Michigan
4-6-2
Akron
7-4-1
Early Scores Doom U-M in Loss at Akron
10/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Site: Akron, Ohio (FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field)
Score: Akron 3, Michigan 0
Records: U-M (4-6-2), Akron (7-4-1)
Attendance: 2,240
Next U-M Match: Saturday, Oct. 21 -- vs. Detroit (U-M Soccer Stadium), 7:30 p.m.
AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team fell behind, 2-0, in the first 15 minutes and was unable to mount a comeback, falling to the Akron Zips, 3-0, Tuesday (Oct. 14) at Akron's First Energy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
Michigan matched the Zips on shots at 12-12 and at corner kicks at 6-6, but Akron had seven shots on goal to a pair for U-M that proved to be the difference.
U-M fell behind early in the seventh minute, as Saad Abdul-Salaam made a 40-yard run down the right flank and sent a low cross inside the six. The feed was sent home lower left by Stuart Holthusen to give the Zips the 1-0 advantage with 83 minutes to play.
Akron doubled up eight minutes later, as the U-M defense conceded a penalty kick that Adam Najem converted lower right to stretch the lead to 2-0 14:30 minutes into the match.
Despite trailing 2-0 heading into the half, the shot margin was 6-5 in favor of Akron, with junior forward James Murphy (Oxford, England/Henry Boxx School) having two. U-M's best chance came early on in the sixth minute of the game, as senior midfielder Tyler Arnone (Hicksville, N.Y./St. John's) had an open try from 20 yards out that was saved.
Early in the second half, junior William Mellors-Blair (Nottingham, England/Georgia St.) generated a pair of chances on the right side of the pitch. The initial chance came in the 50th minute, as he sent a low cross inside the area that was spilled by Akron keeper Jake Fenlason, but a Wolverine was unable to put home the rebound as the ball was cleared to safety.
The second chance came two minutes later in the 52nd, as the Englishman cut inside and took a right-footed shot that just squeaked wide left.
Later in the 69th, Mellors-Blair had the best chance of the match for the Wolverines, cutting in from the left flank to the top of the 18 with the ball on his left foot. His driven strike was narrowly high of the right portion of goal as the scoreline remained 2-0 Zips. Mellors-Blair finished the night with a match-high five shots.
In the 82nd minute, sophomore/freshman Tyler Anderson (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) served in a ball from 30 yards out on the right side that skipped through the area just past the reach of a streaking sophomore Rylee Woods (Jamestown, Ohio/Greeneview). Two minutes later, the Maize and Blue had another chance, as the reigning consensus National Player of the Week, junior/senior Colin McAtee (San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines), found space inside the attacking third and slid a pass through the six that was narrowly out of the reach of a streaking Murphy and went out of bounds for a Zip goal kick.
The Zips added a score with 1:38 remaining to ice the match and bring the tally to a final of 3-0.
The Wolverines continue non-conference play Tuesday (Oct. 21), as the squad hosts the Detroit Titans at 7:30 p.m. from U-M Soccer Stadium in a matchup that will be streamed via BTN Plus.
GAME SUMMARY
| By Periods | 1 | 2 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Akron | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- Akron, Stuart Holhusen, 6:34 (Saad Abdul-Salaam)
1st -- Akron, Adam Najem, 14:30 (penalty kick)
2nd -- Akron, Anthony Macchione, 88:22 (unassisted)
Shots: U-M 12, Akron 12
Shots on Goal: U-M 2, Akron 7
Saves: U-M 4 (Evan Louro), Akron 2 (Jake Fenlason)
Corner Kicks: U-M 6, Akron 6
Cards: U-M, Lars Eckenrode, 33:09 (Yellow); U-M, Colin McAtee, 45:59 (Yellow); U-M, James Murphy, 72:29 (Yellow); U-M, Team, 76:29 (Red).
NOTES
• Michigan wraps up a five-match in 15-day stretch with a 3-2 record.
• The four saves for Evan Louro marks the third time this season the freshman has made at least four stops in a contest. He has 21 saves on the season.
• U-M's seven-day break before taking on Detroit ties the longest break of the season.
• William Mellors-Blair and Tyler Arnone are now tied for the team lead in shots with 25.
Team Stats
HOLTHUSEN, Stuart (3)
Assisted By: ABDUL-SALAAM, Saad
fed into box from close right wing
6:34
NAJEM, Adam (5)
AKR NAJEM, Adam PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 5 for season.
14:30
MACCHIONE, Anthony (1)
goal off deflection off GK
88:22
