Ohio State wins 2-0 against Akron thanks to good start

For the Ohio State men’s soccer team, a single goal – scored just three minutes into the game – could mean the difference between victory and defeat.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0-1) defeated the Akron Zips (0-1-1) 2-0 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Akron, Ohio. First-year forward David Ajagbe scored a goal in the opening minutes of the game.

Ajagbe received the pass from veteran midfielder Anthony Samways, headed the ball into the center of the box and fired it into the bottom right corner of the net to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead and score his second goal of the season.

In the ninth minute, Ajagbe almost scored another goal with his second shot of the game, but narrowly missed the left inside post.

It didn’t take long for the Buckeyes to strike again. In the 29th minute, junior midfielder Luciano Pechota took a one-two from veteran defender Deylen Vellios and scored the team’s second goal with a shot into the bottom right corner of the Zips net. The pass to Pechota was the fourth assist of the Buckeyes captain’s career.

Ohio State’s offense dominated the first half, averaging nine shots on goal, four of which hit the target.

The Buckeyes came out swinging in more ways than one, committing 16 fouls to the Zips’ eight, and Vellios was shown a yellow card in the 37th minute.

The Buckeyes defense remained strong in the first half, allowing only four shots, one of which was on goal and saved by first-year goalie Patrick McLaughlin.

The Buckeyes had the first chance of the second half when captain David Wrona fired a shot in the 49th minute that was saved by Zips redshirt junior goalkeeper Mitch Budler.

The Buckeyes defense maintained its momentum throughout the second half, allowing only five shots on goal, two of which McLaughlin blocked.

The Zips were able to keep up with the Buckeyes’ aggressiveness in the second half, receiving three yellow cards and acting just as aggressively as the Buckeyes with seven fouls in that period.

The Buckeyes offense had eight shots on goal in the second half, but only two of them reached the target due to five offside decisions.

With this win, the Buckeyes’ record against their in-state rivals is 8-29-6.

Next, Ohio State will host the annual Wolstein Classic at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium this Thursday. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a game between the University of Dayton and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, followed by the Buckeyes’ game against the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars at 8 p.m.