Akron defeats Cleveland State 5-0 in men's soccer season opener

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Regular season Game One ... Saturday night, August 27, 2011

Cleveland State University at the University of Akron

from First Energy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field

Akron Starting lineup

Forward: Sophomore Darren Mattocks.

Midfielders: Junior Scott Caldwell, freshman Wil Trapp, sophomore Aodhan Quinn, senior Michael Balogun.

Defenders: Junior Chad Barson and freshmen Bryan Gallego, David Mayer and DeAndre Yedlin.

Goalkeeper: Junior David Meves. 

Prior to the start of the match UA unveiled a banner honoring the 2010 Zips men's soccer team that won the national championship.

First Half

AKRON 1-0

Zips sophomore forward Darren Mattocks scores a goal in the seventh minute. Freshman midfielder Wil Trapp gets the assist.

AKRON 2-0

Zips senior midfielder Michael Balogun scores a goal in the 13th minute off of a corner kick. Sophomore midfielder Aodhan Quinn started the play with the corner kick. Junior midfielder Scott Caldwell got a quick touch, then kicked it back to Quinn who booted the ball towards the goal. That pass found Balogun's head.

AKRON 3-0

Zips junior midfielder Scott Caldwell scores a goal in the 22nd minute. Sophomore forward Darren Mattocks took a shot, which Vikings sophomore Brad Stuver saved. Caldwell then booted in the rebound.

Freshman Akeil Barrett enters the Zips lineup in the 25th minute.

AKRON 4-0

Zips sophomore forward Darren Mattocks scores a goal in the 31st minute. Freshman defender DeAndre Yedlin had the initial shot to start the sequence, which Vikings sophomore goalkeeper Brad Stuver saved.

Second Half

AKRON 5-0

Zips freshman midfielder Akeil Barrett scores a goal in the 48th minute following a Vikings turnover.

Junior forward Thomas Schmitt enters the Zips lineup in the 61st minute.

Sophomore midfielders Eric Stevenson and Zac Portillos enter the Zips lineup in the 71st minute.

FINAL SCORE -- AKRON 5, CLEVELAND STATE 0

Postgame Quotes

Akron head coach Caleb Porter

“This is a great start. I thought we played well on both sides of the ball, which is what we are always looking for. We did some really nice stuff. I thought in the attack we created a lot of chances and had a lot of rhythm.”

“Darren has taken his game to a whole new level. He is the real deal and we are going to need him to be.”

“I thought we defended very well. We are pleased. A lot of the new guys played well. It is always nice to get that first game under their belt. They played in front of a big crowd and played with a lot of confidence. Even though we were pretty good tonight, I think this team still has a lot more left and I am look forward to seeing them progress.”

Zips sophomore forward Darren Mattocks

“This is a pretty good start to the season, but we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. We just have to keep getting better in training.”

Zips junior midfielder Scott Caldwell

“Obviously we are real happy with our performance in the first half and second half. I would say a big thing was our consistency. We really came out hard to play and got them on their heels early. The crowd and the AK-Rowdies had a lot to do with that in the first half.”