A trio of universities located in Ohio participated in as many NCAA soccer tournaments last weekend. One survived, earning the opportunity to compete again next weekend. The Akron Zips toppled Seattle 3-0 on Sunday to advance to the third round of the Men’s DI tournament. The Ohio Northern University women outlasted William Smith 1-0 on Saturday, but fell to Hardon-Simmons 1-0 in the DIII quarterfinals. Otterbein exited the NCAA Men’s DIII tournament in the third round via a 3-0 defeat by St. Thomas.
The fifth-seeded Akron Zips scored early on Seattle and never relinquished the lead. Sam Gainford tallied in the seventh minute after teaming up with Manueal Cordeiro on a give and go. Stuart Holthusen and Marcel Zajac added insurance goals in the 73rd and 89th minutes, respectively.
Akron will face the Wisconsin Badgers in the third round of the tournament at 4:00 PM on Saturday, Nov 25 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Ohio Northern women’s soccer team advanced to the first NCAA quarterfinals in team history with its overtime victory over second-ranked William Smith. A freshman connection sealed the win for the Polar Bears less than a minute into overtime when defender Sydney Leshnak (Liberty Township/Mount Notre Dame High School) played Jenna Fuller long.
Ohio Northern saw its historic run end against fifth-ranked Hardin-Simmons in NCAA DIII Women’s Soccer version of the Elite Eight. Hardin-Simmons scored off a corner kick in the 63rd minute, and the OAC Champion Polar Bears could not find an equalizer.