Freshman striker Darren Mattocks scored twice as the No. 1-ranked Zips improved to 8-0-1.
PONTIAC, Mich. -- The top-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team used four first-half goals -– two by freshman striker Darren Mattocks -– to cruise to a 5-0 win at Oakland University Wednesday night.
With the victory, the Zips (8-0-1) extended their regular-season road unbeaten streak to 20 games (17-0-3) dating back to 2008. Akron, which matched an NCAA record for consecutive shutouts earlier this season, has recorded a clean sheet in eight of nine games.
The Zips scored four times in the game’s first 25 minutes and rested its starters in the second half. For the game, UA outshot Oakland, 27-5, with a 13-0 edge in shots on goal. The Golden Grizzlies fell to 3-7-0.
UA jumped on top early when a through ball from Darlington Nagbe found Mattocks, who had slipped past his man on the left wing and tucked a low kick just inside the near post.
Akron then put together a great sequence to make it 2-0 in the 14th minute. Ben Speas, who earned his first start, chipped a pass from midfield that found Nagbe, who was racing down the left flank. Nagbe then touched the ball over to Mattocks, who turned and buried a shot from 15 yards.
It was the first multiple-goal performance of Mattocks' career. The true freshman striker from Jamaica has recorded four goals in his last four matches and leads the Zips with six goals for the season.
UA scored its third goal when Anthony Ampaipitakwong launched a free kick from 40 yards near the far touchline that found the head of Chad Barson, who banged it home from close range in the 23rd minute.
The Zips' relentless attack yielded the team's fourth goal of the first 24 minutes when Michael Nanchoff uncorked a free kick from 25 yards that deflected off a Grizzlies' defender and into the right corner of the net. It was Nanchoff's second goal of the season.
Akron travels to DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois Saturday at 4 p.m.