Men's soccer continues MAC dominance with win over Broncos

“The University of Akron’s men’s soccer team improved to (11-0-0, 3-0-0 MAC) with a 4-0 win over the Western Michigan Broncos on Saturday. The win matches the best start for the team in school history. The 2005 team also started off (11-0-0). The first goal of the match came in the 22nd minute when midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong found the net from the middle of the box.”

The University of Akron’s men’s soccer team improved to (11-0-0, 3-0-0 MAC) with a 4-0 win over the Western Michigan Broncos on Saturday.

The win matches the best start for the team in school history. The 2005 team also started off (11-0-0).

The first goal of the match came in the 22nd minute when midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong found the net from the middle of the box. Defender Chris Korb has the assist on the play.

Ampaipitakwong added to the score just before half when he netted a ball from 18 yards out on a free kick.

Ampaipitakwong finished the game with two goals which marks his first career multi-goal game at Akron.

Five minutes into the second half, midfielder Michael Nanchoff scored a goal off of an assist from forwards Darlington Nagbe and Teal Bunbury.

With the goal, Nanchoff has scored at least one point in the last eight games and has three goals on the season.

Scoring was rounded out for the Zips five minutes later in the 50th minute when Ampaipitakwong assisted Bunbury for his ninth goal of the season.

With the goal, Bunbury has scored at least one goal in five of his last six matches.

The reserves came in and did a great job keeping the standard high as well, head coach Caleb Porter said. There were very specific areas that we were focused on improving in this game and we made strides in all of them. We need to get better each game and so far we continue to raise our level each week. That makes our potential very exciting.

Defense seemed to be the name of the game again for the Zips as they held the Broncos to three shots in the game.

Goalkeeper David Meves logged all 90 minutes of the game on his way to the Zips ninth shutout of the year.

I was very happy with our approach today, Porter said. We were focused from start to finish and I thought we were able to grow individually and collectively despite some of the challenges we normally see in this type of game.

Ampaipitakwong was named to Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week on Monday because of such a good performance against the Broncos.

He is the third Zip to be named to be named to this team as Chris Korb and Teal Bunbury were recognized earlier in the season.

Ampaipitakwong was also named to the Hermann Trophy watch list earlier this season and is following suit with three goals, three assists and his constant impact on the game.

A win against ACC opponent Virginia Tech will give the Zips their best starting record in program history.

Although The Virginia Tech Hokies post a (3-6-2) overall record, they are still a tough team.

The have defeated No. 16 North Carolina State by a score of 2-0 and have just recently lost to No. 11 Maryland team in a close 2-1 game.

The Hokies lead the ACC in corner kicks and are always attacking on the offensive side of the ball.

The Hokies are led by sophomore forward Emmanuel Akogyeram who leads the team with three goals.

Akogyeram also has one game winning goal, two assists and a .632 shot on goal percentage.