#4 Zips Men's Soccer Downs Ohio State, 3-0
More than 2,000 fans on hand as Akron improves to 9-0-0 on the season


Sept. 30, 2005


Final Stats


AKRON, Ohio -- - Junior forward Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor/Illinois Chicago) gave Akron a 1-0 lead just 12 minutes into the match, and it turned out to be all the Zips would need as fourth-ranked Akron (9-0-0) shut out Ohio State (5-3-1), 3-0 Friday night in front of a crowd of 2,319 at Lee Jackson Field.


"It was a wonderful atmosphere, and the fans made it a special night," said Akron head coach Ken Lolla. "I thought we played well in spurts, but it was an all-around good team effort tonight."


The closely-contested match was a back-and-forth affair until Ubiparipovic gave Akron the lead at 12:36. A shot from Ross McKenzie (Whangamata, New Zealand) rebounded off OSU goalkeeper Ray Burse, sending the ball back to McKenzie who threaded a pass to Ubiparipovic in front of the net. Ubiparipovic sent a crossing shot into the back of the net for his eighth goal of the season.


Ohio State did not back down as it held a 13-10 advantage in shots taken. The Buckeyes tested UA freshman goalkeeper Evan Bush (Concord, Ohio/Lake Catholic), but Bush came up big for the Zips with a career-high six saves en route to his sixth solo shutout of the season. One of those acrobatic saves came at 65:14 when Bush made a sliding save with his foot, blocking Ryan Kustos' shot attempt.


Bush came up big again for the Zips in the 77th minute, punching Taylor Korpieski's shot over the top of the goal. Korpieski led the Buckeyes with four shot attempts, along with Kustos.
 

 

Still clinging to a one-goal lead, Akron added a little breathing room with Amico DiFranco's (Chesterland, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) goal at 73:24 as he played a rebound off Burse.

McKenzie put the game out of reach as he headed Ubiparipovic's corner kick into the net for the final score of the night at 85:53.


Coming in off the bench, DiFranco led the Zips with three shot attempts, along with two each from McKenzie, Ubiparipovic and Brendan Murphy (Chesterland, Ohio/West Geauga).


The Zips are back on the pitch at Lee Jackson Field as they continue to face Big Ten opposition against Penn State. First kick between Akron and the Nittany Lions is set for 7:30 p.m. In addition, anyone who brings a ticket stub from Saturday's Akron-Central Michigan football game will get in for $3.00.



1 2 Final
Ohio State 0 0 0
#4 Akron 1 2 3

UA: Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Ross McKenzie)- 12:36
UA: Amico DiFranco (unassisted)- 73:24
UA: McKenzie (Ubiparipovic)- 85:53