The University of Akron Athletics
No. 2 Men's Soccer Heads West for Nike Classic
September 11 | Men's Soccer
Nike Classic • Friday, Sept. 12 • 9 p.m. (EST)
UNM Soccer Complex (5,000)
Albuquerque, N.M.
Media: Gametracker • GoLobos.com
Game #6: No. 2 Akron Zips (3-0-1) vs. Missouri State (0-3-1)
Nike Classic • Sunday, Sept. 14 • 2:30 p.m. (EST)
UNM Soccer Complex (5,000)
Albuquerque, N.M.
Media: Gametracker • GoLobos.com
No. 2 Zips Travel to New Mexico for Nike Classic
The second-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team will
look to remain undefeated when it heads to the Nike Classic in
Albuquerque, N.M. this weekend. The Zips (3-0-1) will face host New
Mexico (2-1-1) Friday night at 9 p.m. (EST) and Missouri State
(0-3-1) Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Akron Ranked No. 2 In Latest Poll
After winning its second tournament in as many weeks, the
University of Akron men's soccer team jumped three spots to No. 2
in the nation according to the latest NSCAA/adidas poll, released
Tuesday morning.
It is the highest designation for the program since owning the top
slot for four weeks during the 2005 campaign.
The Zips defeated a pair of Big East schools last weekend in
winning the University of Akron Tournament at Lee Jackson Field. UA
recorded its third straight shutout in a 1-0 defeat of preseason
No. 15 West Virginia Friday before a pair of first-half goals
rallied Akron to a 2-1 decision over previously undefeated
Cincinnati in the title game Sunday.
As it currently stands, the Zips trail just Wake Forest (4-0-0),
the 2007 national champions, in the poll. Creighton (3-0-0), SMU
(3-0-1) and Notre Dame (3-1-0), whom the Zips defeated 3-0 in the
season opener, round out the top five.
Hermann Trophy Candidate Zakuani Hauls In Hardware
It has been a big week for sophomore Steve
Zakuani (pronounced zah-KOO-ah-nee), to say the least. After
claiming Offensive MVP honors for the University of Akron
Tournament Sunday, the Hermann Trophy candidate padded his resume
with four more individual awards early this week.
On Monday, Zakuani was named Mid-American Conference Player of the
Week for the second straight time in addition to being named to the
National Team of the Week for College Soccer News, Top Drawer
Soccer and Soccer America.
The 2007 MAC Newcomer of the Year recorded a pair of game-winners
and added an assist as the Zips shut out West Virginia ,1-0, and
edged Cincinnati, 2-1, to win the University of Akron Tournament
this weekend.
Zakuani accounted for the game's only score against the
Mountaineers, an NCAA Sweet 16 finalist a year ago, last Friday.
The speedy forward took a pass from Ben
Zemanski, crossed to midfield and fired true on a line drive
into the back left corner of the net from about 20 yards out.
Then, in the tournament title match against the Bearcats Sunday,
Zakuani assisted a goal that pulled the Zips even before knocking
home the go-ahead score on a breakaway before the half. For his
efforts, the native of London, England was named to the
all-tournament team in addition to Offensive MVP honors.
Zakuani has been named MAC Player of the Week in each of the past
two weeks and three times for his career overall. The second-year
star was a College Soccer News All-Freshman Team honoree
and the MAC's Newcomer of the Year last season. He is one of 48
players to have been named to the Hermann Trophy Award Watch List
in 2008.
Hot Start Fuels Zips
Akron recorded a pair of wins last weekend to remain
undefeated after its first four games of 2008. The hot streak
represents UA's best start to a season under third-year head coach
Caleb Porter. It is also the Zips' best start
overall since winning 11 straight games to open the 2005 campaign.
The '05 squad didn't lose a game until the final contest of the
regular season and finished 18-1-4 overall while advancing all the
way to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Speaking of Hot Starts
Zakuani has recorded three goals in the first four games
in 2008 after recording six in 21 as a freshman. Furthermore, the
forward played a factor in all three of the Zips' scores last
weekend with the two game-winners and an assist.
Of his seven shots on goal this season, three have reached the back
of the net.
Zips Defense Continues to Shut Down Opponents
The Zips posted their third straight shutout of the year
last Friday in a 1-0 decision over West Virginia and have allowed
just one goal in 380 minutes all season. The combination of a young
backline crew and a veteran goalkeeper has more than handled its
own against some of the nation's elite teams thus far.
