Courtesy: Jeff Harwell-Zips Sports Photography Senior Matt Tutich recorded his third game winner Wednesday.

AKRON, Ohio – A header from Matt Tutich off a restart with five seconds left in the second overtime period lifted the fifth-seeded University of Akron men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday afternoon.

The Zips (17-1-4) will advance to face Northwestern (14-4-3), which defeated 12th-seeded Notre Dame (12-7-2) in its second-round match-up, Sunday.

Wednesday’s game, which was originally scheduled to be played Tuesday night at Lee Jackson Field, was played at Green State Stadium at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School due to unplayable field conditions. After Wednesday’s game, the NCAA committee ruled that Akron’s home game against the Wildcats will be played at Northwestern Sunday at 2 p.m. (EST).

An Ohio State foul with approximately 20 ticks on the clock set up the game-winner for Tutich, which was his third on the year. Ben Zemanski lofted a perfectly-placed ball into the box where Tutich redirected it into the left-hand corner past OSU goalkeeper Drew Czekanski for his sixth goal.

“This team has proven all year long that it has a special quality of finding a way to win,” said UA head coach Caleb Porter. “In that second overtime period, we just looked like we were going to win. We were clearly the aggressor.”

With the victory, the Zips advanced to their fourth Sweet Sixteen in program history, after having accomplished the feat in 2005, 2003 and 1986. They are one win shy of matching the school record of 18, set in 2005, and one shutout short of matching the mark of 15, also set in 2005.

Akron was on the attack for nearly the entire game, out-shooting Ohio State, 20-9, overall and 7-3 on goal. UA owned shot advantages of 8-3 in each of the first two halves of play, but couldn’t cash in as the Zips found themselves in their third straight overtime contest in an elimination game.

But, as in each of the last two games, Akron kept fighting and found a way to advance.

“Ohio State is a very gritty and experienced team and I have to give them a lot of credit,” Porter said. “But, in the end, I thought the best team won today.”

Zips Notebook: Akron is undefeated in its last 17 contests ... UA leads the all-time series with Ohio State, 23-6-2, dating back to the 1955 season ... Akron defeated OSU, 4-3, in Columbus earlier this season.