Men's Soccer Tops No. 13 Akron 3-1, Faryar Scores Twice

Box Score AKRON, Ohio – Senior Salar Faryar scored a pair of goals less than 10 minutes apart and the Georgia State men's soccer team topped No. 13 Akron 3-1 in a key Mid-American Conference match-up on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Georgia State (8-3-0, 1-1-0 MAC) topped a ranked opponent for the seventh time in program history and the first since a win over No. 10 Charlotte in 2019. The win marked the fifth-highest ranked opponent that GSU has ever defeated on the pitch.

Akron fell to 6-3-2 and 1-1-1 in MAC play. It marked the first time this season that the Zips allowed three or more goals in a game.

After both teams went scoreless most of the first half, Faryar scored on a bicycle kick in the 39^th minute off an assist from Ethan Sassine after he took a shot that hit off the cross bar.

The goal sent the Panthers into the locker room leading 1-0.

Faryar quickly found the goal for a second time just three minutes in to the second half off a pass from Ross Finnie giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Akron would not go quietly as Diogo Pacheco's header goal in the 69^th minute cut the Panthers lead to just 2-1.

However, Georgia State responded less than three minutes later as Max Wilkins found the back of the net off a perfect pass from senior Matthew Fearnley, giving GSU a 3-1 advantage.

Junior goalkeeper Gunther Rankenburg finished the game with four saves.

MATCH NOTES

Georgia State topped Akron in the first meeting between the two schools while also picking up the first MAC win in program history.
The Panthers have gone 6-2 on the road this season while outscoring their opponents 18-10. Entering play on Saturday, the five road wins were tied for the most in the nation.
Salar Faryar now shares the team lead with Ethan Sassine with four goals scored this season. Faryar leads Georgia State with 10 points this season (4 goals, 2 assists).
Akron out-shot Georgia State 13-7, including a 5-3 shots on goal advantage.

WHAT'S NEXT

Georgia State will return home for the start of a three game homestand jumping back into non-conference play for the final time this year hosting ETSU on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Salar Faryar: F; 5' 8"; Graduate Student

#10 Matthew Fearnley: M; 5' 11"; Senior

#4 Ross Finnie: M; 5' 9"; Junior

#1 Gunther Rankenburg: GK; 6' 3"; Junior

#9 Max Wilkins: F; 6' 2"; Junior

#19 Ethan Sassine: F; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#7 Salar Faryar
: 5' 8"; Graduate Student
: F

#10 Matthew Fearnley
: 5' 11"; Senior
: M

#4 Ross Finnie
: 5' 9"; Junior
: M

#1 Gunther Rankenburg
: 6' 3"; Junior
: GK

#9 Max Wilkins
: 6' 2"; Junior
: F

#19 Ethan Sassine
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: F