Junior Matthew Paiva generally makes his greatest impact on the defensive end of the pitch for the University of Akron men's soccer team.
Paiva contributed to another shutout and made a memorable play on offense with his first goal in an Akron uniform to propel the No. 14 seed Zips to a 1-0 win over unseeded Notre Dame in an NCAA Tournament second-round match Nov. 23 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPaiva's strike in the 88th minute and excellent defense allowed Akron (12-4-3) to advance to a third-round match at home against Duke (10-3-6) at 4 p.m. Nov. 30. Unseeded Duke topped No. 3 Princeton 2-1 on Nov. 23.
"There was obviously excitement and relief at the same time," Akron coach Jared Embick said of Paiva's goal. "That is kind of how Notre Dame finds it. They kind of just survive and stick with it and kind of get when you least expect it or when you start forcing plays and make mistakes — as they showed a couple minutes earlier when they hit the crossbar that they could still win the game."
Notre Dame senior defender Mitch Ferguson kicked the ball off the crossbar with just under six minutes to go in the second half after a corner kick by the Irish (9-7-4).
Akron defender Matthew Paiva (6) celebrates his goal against Norte Dame in a second round NCAA D1 Men’s Soccer match at University of Akron’s FirstEnergy Stadium Cub Cadet Field in Akron on Nov. 23, 2025.Senior forward Stefan Dobrijevic started the scoring sequence with a corner kick. He tapped the ball to redshirt freshman midfielder Thomas O'Rourke, who then passed the ball back to Dobrijevic.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDobrijevic proceeed to send the ball toward the goal, where it deflected off a Notre Dame player and landed at the feet of Paiva, and he kicked the ball into the net with 2:34 to go in the second half before a crowd of 2,046.
Akron defender Matthew Paiva (6) drives the ball against Norte Dame in a second round NCAA D1 Men’s Soccer match at University of Akron’s FirstEnergy Stadium Cub Cadet Field in Akron on Nov. 23, 2025."We have been working on attacking corners all week, so I just stepped up and I felt it was my opportunity to get on the score sheet and change the game," Paiva said. "I think there is also a bit of luck, but you gotta take luck at the end of the day. I am happy to get my first goal for the Zips."
Akron finished with an edge in shots (14-11), shots on goal (6-4) and corner kicks (8-6).
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMore Akron Zips coverage: Stefan Dobrijevic takes on larger scoring role as Akron soccer preps for NCAA Tournament
Akron defender Matthew Paiva (6) celebrate his game winning goal against Norte Dame with teammates Freddy Kossahesse (4), Daragh Reilly (3) and Thomas O’Rourke (24) in a second round NCAA D1 Men’s Soccer match at University of Akron’s FirstEnergy Stadium Cub Cadet Field in Akron on Nov. 23, 2025."We were running the short corners all game and we were getting good chances from it, so it was just another routine corner," said Dobrijevic, a 2021 Firestone High School graduate.
"I saw Paiva start peeling away back post and I was like, 'I am going to hang it up there and hope he gets on it.' We got the lucky bounce and he finished it. He was there, so he stepped up for us."
Akron redshirt senior goalkeeper Mitch Budler made four saves and Notre Dame sophomore goalkeeper Blake Kelly made five saves.
Notre Dame defender Mitch Ferguson (2) crumbles to the field as Akron players Matt Dreas (22), Jamai Royer (25), Jack Roman (23) and goalkeeper Mitch Budler (1) celebrate their victory over Notre Dame in a second round NCAA D1 Men’s Soccer match at University of Akron’s FirstEnergy Stadium Cub Cadet Field in Akron on Nov. 23, 2025."Anytime you play Notre Dame, it's a 90-minute game," Embick said. "We played them in each of the last two years and it has ended in a draw. We have talked about all week — just we have to stay focused, we have to play all 90 minutes, and obviously chances were scarce.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Both teams had a couple of good ones until the last one and we were able to finally put something in the net. Great performance from the guys to be locked in and stick with that game. I am really pleased and happy, and excited we get to keep going."
Paiva joined seniors Daragh Reilly and Ashton Kamdem and junior Freddy Kossehasse as Akron's starting defenders.
Akron midfielder Matt Dreas (22) fends off Notre Dame midfielder KK Baffour (10) in a second round NCAA D1 Men’s Soccer match at University of Akron’s FirstEnergy Stadium Cub Cadet Field in Akron on Nov. 23, 2025.O'Rourke, junior Matt Dreas, redshirt sophomore Tyler Morck and sophomore Jack Roman started in the midfield. Dobrijevic and sophomore Remi Agunbiade were the starting forwards.
"I think we are able to communicate effectively throughout Mitch, to the whole back line and Dreas," Paiva said. "I think we did a great job at locking down their offensive players and limiting them to half chances or no chances. I am very pleased with our performance today."
Akron midfielder Thomas O’Rourke (24) drives against Notre Dame midfielder Wyatt Lewis (6) in a second round NCAA D1 Men’s Soccer match at University of Akron’s FirstEnergy Stadium Cub Cadet Field in Akron on Nov. 23, 2025.Akron junior Jack Sullivan, redshirt sophomore Caleb Borneo and freshmen Braxton Hayes and Jamai Royer contributed in reserve roles.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEmbick added that every NCAA Tournament game is "a dogfight" against "a really good opponent."
Akron midfielder Tyler Morck (16) looks to shoot as Notre Dame goalkeeper Blake Kelly (1) defends in a second round NCAA D1 Men’s Soccer match at University of Akron’s FirstEnergy Stadium Cub Cadet Field in Akron on Nov. 23, 2025."Credit and congratulations to Akron," Notre Dame coach Chad Riley said. "We knew they were a good team and we wish them the best in the next round. With that said, I just told the team I couldn't be prouder of the way they handled the season, and I think it was summed up today against a good team.
"... Anytime you give up a corner at the end, you are a little bit nervous. I was a little bit screened [out from seeing the goal], but it looked like maybe a clearance got blocked before it got out and then it seemed like it fell to an Akron player and not a Notre Dame player, and they did a good job finishing it."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Matthew Paiva scores goal as Akron tops Notre Dame in NCAA Tournament
AdvertisementAdvertisement
