Aug. 27, 2011
Contact: Tim Ertle
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AKRON, Ohio - Just as the previous 39 teams to visit Cub Cadet Field at FirstEnergy Stadium had done, the Cleveland State men's soccer team came up short, dropping their regular season opener to the Akron Zips by a score of 5-0.
With the win, Akron has established a record 40-game home unbeaten streak, pulling ahead of the Tulsa program which posted a home unbeaten streak of 39 games from 1988-92.
The Zips, fresh off a 22-1-2 season (Cleveland State was the only team to defeat Akron) that saw them claim the national title, raised the championship banner in front of a capacity crowd of 5,241 that was looking to celebrate.
Akron gave the home fans something to celebrate just six minutes into the game when Darren Mattocks beat CSU goalkeeper Brad Stuver to give the Zips a 1-0 lead.
Six minutes after that, Michael Balogun widened the gap when his header found the back of the net.
Scott Caldwell scored Akron's third goal on a rebound. Stuver blocked the initial shot from Mattocks, but Caldwell cleaned up the mess to make it a 3-0 game with 23:23 remaining in the opening half.
Mattocks, a freshman All-American last season, closed the scoring in the first when he tallied his second goal of the game with 12:12 left to make it a 4-0 game.
Akeil Barrett scored three minutes into the second half to grow the lead to 5-0.
The Vikings first shot on goal, off the foot of Brian Donnelly, came with 9:03 left in the second half - their only one of the game. Akron sent 10 shots Stuver's way, and the 2010 Horizon League 'Goalkeeper of the Year' recorded four saves.
The fact that Akron has a 38-0-2 record during their unbeaten streak and refers to the pair of ties as "blemishes" indicates the mountain which visitors have to climb when taking on the Zips at home.
With that in mind, the Vikings were able to get 17 players into the game - giving them game experience in an extremely tough atmosphere.
CSU will take what they learned and look to rebound next Saturday (Sept. 3) when they go on the road for a showdown with Bowling Green. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m.
