College Cup: Akron routs Michigan State, 5-1, in NCAA tournament national semifinals
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Michigan State soccer coach Damon Rensing thought if his Spartans could get through the first 15 minutes without conceding a goal, they could settle in against Akron in Friday’s semifinal of the NCAA College Cup.
They accomplished that, but then it was like the clock struck midnight for the Spartans.
At 15:33, the Zips struck for their first goal. They erupted for four more and blew out Michigan State, 5-1, to advance to Sunday’s final against No. 11 Maryland.
The Terrapins beat No. 2 Indiana, 2-0, in the late game at UC Santa Barbara’s Harder Stadium.
“I wanted to get through the first 15 minutes,” Rensing said. “They scored around the 15-minute mark. Then we had two chances, a breakaway and a three-shot flurry that would bring it to 1-1 and we didn’t score."
The Spartans were denied by Akron goalkeeper Ben Lundt, and then the Zips offense took charge, erupting for three more unanswered goals.
“Akron has been lethal,” said Rensing.
“The first 15-20 minutes they were ready to go and they were on us,” said Michigan State junior midfielder Giuseppe Barone. “We maybe didn’t press high on the field as we would have liked. After that, we settled in and we were OK.”
Until the second half.
“The second half, things didn’t go our way,” said Barone.
The loss ended a terrific tournament run by the Spartans (14-5-4), who were making their first College Cup appearance in 50 years. They knocked off No. 4-seed Louisville and No. 13 Georgetown on the road during the run.
But they couldn’t find the magic in warm Southern California against Akron’s tough midfield defense and lethal finishing.
The Zips (14-6-2) came into the College Cup off a 3-2 win at three-time defending champion Stanford. They also won at No. 1 Wake Forest and No. 20 Syracuse.
Michigan State had a great chance at tying the score at 1-1 in the first half when Hunter Barone broke in on goal after this brother, Giuseppe, dispossessed an Akron player at midfield and sent him through on Lundt.
Hunter blasted a shot on frame that Lundt kick saved in the 23rd minute.
“He tried to go between my legs,” said Lundt.
“It was a great chance. It was unfortunate for us not to finish,” said Spartans defender Connor Corrigan,
The Spartans came at Lundt two minutes later and the 6-foot-6 senior from Germany came up big again, blocking a blast by DeJuan Jones at the near post. Ryan Sierakowski collected the rebound and ripped a shot on goal that was kicked out by Abdi Mohamed on the goal line.
Akron, showing great patience and precision with the ball, broke through on a blast by David Egbo.
Midfielder Skye Harter controlled the ball at the top of the 18-yard box, touched it into space and hit a left-footed cross to a wide-open Morgan Hackworth at the far post. Hackworth headed the ball off the crossbar and Egbo stepped up and hammered home the rebound from 10 yards for a 1-0 lead.
Akron went up 2-0 in the 31st minute on a brilliant flash header by freshman Carlo Ritaccio off a Colin Biros corner kick.
The corner was set up by a strong run by substitute Marco Micaletto. He beat Michigan State defender Michael Wetungu down the left side on a ball sent over the top. Wetungu did well to recover and stretch out to poke the ball over the byline. He was injured on the play and was substituted.
In the 40th minute, Michigan State’s Giuseppe Baron hit a 30-yard free kick into the box to Patrick Nielsen but his header went over the crossbar.
The Spartans went over the top to Robbie Cort on the right side of the box and Cort's rip on goal was kick saved by Lundt in the 48th minute.
Lundt had five saves on the night.
“We regrouped in the second half and came out for seven minutes there and had a chance to get it to 2-1,” Rensing said. “Robby Cort goes 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper. After that, they come down on their first play and the guy hits a great goal.
“It wasn’t in the cards tonight.”
Akron took command at that point as it continually broke up plays in the midfield.
“If you lose the ball to Akron, they’re going to keep it,” Rensing said.
Hackworth dispossessed a Spartan in the midfield, Marcel Zajac collected the ball and was fouled 30 yards away from goal
Harter followed with an exquisite free kick into the upper right corner, out of the reach of Michigan State goalkeeper Jimmy Hague for a 3-0 lead in the 53rd minute.
The Zips’ defense broke up another possession and turned it into the fourth goal — a dipping shot by Zajac from 22 yards.
“I thought we were pretty efficient and pretty lethal without attacking,” said Akron coach Jared Embick. “I thought on the ball we were pretty good during the game.”
Patrick Nielsen scored Michigan State’s goal in the 79th minute, heading in a corner kick from John Freitag to make it 4-1.
Braden Petno capped the scoring for Akron by heading in a ball that Daniel Oliveira shot off the crossbar in the 85th minute.
Akron beat Michigan State 2-1 in the regular season at East Lansing.
“I told my team soccer can be the highest of highs after beating James Madison at home or it can be cruel,” said Rensing. “It was a tough game tonight."
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