MIAMI, Fla. – Led by a brace from sophomore Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.), the University of Akron men's soccer team registered a 5-3 triumph past No. 18 Florida International (0-1) in the season opener for both schools on Thursday, Aug. 25. Shokalook netted goals for the Zips (1-0) in the 43rd (42:33) and 85th (84:58) minutes, while junior Joel Sangwa (Phoenix, Ariz.), junior Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) and freshman Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) added tallies at the 2:30, 16:31 and 88:21 marks, respectively. Akron registered a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal on the evening, despite being outshot overall, 14-12. HOW IT HAPPENED • Sangwa opened the scoring in the match heading home his first career Akron goal off a corner kick from sophomore Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.) in the third minute (2:30). • Fitzgerald netted what proved to be the game-winning goal for the Zips in the 17th minute (16:31) sliding a ball into the corner of the net courtesy of an assist from Shokalook. • Shokalook gave the Zips a 3-1 halftime lead connecting on a strike from the corner of box at the 42:33 mark off an assist from junior Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio). • The Panthers cut Akron's lead to 3-2 with a goal in the 84th minute (83:03) before Shokalook pushed the Zips' advantage to 4-2 at the 84:58 mark thanks to assists from Paulus and junior Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio). • Florida International netted another tally in the 86th minute (85:28) to make it a 4-3 Akron lead before a breakaway 1v1 goal by Dobrejevic, his first career tally, bookended a 5-3 Akron victory.

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