The Saint Louis men’s soccer team advanced to its 16th College Cup and first since 1997 with a 3-2 win over No. 14 Akron on Dec. 6.
The Zips (13-5-3) had a 2-0 lead on goals by Jack Roman and Matt Dreas at the break, but an own goal made it 2-1 just minutes into the second half and a straight red card to Dreas put Akron on the defensive and the Billikens (13-2-8) took advantage.
Quinten Blair scored on a penalty kick with 12:02 left before Tanner Anderson’s game-winner put Saint Louis in the College Cup for the first time in 28 years.
The Billikens will play either No. 7 Georgetown (14-3-4) or No. 15 NC State (14-2-4) on Dec. 12 in Park Cary, N.C.
Follow along here for live highlights, updates and in-game analysis:
A corner kick from the right proved ill-fated for the Zips. Jack DiMaria played a corner kick to Andrew Heckenlaible. Heckenlaible put a shot into the box that Tanner Anderson put a foot on. It beat Mitch Budler and Saint Louis took a 3-2 lead with 3:00 left.
At this point, Akron is forced to only counterattack because of playing a man down. Saint Louis has tied up shots on goal at four and own a 13-7 shots advantage. It’s 2-2 with 5:25 left in regulation.
Abdoul Karim Pare sent a shot on frame that hit Braxton Hayes’ elbow in the box. After video review, a penalty kick was rewarded.
Quinten Blair took the penalty kick for Saint Louis and put it into the right upper 90 to tie things.
It’s 2-2 with 12:02 left.
The Zips are now playing five across the back with two defensive midfielders just in front of them.
It’s 2-1 Akron with 13:40 remaining.
As you’d expect after an Akron red card, the game has turned heavily in the Billikens’ favor. The Akron back four has pinched in with the defensive midfield helping out. Saint Louis now holds an 8-7 advantage on shots.
Akron leads 2-1 with 19:59 remaining in regulation.
A ball into the box by Stefan Debrojevic looked dangerous for Akron. It turned out to be a red card on Akron’s Matt Dreas when a high spike hit Theo Franca in the face and into the post .
Akron will play a man down with 27:35 remaining. The Zips are up 2-1.
Remi Agunbiade had a shot 9:05 into the second half that Jeremi Abonnel made a tremendous save on. Tanner Anderson had a shot for the Billikens 5 minutes later.
It’s Akron 2-1 with 27:35 remaining.
Abdoul Karim Pare took the ball deep into the box on the right side and sent a centering pass off of Akron defender Freddy Kossehasse to make it 2-1 Akron with 40:41 remaining.
The Zips had the ball in their offensive half for 58 percent of the first half. Saint Louis only had the ball in its offensive third 6 percent of the time.
Here’s a look at the first 45 minutes:
| Category | Saint Louis | Akron |
| Goals | Jack Roman (33:26)Matt Dreas (7:14) | |
| Assists | Stefan Dobrijevic, Ashton Kamden; Tyler Morck | |
| Shots on goal | 1 | 3 |
| Corner kicks | 0 | 2 |
| Saves | Jeremi Abonnel 1 | Mitch Budler 1 |
Tyler Morck’s corner kick from the right side found the head of Matt Dreas in the center. Dreas headed it straight down and into the right corner. Dreas’ first goal of the season makes it 2-0 Akron with 7:14 left in the first half.
Akron continues its pressure high as it allows its back four to continue its defense at or near midfield. With a strong wind at their backs, the Zips are content in knowing they won’t get beat deep.
Akron leads 1-0 with 11:10 left in the first half of what has become a rather chippy final 20 minutes.
Jack Roman sent a shot on goal at the top of the box that Saint Louis defender Draven Barnett got a hand on in the box.
Firestone graduate Stefan Dobrijevic took the penalty kick, but Jeremi Abonnel guessed correctly and stopped the shot to his left. It’s 1-0 Akron with 19:00 left in the first half.
The Zips continue to pressure the Zips and are using technical pressure to push things into the Saint Louis defensive third. Jack Roman scored early and Akron’s tactics haven’t changed. Aside from the Billikens’ one shot, Saint Louis has really been held in check. It’s 1-0 Akron with 19:51 left in the first half.
