Akron Downs Saint Louis, 4-0

Akron Downs Saint Louis, 4-0
September 10, 2011

 

ST. LOUIS – The No. 4 University of Akron men's soccer team stayed unbeaten on the season with a commanding 4-0 victory over Saint Louis Saturday night at Hermann Stadium.

UA, which improved to 3-0-1 on the year, dominated possession throughout the contest and owned a 21-4 advantage in shots - including a 13-2 margin on frame - over the Billikens (1-3-0), who upset No. 10 Notre Dame, 2-1, last weekend.

Junior midfielder Scott Caldwell led the way with a highlight-reel worthy goal in the second half to go with two assists as Akron won for the first time in five all-time appearances at Saint Louis.

Senior Matt Dagilis, who earned his first start in more than a year, netted the game-winner with a header in the first half while Jamaican strikers Darren Mattocks and Akeil Barrett added to the tally in the second stanza.

The Zips took a 1-0 lead with a set-piece goal in the 21st minute. Following a run by DeAndre Yedlin down the right side of the field, Aodhan Quinn sent the resulting corner kick into the box where Dagilis punched the ball into the back of the net from six yards out.

It was the second career game-winner for the Akron native and first goal since his freshman year of 2008. Dagilis nearly made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute on another UA corner kick, but this time his diving header sailed just wide of the left post.

The Zips had another prime chance to score just before the end of the half when Mattocks split a pair of defenders and fired from straight on but Billikens' keeper Mark Pais, who finished with nine saves, was there to turn it away.

Akron, which out-shot SLU 14-1 after the intermission, was rewarded for its persistence in the second half early and often.

Mattocks started the scoring in the 59th minute when he took a Caldwell pass and slotted the keeper from the top of the box. It was Mattocks' team-leading fourth goal of the season.

Saint Louis continued to push numbers forward in an attempt to cut into the lead but was punished late when Akron scored back-to-back goals in the span of 51 seconds.

After assisting Mattocks' goal, Caldwell decided to help himself with a rocket beautiful strike from distance that tucked into the upper right corner of the net. Then, just seconds later, Caldwell slipped a ball to Barrett on the right side of the box for the final goal of the evening.

After playing the last three games on the road, Akron will return home to host The University of Akron Tournament next weekend. The Zips will face New Mexico Friday at 7 p.m. in a match that will be broadcast on FOX Soccer Channel and then Cal Poly on Sunday at 6 p.m. 

Zips Notebook: Saturday's win was the 93rd of UA head coach Caleb Porter's career ... The Zips improved to 61-0-0 when leading at the half under Porter ... Akron has been defeated just once in its last 28 regular-season road and neutral site matches (23-1-4).

 

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