Late Goals Lift No. 5 Akron Over DePaul

Saturday, October 7

Akron, Ohio

11:00 a.m.

DePaul University

2-7-2, 0-4-0

No. 5 Akron

8-0-4, 2-0-2

DePaul

Akron

10/7/2023 1:32:00 PM | MEN'S SOCCER

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Zips net trio of goals in final 20 minutes

AKRON, Ohio – A late flurry of goals powered fifth-ranked Akron over DePaul on Saturday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Blue Demons stood tall through the first 70 minutes of action, fending off a plethora of Zips chances including a penalty kick, but Akron took advantage of opportunities in the latter stages of the contest to claim a 3-0 victory.

DePaul (2-7-2, 0-4 BIG EAST) mustered four shots on the match while Akron (8-0-4, 2-0-2) fired off 24. The second half saw Nathaniel Enriquez and Liam Mullins find shots on frame, while the Blue Demons earned a trio of corner kicks.

Goalkeeper Gandhi Cruz made eight saves on the match including a crucial save from the spot in the first period.

How it Happened
The Zips were the aggressors from the start, firing five shots and earning four corners in the first 19 minutes of action.

Cruz came up big in cage time after time, making five saves in the first 45. The two teams went into the locker room at halftime knotted 0-0 with the Zips holding a 14-0 edge in shots.

The Blue Demons came out of the intermission with an inspired press, maintaining possession in the attacking third and finding an opportunity on a free kick outside the box.

Liam Mullins fired DePaul's first shot of the match in the 56th minute from just outside the six as the Zips keeper punched it over the crossbar. Moments later, Kristian Malinich sent a ball just wide of the cage on a breakaway down the left flank.

Akron struck first in the 72nd on a ball sent to the far post from just inside the box to take a 1-0 lead before doubling up just a minute later on a shot sent out of a scrum just in front of the cage.

DePaul, searching for an answer, found the fight to counter and got two shots off leading to a pair of corners in a four-minute span but to no avail.

The Zips all but sealed the deal with a third goal in the 81st minute on a volley right on the goal line.

Up Next: The Blue Demons will return home to play three of their four remaining regular season matches at Wish Field. Butler is set to visit Lincoln Park on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m.

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