The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Earn Fifth-Seed for NCAA Championship
November 17 | Men's Soccer
Fresh off winning its second consecutive Mid-American Conference
regular-season and tournament titles, the Akron men's soccer team
was awarded a school-best fifth seed to the 2008 NCAA Championships
and will have a first round bye in the 48-team field.
The Zips will host a second round match at Lee Jackson Field on
Nov. 25 (Tuesday) at 7:30 pm versus the winner of this weekend's
Ohio State-Oakland contest. Akron defeated Oakland, 2-1, at Lee
Jackson Field on Oct. 8 earlier this season, while handing Ohio
State a 4-3 setback in the teams' 2008 regular-season finale Nov. 7
in Columbus.
Akron (16-1-4) earned a national seed for the fourth time in the
program's history. The Zips were nation's #15 seed in 2003, the #9
national seed in 2005 and the #14 seed last season. The Zips, who
have been ranked in the top 10 by the NSCAA in every week of the
regular season and in the top 5 on eight occasions, will be playing
in their 24th NCAA postseason, dating back to 1961.
"I am very excited," said UA head coach and two-time MAC Coach of
the Year Caleb Porter. "To get a seed this high proves
this program is a legitimate national contender. We used the
regular season to put ourselves in the best possible position to
win a national championship. I have the utmost confidence in our
team and players. I think we can go toe-to-toe with anyone.
"We also know every match will be tough," Porter added. "We have
faced a lot of teams on our side of the bracket. Whomever we play,
it will be a tough match. Right now, we are just looking towards
our next game."
The Zips, who had an RPI of fifth prior to the MAC Tournament, were
able to earn the national seed thanks to a strong strength of
schedule, and playing most of those tough opponents on the road.
Other than Oakland and Ohio State, Akron faced several teams in the
2008 NCAA field, including Notre Dame (Zips won 3-0), Indiana (Zips
tied 0-0) and Michigan (Zips won 1-0).
Akron, featuring Hermann Trophy candidate Steve
Zakuani, is third in the nation in scoring offense (2.25 ppg),
third nationally in goals against average (0.43 avg.) and third
nationally in shutout percentage (0.65), while ranking fourth
nationally in win-loss percentage (0.875).
Zakuani leads the nation in goals scored (20), points per game
(2.35) and goals per game (1.0). Matt
Tutich and Ben Zemanski are each tied for 22nd in the NCAA
in assists, averaging 0.45 per match. Senior Evan Bush
ranks fourth in the NCAA in goals against average (0.438 per match)
and ranks 19th in the NCAA in saves percentage (0.847).
Akron ended the regular season winning its 11th MAC Championship.
With its two wins en route to the MAC Tournament title, the Zips
currently have 16 wins, its fourth-best win total all-time. Akron
is 10-20-2 all-time in the NCAA postseason, reaching the
championship match in 1986 (falling to Duke, 1-0) and the NCAA
quarterfinals in 2005.
In 2005, Akron tied top-seed and eventual national champion
Maryland, 1-1, in College Park. But the Terrapins would advance to
the College Cup semifinal with a 4-1 decision over the Zips in
penalty kicks.
Please check back to GoZips.com for ticket prices and more
information on the Zips' Nov. 25 match.
This year's College Cup is slated for Dec. 12-14 at Pizza Hut Park,
the home of FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, in Dallas suburb of
Frisco, Texas. Hosted by Southern Methodist University, the
semifinals are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 12 with the championship
game on tap for Sunday, Dec. 14.
More information can be found on the championship site, Click HERE:
First Rounds (16): November 21 or 22, 2008: On campus sites TBD
Second Rounds (16): November 25, 2008: On campus sites TBD
Third Rounds (8): November 29 or 30, 2008: On campus sites TBD
Quarterfinals (4): December 5, 6 or 7, 2008: On campus sites
TBD
Men's College Cup: December 12 and 14, 2008: Frisco, Texas
Akron in the NCAA Championship
1961 – NCAA College Division Midwest Playoffs
at Saint Louis L, 2-7
1963 – NCAA College Division Midwest Playoffs
vs. Lake Forest W, 3-2
vs. Ohio Wesleyan L, 1-2
1964 - NCAA College Division Midwest Playoffs
vs. Denison W, 3-0
vs. Wheaton L, 1-3
1966 – NCAA Midwest Playoffs
vs. Michigan State L, 0-2
1967 – NCAA Playoffs
at Temple W, 1-0
vs. Michigan State L, 1-3
1968 – NCAA Midwest Playoffs
vs. Michigan State L, 0-1
1970 – NCAA Midwest Playoffs
at Saint Louis L, 0-7
1971 – NCAA Midwest Playoffs
vs. SIU-Edwardsville L, 0-2
1972 – NCAA Midwest Playoffs
vs. Missouri-Saint Louis W, 4-2 (Edwardsville, Ill.)
at SIU-Edwardsville L, 2-3
1975 – NCAA Midwest Playoffs
at Saint Louis L, 1-2
1976 – NCAA Midwest Playoffs
vs. Indiana L, 1-2
1983 - NCAA Playoffs
vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay W, 7-0
at Indiana L, 1-2 (OT)
1984 – NCAA Tournament
at Evansville L, 2-3 (OT)
1985 – NCAA Tournament
at Indiana L, 0-2
1986 – NCAA Tournament
at Evansville W, 2-1 (OT)
vs. Penn State W, 2-1 (OT)
at Fresno State W, 1-0
vs. Duke (NCAA Title Game) L, 0-1 (Tacoma, Wash.)
1998 - NCAA Tournament
at Indiana L, 2-3 (2OT)
2001 – NCAA Tournament
vs. South Florida L, 1-2 (State College, Pa.)
2002 – NCAA Tournament
at Notre Dame L, 1-3
2003 – NCAA Tournament - No. 15 Seed
vs. Rutgers W, 3-2
at Maryland L, 0-1
2004 – NCAA Tournament
at Michigan L, 1-2
2005 – NCAA Tournament - No. 9 Seed
vs. West Virginia W, 5-0
at Connecticut T, 3-3 (Akron w 4-3 in PK)
at Maryland T, 1-1 (Akron l 1-4 in PK)
2007 – NCAA Tournament – No. 14 Seed
vs. South Florida L, 0-1 (OT)
