Akron Headed to Second Straight College Cup Championship Game

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The University of Akron will play for the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive year on Sunday after downing Michigan 2-1 in the semifinals of the 2010 College Cup on Friday night. Goals from Perry Kitchen and Kofi Sarkodie were the difference as the Zips ended the Wolverines' Cinderella tournament run.

Akron improved to 21-1-2 with the victory, and will face #1 seed Louisville in Sunday's championship match.

The Wolverines charged out of the gate early, getting on the board in just the second minute. Michigan wunderkind Soony Saad -- who scored an impressive 19 goals during the 2010 regular season -- provided the inspiration, outpacing the Akron midfield and flicking a short pass to Justin Meram at the top of the box. Meram -- no slouch himself with a tally of 16 regular-season notches -- took a quick touch and hammered a line drive that left Akron goalkeeper David Meves wrong-footed. The ball sailed into the left side of the net to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.

For the rest of the half, it was all Akron.

 

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