In fact, with the starting defensive unit comprised of freshmen Kofi
Sarkodie, the Defensive MVP of the University of Akron
Tournament, Matt Dagilis and Aaron
Henkle, and sophomore Chris
Korb along side with the school's all-time wins and shutouts
leader in senior goalkeeper Evan
Bush, the Zips are ranked ninth in the nation with a
goals-against-average of 0.24.
Moreover, the defensive unit has been exceptionally good at
limiting scoring opportunities. This was evident this past weekend
when the group limited the Mountaineers to just three shot attempts
and then held the Bearcats to five.
True Student-Athletes
Adhering to the true sense of the student-athlete title,
the Zips soccer program boasts 10 performers who own a cumulative
GPA 3.0 or better heading into the season, including seven of 11
projected starters. Overall, they have posted a cumulative team GPA
of 3.108. Redshirt freshman defender Matt
Dagilis leads the pack with a 3.75 GPA while majoring in
international business.
Not Much History
This weekend's games will mark just the second meeting
all-time between Akron and New Mexico and the first ever meeting
between the Zips and Missouri State. UA has fielded a Division I
men's soccer program since the 1955 season.
The Zips defeated then-ranked No. 10 New Mexico, 3-1, in the season
opener for both teams a year ago at Lee Jackson Field in the teams'
only other meeting.
UA used two second-half goals to break away from a 1-1 tie at the
intermission against the Lobos last fall. Anthony
Ampaipitakwong netted the game-winner in the 67th minute off a
pass from Matt Tutich before Stefan
Ostergren put the game away with a score in the 75th
minute.
Akron vs. New Mexico
• Akron leads the all-time series with New Mexico,
1-0-0 (1.000) and will be facing the Lobos for the first time on
the road.
• UNM represents the Zips' only regular-season opponent from
the Mountain West Conference this year.
• New Mexico (2-1-1) received votes for the NSCAA/adidas Top
25 for the second straight week after defeating Michigan State and
losing to Louisville, 2-1, in double overtime last weekend. They
are ranked 23rd by College Soccer News and 17th by Top Drawer
Soccer.
• The Lobos burst on to the national scene in 2005 when their
postseason run took them all the way to the national championship
game. UNM was defeated, 1-0, by Maryland for the title.
Akron vs. Missouri State
• Akron will face Missouri State for the first time
Sunday. The Bears are the only opponent from the Missouri Valley
Conference on the Zips' regular-season schedule this year.
• Missouri State was picked to finish sixth in the Valley this
season with a young roster featuring 13 freshmen.
• The Bears were 6-10-4 last a year ago.
Akron Players Plentiful on Akron All-Tournament Team
Four Akron players were named to the University of Akron
all-tournament team this weekend. In addition to Zakuani, who was
also the tournament's Offensive MVP, the list included senior Evan Bush, red-shirt freshman Matt Dagilis and true freshman Kofi Sarkodie, who was also named the
tournament's Defensive MVP.
Also, freshman forward Darlington Nagbe claimed the Sportsmanship Award,
which was voted on by tournament referees.
Did You know?
• While Akron boasts the best winning percentage in
the nation from 2005-07, the Lobos have posted the best winning
percentage from 2004-07 with an overall record of 63-13-12
(.784).
• Senior goalkeeper Evan Bush has recorded 38 shutouts during
his distinguished career. The total is tops in school history and
five shy of breaking Scott Vallow's (Bowling Green, 1995-98) league
record of 42.
• Bush is ranked 14th in the country with a GAA of .237 and
19th in the nation with a save percentage of .909.
• The Zips are one of just 11 teams in the nation to have
allowed one or fewer goals through the first four games of the
season.
• Zakuani leads the Mid-American Conference in shots (18),
shots per game (4.50), points (8), points per game (2.00) and goals
(3).
• It was a big weekend for the Notre Dame soccer program, and
indirectly for the Zips as well with regards to national standing.
The Fighting Irish defeated No. 25 Dartmouth, 2-1, last Friday
before exploding for five goals in a shutout of No. 14 South
Florida Sunday. Akron defeated Notre Dame, 3-0, in the first game
of the season.
• Akron's back-to-back shutouts versus Notre Dame and Indiana
to start the season marked just the second time in school history
the program has recorded consecutive shutouts against ranked
opponents. The Zips held No. 11 Indiana (1-0, OT), No. 18 Notre
Dame (0-0, 2OT) and No. 13 Penn State (1-0) scoreless in three
straight games during the 2003 campaign.
