Zips move on to sweet 16 after win over South Florida
Caleb Clark
Issue date: 11/24/09 Section: Sports
The University of Akron's men's soccer team defeated South Florida on Sunday 2-0, moving them into the sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
A pair of goals from midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong proved to be all that was needed to defeat the South Florida team that knocked Akron out of the NCAA tournament in 2007.
"I think it is good to get that first NCAA tournament game out of the way," UA head coach Caleb Porter said. "I told the guys after the game that over the years the first round has been one of the more difficult games because of the feelings and excitement that come with playing in the NCAA tournament."
In typical fashion for the Zips, the team jumped out on top early.
In the 25th minute of the game, Ampaipitakwong took a free kick from 23 yards out.
Ampaipitakwong showed why he was chosen to the Hermann trophy watch list at the beginning of the year as he placed the ball out of the reach of the goalkeeper and wrapped it just around the left post.
Eight minutes later Ampaipitakwong found the net again as the South Florida defense gave him enough space to launch a shot that froze the keeper.
The shot was from 22 yards out and the ball found its home in the top right corner of the net.
"The first goal I saw the goalie cheating to the left a little bit and I was able to get the ball around him for a score," Ampaipitakwong said. "On the second goal, I got a break away and South Florida didn't press me at all. I was able to get a wide open shot and I took it. Sometimes the ball just goes into the net."
Porter has commented in previous games that goals are not just coming from one person this year, and it seems that in every game, someone else is scoring.
In the South Florida match, Ampaipitakwong was that player.
"Anthony is just a big game player and always seems to turn up his play a notch in the biggest games," Porter said. "His goal on the free kick was tremendous. He was able to get the goalie leaning to his left; Anthony went against the grain and whipped the ball into the back of the net. That was just a special play.
A pair of goals from midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong proved to be all that was needed to defeat the South Florida team that knocked Akron out of the NCAA tournament in 2007.
"I think it is good to get that first NCAA tournament game out of the way," UA head coach Caleb Porter said. "I told the guys after the game that over the years the first round has been one of the more difficult games because of the feelings and excitement that come with playing in the NCAA tournament."
In typical fashion for the Zips, the team jumped out on top early.
In the 25th minute of the game, Ampaipitakwong took a free kick from 23 yards out.
Ampaipitakwong showed why he was chosen to the Hermann trophy watch list at the beginning of the year as he placed the ball out of the reach of the goalkeeper and wrapped it just around the left post.
Eight minutes later Ampaipitakwong found the net again as the South Florida defense gave him enough space to launch a shot that froze the keeper.
The shot was from 22 yards out and the ball found its home in the top right corner of the net.
"The first goal I saw the goalie cheating to the left a little bit and I was able to get the ball around him for a score," Ampaipitakwong said. "On the second goal, I got a break away and South Florida didn't press me at all. I was able to get a wide open shot and I took it. Sometimes the ball just goes into the net."
Porter has commented in previous games that goals are not just coming from one person this year, and it seems that in every game, someone else is scoring.
In the South Florida match, Ampaipitakwong was that player.
"Anthony is just a big game player and always seems to turn up his play a notch in the biggest games," Porter said. "His goal on the free kick was tremendous. He was able to get the goalie leaning to his left; Anthony went against the grain and whipped the ball into the back of the net. That was just a special play.
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