The impressive home form of the nation’s top team continued Tuesday night, as Akron routed Michigan 7-1.
Defender Kofi Sarkodie scored a hat trick as the rampant Zips offense swarmed the hapless Wolverines with three first-half goals to put the result out of reach after 45 minutes.
Joining Sarkodie on the score sheet was Darlington Nagbe, Darren Mattocks and Anthony Ampaipitakwong as the Zips (11-0-1) extended their home unbeaten streak to 32 games, a stretch dating back to 2008.
The lone bright spot for Michigan (8-4-3) was freshman star Soony Saad, who connected for the Wolverines’ tally. His goal was his 12th on the season, tops among first-year players in the nation.
Elsewhere in the top 25, No. 3 Maryland (10-2-1) won its sixth straight, a 2-0 decision against Colgate. Kaoru Forbess and Casey Townsend drove the offense with a goal apiece as Maryland gets set for its final two ACC matches.
A top-25 battle of the Carolinas saw No. 4 North Carolina (10-2-1) edge No. 18 South Carolina (7-4-2) by a 1-0 score in Chapel Hill, N.C. Freshman Robbie Lovejoy scored the game’s only goal, and his first ever for the Tar Heels, in a match that saw nine cards dished out and a player from each side sent off.
In the Big East, Carlos Alvarez played a starring role for No. 5 Connecticut (10-1-3), which won 2-0 over West Virginia in Storrs, Conn. Alvarez netted the game winner in the 75th minute before Stephane Diop added an insurance strike 10 minutes later.