The Zips, who scored less than four minutes in on a goal by Jack Roman haven’t let up one bit. Akron holds a 3-1 edge on shots and scored the one time it put one on frame. So far the Zips have been spectacular in the middle.
Saint Loius’ Jack DiMaria was able to get a shot on frame for the Billikens but it was gobbled up by keeper Mitch Budler.
It’s 1-0 Akron with 33:26 left in the first half.
Firestone graduate Stefan Dobrijevic sent a through ball to Jack Roman who took it 20 yards from goal. Roman took one touch and took a left-footed shot from 12 yards out to beat Jerem Abonnel to the right corner. Akron makes it 1-0 with 41:54 left in the first half. Ashton Kamden was also credited with an assist.
The rich history of Akron and Saint Louis men’s soccer
Saint Louis has been to the national semifinals 15 times but is looking to get back for the first time since 1997. The Billikens won titles in 1959-60, 1962-63, 1965, 1967, 1969-70 and 1972-73. Akron has been to the semifinals six times but not since 2018. The Zips won a title in 2010. This is their ninth time in the quarterfinals.
| Number | Name | Position |
| 28 | Jeremi Abonnel | GK |
| 4 | Quinten Blair | D |
| 5 | JC Cortez | D |
| 8 | Draven Barnett | M |
| 9 | Tanner Anderson | M |
| 12 | Jack DiMaria | M |
| 19 | Drake Fournier | M |
| 23 | Nick Schramm | M |
| 2 | Carlos Leatherman | M |
| 18 | Theo Franca | F |
| 17 | Andrew Heckenlaible | F |
| Number | Name | Position |
| 1 | Mitch Budler | GK |
| 3 | Daragh Reilly | D |
| 4 | Freddy Kossehasse | D |
| 6 | Matthew Paiva | D |
| 27 | Ashton Kamden | D |
| 16 | Tyler Morck | M |
| 22 | Matt Dreas | M |
| 23 | Jack Roman | M |
| 24 | Thomas O’Rourke | M |
| 18 | Stefan Dobrijevic | F |
| 13 | Remi Agunbiade | F |
The series history between Akron and Saint Louis
While Saint Louis holds an 8-5-1 series edge over Akron, the Zips are 4-0-1 in the last five meetings with three of those wins coming at home. The last time Saint Louis beat Akron was Aug. 29, 2003 in a 1-0 game on a neutral site.
The two played at Akron on Sept. 23. The Zips won 3-0.
How Saint Louis, Akron got to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals
The Billikens opened with a 2-1 home win over Kentucky and then went on the road and beat No. 6 Indiana 1-0 and No. 11 Bryant 2-2 in penalty kicks.
The Zips have played both of their tournament games at home. They opened with a 1-0 win over Notre Dame and then stopped Duke 2-0 in round of 16.
Who to watch for the Saint Louis Billikens
With Theo Franca (five goals, one assist) and Quienten Blair (four goals) leading a Saint Louis squad that has had 10 players score at least one goal, Akron knows it’s facing a much different Billikens squad than the first time.
Keeper Jeremi Abonnel ranks fifth in the nation in shutouts (11) and is 10th in goals against average (.664). The Atlantic 10 Goalkeeper of the Year is also No. 20 in save percentage (.800). Abonnel has 54 career clean sheets.
Zips one win away from final four with home game vs. Saint Louis
Akron men’s soccer is one win away from the program’s 7th college cup. Coach Jared Embick thinks 2025 is right up with the best in program history.
Who to watch for the Akron Zips
Stefan Dobrijevic (eight goals, 11 assists), Jack Roman (five goals, five assists) and Remi Agunbiade (five goals, two assists) lead a Zips team that has seen 11 individuals score at least one goal.
Mitch Budler is the two-time reigning Big East Goalkeeper of the Year. The senior ranks first in the nation in shutouts (13) and seventh in goals against average (.600). The senior has 36 career shutouts and has only given up three goals in the last six games.
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@usatoday.com and follow him on X at @bbournival
