AKRON, Ohio - Sparked by the first career goals from junior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) and sophomore Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.), the University of Akron men's soccer team cracked the win column with a 2-0 victory over VCU (3-5-1) on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
 
The Zips (1-7) turned in a dominant performance in the match on the strength of registering a 17-8 edge in shots, including a 6-2 margin in shots on frame.
 
Strachan posted career- and game-high marks in shots (4) and shots on goal (2) for Akron in the match, while junior David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) matched his four-shot performance, and Tojaga added a pair of shots to the Zips' offensive attack. Ryo Shimazaki and Fortia Miunts directed the Rams' offense with a team-best two shots each.
 
Junior goalkeeper Joe Bowles (Stratford, England) registered his first career clean sheet with the Zips posting a pair of saves in only his second career start. Mario Sequeira corralled a trio of stops for VCU.
 
Bowles made a save on the initial shot of the evening off the foot of Shimazaki in the third minute (2:15) on the tilt.
 
The Zips netted what proved to be the game-winning goal at the 9:29 mark when Strachan knocked in his first goal of the season off a beautifully delivered corner kick from sophomore Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio).
 
Akron saw its next three shots of the half blocked, before Tojaga found the back of net in the 27th minute (26:43) off an assist from Egbo to extend the Zips' lead to 2-0.
 
Akron entered the intermission maintaining a 2-0 advantage on the scoreboard on the strength of an 8-4 edge in shots in the opening stanza, including a 2-1 margin on frame.
 
Strachan delivered his second strike on net for the Zips at the 63:05 mark, one that was thwarted by a save from Sequeira.
 
Egbo nearly stretched Akron's lead to 3-0 in the 69th minute (68:25) as his laser was deflected out of bounds for a save by a diving Sequeira.
 
Bowles kept the shutout intact for the Zips with a save at the 70:00 mark off a shot by Fiorre Mane.
 
Only a team save with a clearance off the goal line by the VCU defender in the 81st minute (80:42) prevented freshman Mani Austmann (Gardabaer, Iceland) from scoring his second tally of the year.
 
Egbo added one final strike on net for the Zips at the 88:21 mark, a shot that was pulled in for a save by Sequeira.
 
Akron concludes its three-match homestand with a 7 p.m. tilt versus No. 13 Florida International on Saturday, Oct. 5.

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