Clemson Syracuse Soccer

Clemson celebrates their victory over Syracuse in the an NCAA College Cup soccer match, Friday, in Kansas City, Kan. Clemson won 4-1 on penalty kicks.

(AP Photo)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Akron Zips lost on penalty kicks, 8-7, against the Stanford Cardinal in double-overtime in the second NCAA Soccer College Cup semifinal Friday night in Sporting Park.

Stanford goalkeeper Andrew Epstein embraced Nate Shultz attempt for Akron to seal the win and send Akron home.

Stanford will play the Clemson Tigers, who also battled Syracuse to a 0-0 double-overtime tie, then advanced on penalty kicks, 4-1. It marked the first time since 2011 both semifinal matches went to overtime.

Akron actually had the first chance to win it on PKs, but after a Jake Fenlason block on the seventh PK for Stanford, Akron's Goncalo Soares attempt to win hit the left post and caromed out. Three kicks later, Schultz attempt to keep extending the match was blocked by Epstein to send the Cardinal to the final.

"I told the guys, I'm going to save one,'' Fenlason said. "You guys put yours away. That's the game of soccer. You have to put yours away."

The Zips, the highest scoring team in tournament play in the field, did not even attempt a shot in the scoreless opening period. Didn't even come close. It marked the first time this season the Zips failed to even get one boot toward the goal in the opening session.

The previous low was one, Oct. 24th at Western Michigan which ended a 1-1 tie in double-overtime. The six shots in regulation play were also a season low for the Zips, after recording just seven in that game at WMU. Stanford did not do much better. And of the three shots they did get, Fenlason swallowed two them.

The rest of Akron's defense effectively contained wunderkind Jordan Morris, Stanford's striker and Hermann Trophy semifinalist who has split much of the season playing for the Cardinal, the US National Team and the Olympic Qualifying team.

Akron finally got a few attempts in the second half, but nothing serious. Same for Stanford, until 22 minutes were left in regulation when Morris had a clear kick at Akron's net. But his attempt was high as the match remained scoreless.

With 10:34 left to play in the period, Akron had its best look of the game to that point, front of the net inside the arc by Richie Laryea, but his kick was high as well. Neither team got another good look before the final regulation horn. Both teams had good looks in the first overtime, but keepers on both sides passed the test.

The second overtime had no real scoring attempts, leaving the outcome to penalty kicks and goalies Fenlason and Stanford's Epstein.

The Zips suffered a big loss on Wednesday, and tried to keep it quiet and away from Stanford. Robby Dambrot, a redshirt sophomore, suffered a torn meniscus during practice. Dambrot, the son of Akron's men's basketball coach, will have surgery upon his return to Akron and will be out of action for five months.

In the opening match, Syracuse (16-5-4) and Clemson (17-2-4) were scoreless in regulation. The two ACC foes were playing for the third time this season with each winning on the other's home field. Clemson only had two shots on goal the entire match to seven for Syracuse, as the Orangemen kept Clemson goal keeper Andrew Tarbell busy.

But Tarbell was flawless in defense, sending the first semifinal to overtime. It remained scoreless through the first 10 minute OT, then the second as well as the match was essentially played between the boxes as neither team could find a crack in the other's defense.

Once it went to penalty kicks, Tarbell instantly put the pressure on Syracuse as he blocked the first kick.

When Syracuse then missed high of the net on the third kick, Clemson aced its fourth straight for a 4-1 penalty kick victory sending the Tigers to the College Cup title, 2 p.m. Sunday against Stanford while Syracuse went home.

"We had our chances,'' Syracuse coach Ian McIntyre said. "On another night we get a goal, maybe two."

Then again, maybe not. "We have the best goal keeper in the country,'' Clemson coach Mike Noonan said. "He showed it tonight."