AKRON, OH – The Wright State men's soccer team went toe-to-toe with No. 14-ranked Akron for nearly 45 minutes Friday night, but it was not enough as the Raiders fell 5-1 on the road.
 
Wright State (0-2-1) played a solid defensive first half before Josef Paulus found the back of the net just before the break in the 44th minute to give the hosts the halftime advantage. Just two and a half minutes of game action later, Akron (3-0-0) extended its lead on Dyson Clapier's score less than 30 seconds into the second stanza.
 
The Zips extended the advantage on a penalty kick goal from Ryan Kingsford in the 63rd minute and added a tally from Ashton Kamdem in the 76th minute before the Raiders found the scoreboard for the first time this season thanks to Joe Kouadio's PK score in the 81st minute. Akron added a final score in the final minute off a corner kick that bounced around off several bodies around the goal line and was deemed a score despite objections from the Raiders.
 
Kouadio's tally came after he and Reece Allbaugh were set up for an odd-numbered chance after a good ball from the midfield, only to have Allbaugh taken down in the box. Kouadio buried the PK in the bottom left corner after sending Akron goalkeeper Mitch Budler diving to the right side.
 
The Raiders had several other opportunities in the closing minutes to add on to the scoreboard, but nothing materialized.
 
Wright State finished the night with seven total shots, three of which were on goal, led by Koudaio's three attempts, two which were on frame. Allbaugh added two shots of his own, while Brady Shapiro and Sandro Branquinho also recorded shots. Akron finished the night with 21 total shot attempts and 10 on frame. Jason Shokalook and Kingsford each recorded four shots to pace the hosts.
 
Sebastian Jimenez turned away three shots in net for the Raiders over the first 56 minutes of action before giving way to Guilherme Pipolo, who finished with two saves of his own in 33 minutes of work.
 
Wright State closes out its season-long four game road trip on Monday night when the Raiders make the short trip to take on Ohio State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the match is expected to be streamed on BIG+.