-left across the top of the penalty box. Schmitt's low shot found the left corner of the net.

Mattocks scored his second goal of the night, and 17th of the season, with 13:34 left. Eric Stevenson hit a long shot that short-hopped on the wet turf. Rosales blocked the shot, but could not hang on to the ball. Mattocks was there to put the rebound into the back of the net just before the Falcon 'keeper could get to it.

Only 40 seconds after that goal, a ball was played into the box at the other end. Hall, with his back to the goal, headed the ball to Lemke, who drilled a shot from approximately 22 yards out. The ball rang off the crossbar in the upper-right portion of the frame. Lemke's effort was BG's last shot attempt of the night.

The win increased the Zips' unbeaten streak to 35 matches against MAC teams, including regular-season and tournament matches.

The Falcons return home for one final match at Cochrane Field this weekend. The Brown and Orange will host Northern Illinois University on Saturday night (Oct. 29). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., with 'Senior Night' recognition ceremonies prior to the match.