The University of Akron men’s soccer team (7-5-2) lost for the first time this season while playing here at FirstEnergy Stadium-Summa Field on Saturday versus West Virginia, by a score of 3-1. Not only was it the first loss; it is the first time the Zips have even allowed a goal at home this year.

That scoreless streak ended early in Saturday’s match as the Zips conceded a goal to West Virginia’s Joey Piatczyc just 39 seconds into the match. The scored stayed 1-0 all the way into the halftime break.

It was in the 60th-minute that sophomore Ezana Kahsay found the back of the net and appeared to tie the game, but the goal would not count due to an offside call. After that West Virginia scored twice in the next ten minutes, giving the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead with just 20 minutes to play.

In the 86th minute the Zips finally got on the board with a goal from senior captain Brad Ruhaak, his fourth of the season, but it was too little too late for Akron. Goalkeeper Ben Lundt would finish with four saves on the night.

The Mountaineers got their other two goals from Brad Arslan. Both Arslan and the Zips’ Jonathan Lewis had three shots on goal to lead the game. West Virginia led in the shots on goal department 7-6 over Akron.

Akron’s soccer team will be back in action Wednesday as it travels to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.