Akron Zips men's soccer dominates Creighton, advances to Big East Tournament final
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The University of Akron is headed to the Big East Conference men's soccer tournament championship.
Akron dominated Creighton 4-0 in a tournament semifinal on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Maryland SportsPlex in Boyds, Md.
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Jack Sullivan, Jack Roman, Remi Agunbiade and Londen Sears each scored a goal for No. 3 seed Akron (12-1-4), which topped No. 2 Creighton (12-2-5) after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw in the regular season.
Akron will meet No. 1 seed Georgetown (15-1-2) in the championship match at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15. It will be televised on ESPNU. Georgetown was a 2-0 winner over No. 4 seed Seton Hall (7-5-6) in Thursday's other semifinal at the Maryland SportsPlex.
Akron, ranked No. 4 in the country in the coaches poll, has won five matches in a row and seven of its past nine since losing 3-1 at home to Georgetown on Sept. 25. The Hoyas were ranked No. 5 in the country then and are now No. 2 behind top-ranked Southern Methodist University.
Akron men's soccer scores three goals in opening 10 minutes to beat Creighton
The Zips scored three goals in a span of 2 minutes and 59 seconds during the opening 10 minutes of Thursday's match to separate from the Bluejays.
Sullivan opened the scoring in the seventh minute after Thomas O'Rourke chipped the ball into the penalty box area. Sullivan received the pass and took an off-balance shot with his right foot to slot the ball into the net.
Roman netted his goal just under 90 seconds later when he took two dribbles before sending a shot with his right-foot into the upper-right corner. Tyler Morck and Sullivan were credited with assists. Akron extended its lead to 3-0 in the 10th minute. Matt Dreas delivered a long ball from approximately 40 yards out toward the left side of the penalty area, where Roman brought it down just inside the box and then passed it to a cutting Agunbiade, who right-footed the ball into the net.
Akron entered halftime with an advantage in shots (9-3), shots on goal (6-1) and corner kicks (4-0).
"We came out fast," Akron coach Jared Embick said during an interview at halftime with ESPN+ broadcasters. "The adrenaline was hot, and we took advantage."
The Zips added a fourth goal in the 85th minute to conclude the scoring. Nolan McGuire played the ball to Ignacio Alem, who advanced down the sideline before sending a low pass across the penalty area. Londen Sears received the pass and tapped the ball into the net.
Akron finished with an edge in shots (12-5), shots on goal (7-1) and corner kicks (8-2).
Akron goalkeeper Brett Kaminski recorded one save and Creighton's Matthew Hudson finished with three saves.
Sizing up Akron and Georgetown men's soccer teams
Georgetown earned four of the six major regular-season awards in the Big East Conference on Nov. 11.
Hoyas junior forward Mitchell Baker was unanimously selected Big East Offensive Player of the Year, senior Matthew Van Horn earned Big East Midfielder of the Year recognition, freshman midfielder Terrance Reynolds was named Big East Freshman of the Year and the coaching staff, led by Brian Wiese, was selected as Big East Coaching Staff of the Year for the second consecutive season and 10th time in program history.
Van Horn and Eric Howard scored goals in Georgetown's win over Seton Hall on Thursday.
Georgetown's Baker, Howard, Van Horn and Tate Lampman received All-Big East first-team honors. Reynolds, Charlie DeMarco and Mateo Ponce Ocampo earned All-Big East second-team honors, and David Urrutia was tabbed to the third team.
Akron's Dreas and O'Rourke earned All-Big East first-team honors. Agunbiade and Matthew Paiva received All-Big East second-team honors, and Roman was tabbed to the third team.
The awards were determined by a vote of the league's 12 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes or coaching staffs.
Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips men's soccer dominates Creighton, advances to Big East Tournament final