The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer Ready to Face Wildcats Sunday at 2 p.m.
November 29 | Men's Soccer
NCAA Tournament - Third Round
No. 5 seed Akron (17-1-4) at Northwestern (14-4-3)
Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 • 2 p.m. • Lakeside
Field • Evanston, Ill.
Media: Gametracker • GoZips.com
Fifth-Seeded Zips To Face Northwestern in Third Round of
NCAA Tournament Sunday
Fresh off its third straight overtime victory, the fifth-seeded
University of Akron men's soccer team will look to advance to the
NCAA quarterfinals for just the third time in school history when
it meets Northwestern Sunday at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill. at
2 p.m. (EST).
How We Got Here
After being awarded a first-round bye and two home games
as the nation's No. 5 seed, the Zips defeated Ohio State, 1-0, in
double overtime last Wednesday to advance to the field of 16.
The second-round game was originally scheduled to be played at Lee
Jackson Field Tuesday night. However, when an abundance of
precipitation, mixed in with harsh winter weather conditions, made
the Zips' home surface unplayable, the match was postponed and the
site was moved to the field turf stadium at nearby St. Vincent-St.
Mary High School.
To complicate matters, following the Zips' victory the NCAA Men's
Soccer Committee ruled that Akron would travel to unseeded
Northwestern for its third-round match-up despite its status as the
higher seed. The decision was based on the possibility that the
surface of Lee Jackson Field would not be playable.
Late Game Dramatics Becoming Common Place for UA
A header by Matt Tutich with five seconds remaining in
the second overtime period lifted the Zips past Ohio State
Wednesday. The game-winner came from about six yards out and off a
free kick from Ben Zemanski. It was the second time in 20 days
that Akron defeated Ohio State in the closing minutes of the game.
UA received a score from Blair Gavin in the 86th minute to rally
past the Buckeyes in a 4-3 barnburner in Columbus on Nov. 7.
But late game dramatics are becoming the norm for Akron, which has
recorded winning or game tying goals in the final 10 minutes six
times this season. Moreover, it is the second consecutive game UA
has won in the closing minutes as Steve
Zakuani found the net in the 104th minute to defeat Northern
Illinois in the MAC Tournament title game on Nov. 16.
The Zips also used late-game heroics just to qualify for the MAC
championship game as Chris Korb recorded the first goal of his
career in the 86th minute to tie the MAC semifinal contest at 1-all
before Akron advanced 3-0 on penalty kicks over Hartwick.
Akron in the NCAA Tournament
By defeating Ohio State Wednesday, the Zips advanced to
the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in school history and the third
time in the last five years. UA also accomplished that feat in
2005, 2003 and 1986. The Zips, who are completing in their 23rd
NCAA Tournament, have advanced to the quarterfinals on two
occasions (‘05, ‘86) and went all the way to the national
title game in 1986, falling to Duke, 1-0. Overall, the Zips own an
all-time record of 10-22-2 (.324) in the NCAA Tournament since
making its first appearance in 1961.
Youth is Served
Akron, which is amidst one of the greatest seasons in
school history, is undefeated in its last 17 games and has recorded
the fourth-best winning percentage in the nation this season with a
17-1-4 mark (.867). On top of that, the Zips stand just one win shy
of matching the school's record of 18, set in 2005, and one shutout
short of matching the school's record of 15, also set in 2005. UA,
which enters Sunday's game with a goals-against-average of 0.43, is
also threatening to break the program's standard (0.50, 2005) in
that category.
While all that may be impressive by itself, it is important to note
that Akron has accomplished all this despite one of the youngest
starting lineups in the nation. In fact, the starting 11 for the
Zips the past three games features four freshman (two redshirt),
four sophomores, one junior and two seniors.
Furthermore, three-fourths of Akron's starting back line comprised
of defenders Aaron Henkle, Kofi
Sarkodie, Matt Dagilis and Chris
Korb had yet to appear in a college game prior to 2008. Only
Korb, who played in 18 games as a freshman at Xavier, entered the
year with any collegiate experience. Fifth-year senior and
four-time all-conference defender Ossie
Michalsen has also made 13 starts this season.
Opportunity Lost
As a result of the NCAA men's soccer committee's recent
ruling, Akron lost the advantage of playing at Lee Jackson Field
Sunday – a place where UA has experienced a great deal of
success the past few years. In fact, the Zips have been defeated
just twice in 47 games at Lee Jackson Field since 2005, posting an
outstanding record of 41-2-4 (.915). The two losses came at the
hands of then-ranked No. 20 Indiana (0-2 in 2006) and South Florida
(0-1, 2OT) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last
year.
During that stretch, the Zips have out-scored their opponents,
117-19 and are allowing an average of just 0.40 goals per game.
Akron is 30-2-3 (.900) at Lee Jackson Field in two-plus seasons
under head coach Caleb Porter.
Akron Versus Northwestern
• Sunday's game will mark the second time Akron has
faced Northwestern and the first time the schools have squared off
in the postseason. UA defeated the Wildcats, 1-0, in Richmond, S.C.
during the 1989 campaign in its only meeting.
• The Zips are 3-0-2 versus schools from the Big Ten
Conference this season and 63-32-9 (.649) all-time. UA defeated
Ohio State twice (4-3, 1-0 2OT) and knocked off Michigan (1-0)
while playing Indiana (0-0 2OT) and Penn State (1-1 2OT) to
ties.
• Northwestern, which began the season 11-0-2, was ranked
second in the nation for much of the regular season in the coaches'
poll. The Wildcats advanced past Loyola-Chicago (0-0) on penalty
kicks in Evanston in the first round before rallying past Notre
Dame (2-1) in South Bend, Ind. last week.
Fast Facts
• Akron, which played Ohio State to a scoreless tie
in the first half Wednesday, has yet to trail at halftime this
season.
• The Zips are 16-0-1 when scoring first in games, 12-0-0 when
leading at halftime and 14-1-2 when they out-shoot their
opponents.
• While UA has never trailed at halftime, the Zips have
come-from-behind to defeat a pair of opponents in 2008. Akron
rallied to wins over Cincinnati (2-1) on Sept. 7 and at Ohio State
(4-3) on Nov. 7.
• Hermann Trophy candidate and Mid-American Conference Player
of the Year, Steve Zakuani was named MAC Player of the Week
six times this season, a league record.
• Junior Ben Zemanski leads the Zips with a career high 10
assists in 2008. Prior to this season, the midfielder had yet to
record a single assist.
