'Cuse Tops Akron on Perea's Last-Second Goal

Friday, August 22

Akron, OH

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

Akron

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

8/22/2014 10:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Senior scores with three seconds left to give SU a 2-1 victory

Score By Period	1st	2nd	Final
Syracuse	0	2	2
Akron	0	1	1
Box Score Aug. 22, 2014 \| FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field / Akron, Ohio \| Att: 1,955

AKRON, Ohio — Senior Nick Perea scored with three seconds remaining to lift the SU men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory against No. 13 Akron in its final preseason match Friday, Aug. 22 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

Perea's winner was the result of a rebound following a shot by Oyvind Alseth in the final seconds. Akron keeper Jake Fenlason denied Alseth, but could not control the loose ball and an opportunistic Perea buried it to propel the Orange to its seventh straight exhibition win.

Friday's game was physical throughout as the two sides combined for 24 fouls and three yellow cards were handed out to Akron players in the second half.

All the game's goals came after halftime. Syracuse and Akron combined for four shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, but Fenlason and Orange goalie Alex Bono were both up to the task, making two saves apiece.

After the break, sophomore forward Emil Ekblom opened the scoring by converting a cross from forward Chris Nanco in the 51st minute to give the Orange a 1-0 advantage.

The visitors had a golden opportunity to extend the lead in the 66th minute. Freshman Julian Buescher broke free and took a shot from just outside the box, but Fenlason was there and knocked the ball just over the crossbar.

Fenlason's save on Buescher set the stage for Akron to equalize in the 75th minute. Saad Abdul-Salaam streaked down the right wing and fired a shot that Bono got a hand on, but could not keep from going into the net.

Four minutes later, Bono was up to the challenge, making a diving save on a header by Akron's Nathan Quirk to keep the match even.

Late in the contest, the Orange turned up the offensive pressure, outshooting Akron 4-1 in the last nine minutes. With the public address announcer counting down the final seconds, the Orange's persistence was rewarded as Perea's last-second goal gave Syracuse the win against the 2010 NCAA champions.

Bono and Fenlason each played the full 90 minutes for their respective sides. Bono finished with four saves for the Orange, while Fenlason made six stops for Akron.

Akron outshot the Orange in the match, 13-12, but eight of SU's attempts were on frame compared to only five for the Zips.

Syracuse begins the 2014 regular season on Friday, Aug. 29 at home against the Niagara Purple Eagles. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium. Admission is free.