AKRON, Ohio – The RMU men's soccer team fell to #17/#17 Akron, 5-2, Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Zips scored four times in the first half before the Colonials responded with two goals in the second half. With the result, RMU moves to 4-3-2 overall.
FIRST HALF
Akron opened the scoring on its first shot of the match in the ninth minute. After goalkeeper
Josh Lane made two saves to keep the deficit at one, the Zips doubled their lead on a set piece in the 15th minute.
The home side continued to build its advantage, finding the back of the net in the 34th minute before adding another set-piece goal in the 41st minute. Akron took a 4-0 lead into halftime.
SECOND HALF
The Colonials came out with a different energy after the break and quickly found their way onto the scoresheet.
In the box, midfielder
Emeric Nicol was taken down, earning RMU a penalty kick. Junior striker
Anelson Azard stepped up and converted the opportunity to cut the deficit to 4-1.
Minutes later, the Colonials struck again on the counterattack. Nicol found
John Krug in the offensive end, and Krug chipped a ball into space for Azard, who ran onto it and slotted home his second goal of the night to make it 4-2.
Akron continued to generate chances throughout the remainder of the match, but RMU's defense made several key plays to keep the Colonials within striking distance.
Miguel Dominguez twice saved shots off the goal line, while he nearly added a goal of his own in the 86th minute before Akron's goalkeeper made a diving save.
The Zips ultimately added a fifth goal in the 66th minute to secure the 5-2 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Akron outshot RMU, 35-4, including a 17-4 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Zips held an 11-1 edge in corner kicks.
- Akron was whistled for 10 fouls while RMU committed eight.
- RMU's Miguel Dominguez and Callum Doyle-Travers played all 90 minutes.
- Lane made a season-high eight saves while playing the first 76 minutes. Christopher Lewis recorded three saves over the final 14 minutes.
ANOTHER BRACE
For the third time this season, Haiti native
Anelson Azard recorded a brace. Against the Zips, he scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season. The junior currently leads the Horizon League in goals and ranks third nationally in the category. He is averaging 1.00 goal per game.
ASSIST MACHINE
With another assist Tuesday night, Krug now owns five assists on the season, tied for the most in the Horizon League. He has served as the primary assist on each of Azard's last two goals scored in the run of play. The Pittsburgh native now has seven points this season with one goal and five assists.
COLONIAL FIRST
Junior midfielder
Emeric Nicol recorded his first collegiate assist in Tuesday night's match. The Derwood, Md., native made his first start of the season and played a season-high 61 minutes.
UP NEXT
RMU returns to Horizon League action for the remainder of the season, beginning Saturday, September 26, at Green Bay. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET, with the match streaming live on YouTube.
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