EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - The 10th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team scored a goal in each half en route to notching a key Mid-American Conference road victory earning a 2-0 decision past SIU Edwardsville (4-2-0,1-2-0 MAC) on a rain-drenched Wednesday, March 17, at Ralph Korte Stadium.
 
Junior Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy) scored what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 13th minute (12:50), while senior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) netted a tally in the 65th minute (64:51) to propel the Zips to the triumph.
 
"Great bounce-back performance today," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented. "The effort was tremendous. We dealt well with the game and the conditions. I couldn't be prouder of how we played."
 
The win marked a milestone in the coaching career of Embick, as the Zips (3-1-1, 2-1-0 MAC) collected the 150th career victory in his distinguished coaching career.
 
SIU Edwardsville earned a 12-10 edge in shots in the affair, while Akron posted a 7-3 advantage in shots on goal on the afternoon.
 
Junior Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio) and freshmen Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) and Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) directed the Zips' offensive efforts with a team-high two shots apiece. Vincent Jackson II led the Cougars with a match-best five shots.
 
In his collegiate debut in net for Akron, freshman GK Josh Hangi (Decatur, Ga.) registered a trio of saves en route to earning his first career shutout in his initial start as a Zip. Lluis Martorell collected five saves in goal for SIU Edwardsville.
 
Milanese helped the Zips crack the score column first heading home his first goal of the season at the 12:50 mark off an assist from Biros on a corner kick.
 
Shots were even at three apiece in the opening half, with Akron owning a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal.
 
The Zips again struck on a set piece in the 65th minute (64:51) on the first goal of the season by Strachan. Biros set up the tally serving in the corner kick to the box to Milanese, who flicked the ball to senior Hazem Sobhy (Cairo, Egypt) in the middle of the six-yard box. Sobhy struck a shot that was saved by Martorell with the deflection going to Strachan, who fired a laser into the back of the net for the score.
 
Akron's defensive efforts and a pair of saves at the 70:46 and 89:30 marks, respectively, helped preserve the Zips' second shutout of the season, both in conference play.