Box Score MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 3-ranked West Virginia University men's soccer team played to a 0-0, double-overtime draw against Akron on Thursday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
 
In the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams, the Mountaineers held advantages in shots, shots on goal and corner kicks but were unable to find the back of the net in the physical, 110-minute battle. With the result, WVU extended its season-opening unbeaten streak to nine games, the longest to begin a year since 1968.
 
"There were too many things that were below our standards tonight," WVU coach Dan Stratford said. "The work ethic was there, thankfully, and the application was there, but (Akron) posed us a different problem to other teams in the way they liked to jump the press. But it was good; I'm glad that we experienced it.
 
"Our depth came through for us again, and I think as the second half progressed, we were the dominant force. I'm glad they got through it and that we didn't break when we were underperforming."
 
West Virginia (6-0-3, 0-0-1 MAC) nearly opened the game with a goal in the 10th minute when junior midfielder Luke McCormick had an early chance that was saved. From there, freshman defender Frederick Jorgensen bent a shot just wide in the 22nd minute to keep the match scoreless.
 
The Mountaineers, who also had a first-half goal waved off for offsides, went on to tally a 4-1 advantage in shots during the first 45 minutes of play. However, the two teams returned to the locker room for halftime at 0-0.
 
In the second half, senior forward Ike Swiger took a run at goal with a shot in the 53rd minute, but the effort sailed too high. Later, senior defender Elijah Borneo found himself in a scoring position inside the 6-yard box, but his header near the back post was saved by the Zips.
 
Ninety minutes wasn't enough to decide the contest, resulting in the Mountaineers' third overtime game of the 2021 campaign.
 
After a quiet first overtime period, redshirt sophomore defender/midfielder Sergio Ors Navarro's shot attempt forced a diving save in the 103rd minute. Then, Swiger almost found a late winner with just 49 seconds to go in double overtime, but the Fairmont, West Virginia, native's shot on goal was saved to preserve the draw.
 
WVU outshot Akron (5-2-2, 0-0-1 MAC), 11-7, on the night, including 5-1 in shots on goal. The Mountaineers also had eight corner kicks, to the Zips' two.
 
McCormick led the way with a pair of shots on goal for WVU, while Jorgensen and Swiger also recorded two shots on the night. In goal, fifth-year senior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky made just one save on his way to his sixth clean sheet of the season and 26th of his career. The mark is good for No. 4 all-time in WVU men's soccer history.
 
With the result, West Virginia is now 4-18-2 all-time against Akron. The squad also moved to 5-2-3 in MAC openers since joining the league in 2012.
 
Next up, the Mountaineers embark on a four-match road trip, beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at Lehigh. Kickoff in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is set for 7 p.m. ET.
 
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