Akron men's soccer team ties home winning-streak record: National Quarterfinals Notebook

Akron matches the national record of going unbeaten in 39 straight home matches.

View full sizePhil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalAkron head coach Caleb Porter hugs Zarek Valentin after their 3-2 penalty-kick win over Cal on Saturday in Akron.

AKRON, Ohio — It is no surprise that an Akron men's soccer team that is 43-2-3 over the past two seasons continues to match or set records.

The Zips' 3-2 penalty-kick win (after 3-3 regulation) over California in Saturday's Division I national quarterfinal match is counted, by NCAA rules, as a tie in their win-loss record.

That curious rule, though, doesn't stop Akron from matching the national record of going unbeaten in 39 straight home matches, set by Tulsa from 1988 to '92. Akron is 37-0-2 in a stretch of home contests that began during the 2008 season.

With the contest being counted as a tie in the record books, the Zips are 65-0-2 when they score at least two goals in a match during Caleb Porter's five years as coach.

Outta here: CJ Morgante, one of the three officials, left the match with 4:27 left in the first half, just after Michael Nanchoff netted Akron's first goal and 28 seconds before teammate Scott Caldwell scored.

Morgante was replaced for the rest of the match by alternate referee Ioan Aldea.

"No comment on why he left, but he left on his own," NCAA site representative Randale Richmond said.

Porter complimented the officiating. Of Morgante's departure, he said: "I'm probably as clueless as you are. I have no idea what happened."

They say: Cal coach Kevin Grimes, of course, was disappointed with the contest's outcome, but pleased with his team's resilience.

"Not many teams have taken a great team like Akron to the wire like we did," he said. "It was a 50-50 game. Either team could have won."

Porter had little doubt Kofi Sarkodie would make the decisive penalty kick during the shootout.

"He's our most confident guy," Porter said. "That's why he's our fifth kicker [in a shootout]. When it went in, there's no feeling like it. To get to the College Cup is the pinnacle. . . .204 teams try to get there, and four do it."