Sophomore Michael Nanchoff scored a goal in the 70th minute to help the top-ranked University of Akron men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over visiting Northern Illinois on Saturday night at Lee Jackson Field.
The victory gives UA, the No. 1 team in the country in all five national polls, a 13-0-0 overall record and a 4-0-0 mark in the Mid-American Conference under coach Caleb Porter.
Nanchoff’s goal came off of a free kick after sophomore Darlington Nagbe was fouled near the penalty box. That set up Nanchoff’s boot from 19 yards away, which went around a wall of NIU players and into the net.
NIU’s record drops to 6-6-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the MAC.
Nanchoff has four goals this season.
The Zips held an advantage over the Huskies in shots (17-3), shots on goal (5-1) and corner kicks (8-4).
UA shutout its 11th opponent this season, which is four shy of the school's record of 15, set in 2005.
Zips freshman goalkeeper David Meves recorded his ninth shutout of the season with the assistance of starting defenders junior Chris Korb, sophomore Kofi Sarkodie and freshmen Zarek Valentin and Chad Barson.
UA's next game is Tuesday at Michigan.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
If Nagbe was fouled in the box, why weren't they awarded a penalty kick? That doesn't make sense — a direct free kick from in the box?
He was fouled JUST outside the box. You could make a case it was JUST INSIDE the box and SHOULD have been a penalty kick.
Great to see the soccer team continue to roll!