COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Akron sophomore Richie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario (Can.)) scored a pair of goals and assisted on a third to spark the Zips (3-1-0) to a 3-2 men's soccer victory past No. 6 Maryland (2-1-1) on Monday, Sept. 7.

"Great weekend by the team," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented. "We showed a lot of character and toughness to beat two great teams on the road. We are starting to show our potential, but we have a lot of room for improvement still. We have to stay focused and continue to improve individually and as a team. I think we all look forward to playing at home Friday night in front of our great fans!"

Akron registered a pair of first-half goals from Laryea and junior Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) and withstood a late second-half charge from Terrapins to register the Zips' first-ever road victory over Maryland.

The Terrapins came into their showdown with the Zips after notching a 2-1 victory in overtime against top-ranked UCLA on Friday, Sept. 4.

Coupled with its win over No. 4 Georgetown on Friday, Sept. 4, Akron has now posted back-to-back regular season road victories over top 10 opponents for the first time since defeating No. 4 North Carolina (3-0) and No. 3 Wake Forest (2-0) to open the 2010 National Championship campaign.

After having their initial two shots of the evening blocked, Najem gave the Zips an early 1-0 advantage connecting on a through ball from Laryea at the 21:41 mark.

In the 39th minute (38:30) Laryea converted a Maryland turnover into his first goal of the season to push Akron's advantage to 2-0.

Each side registered five shots apiece in the initial stanza with the Zips owning and scoring on each of the two shots on goal.

The Terrapins posted the first two shots of the second half with Maryland cutting Akron's lead to 2-1 on Sebastian Elney's goal at the 66:28 mark. Mael Corbez delivered the ball into the box off the corner kick to Elney, who headed the ball past senior goalkeeper Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.).

Laryea registered the Zips' first shot of the second half at the 82:40 mark, a strike that was saved by Dayne St. Clair.

Nine seconds later, Laryea connected on his second goal of the evening chipping in a ball from five yards out to extend Akron's lead to 3-1 in the 83rd minute (82:49).

Twenty-five seconds at the 83:14 mark, David Kabelik brought Maryland to within a goal at 3-2, scoring off an assist from Corboz.

The Terrapins were unable to get off a shot over the final 6:46 and suffered their first loss of the season.

The Zips were outshot in the affair, 13-8, but Akron was able to outshoot the Terrapins on goal, 4-3.

Laryea registered a match-high four shots, including four on goal, while Najem added three shots to Akron's offensive attack. Corboz paced the Maryland attack with three shots.

Laryea's first career multi-goal game marked the second time this season that a Zips has netted a pair of goals in a match. He joins redshirt sophomore Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), who tallied a pair of scores in a 3-2 victory at VCU.

Both Fenlason and St. Clair recorded a save in the game.

Akron returns to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Friday, Sept. 11, as the Zips open their home campaign battling No. 14 Saint Louis. The 1,000th match in program history is slated to begin at 7 p.m.

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