MSOC Falls at No. 20 Akron

AKRON, Ohio – The Marquette men's soccer team (7-6-2, 1-6-0 BIG EAST) dropped its third straight road match on Saturday night, falling 2-0 at No. 20 Akron at First Energy Stadium. The Golden Eagles lost the match despite piling up a seven-shot advantage (15-8) over the home side.

MU was the aggressor throughout the opening 45 minutes and it showed with a 5-2 shot advantage. The Golden Eagles put two on target but the best chance of the opening half came from Akron. In the 26th minute with a free kick on the edge of the box Cameron Simpson was called into action. A curling shot to the near post had eyes for the top corner but it was punched away by Simpson.

Knotted up as 0-0 at the half, it took the Zips just three minutes into the second to test the MU keeper again. Simpson was up to the challenge though, pushing away an open look for Akron inside the 18-yard box.

Akron ended the deadlock in the 61st minute. Following a quick restart, a through ball found the feet of Thomas O'Rourke. The Zip got the ball around Simpson and was tripped up by Marquette's keeper. Stefan Dobrijevic stepped up to the penalty spot and gave Akron a 1-0 lead.

With Marquette continuing to search for an equalizer with less than 15 minutes to go, it was the Zips who would double their lead in the 81st minute. Dobrijevic scored his second of the night on a dangerous cross from the left side that skipped through traffic and found the inside of the back post.

NOTABLES

Marquette dropped its third straight road contest.
MU was shut out for the sixth time in seven conference matches.
MU has lost five straight to ranked opponents dating back to Oct. 28, 2023.
The Golden Eagles have outshot their opponent in five of their last seven matches.

UP NEXT
Marquette closes out its season on Friday night, hosting Villanova at Valley Fields at 6 p.m. CT.