The University of Akron Athletics
No. 1 Men's Soccer Continues MAC Play at Buffalo
October 22 | Men's Soccer
The top-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team will play
their final road game of the regular season Friday night at Buffalo
starting at 7:30 p.m.
Game 15: No. 1/1 Akron (14-0-0, 4-0-0 MAC) at Buffalo
(5-8-0, 0-3-0 MAC)
Friday, Oct. 23 • 7:30 p.m. (EST) • UB
Stadium • Buffalo, N.Y.
Live Stats: www.ubathletics.com
Series Side Notes
• Akron leads the all-time series with the Bulls,
17-1-1, with its lone defeat coming during the 2000 campaign in a
2-1 decision at Buffalo.
• In all, UA is 5-1 all-time vs. UB in Buffalo while posting a
12-3 scoring margin.
• The Zips are undefeated in their last 12 meetings (11 wins,
one tie) with the Bulls and have won four straight, including last
year's 2-0 decision at Lee Jackson Field.
• UA has not allowed a goal to UB in its last three meetings,
dating back to 2007, and has allowed just one goal in its last six
matches, dating back to 2005.
Scouting the Bulls
Buffalo (5-8-0, 0-3-0 MAC) enters the week still looking
for its first league win after suffering a 4-3 defeat to Bowling
Green last weekend. Without a mid-week match, the Bulls will have
full week to prepare for the Zips but have defeated UA just once in
19 all-time meetings. In MAC play, UB also endured defeats to
Northern Illinois (0-1) and Hartwick (1-3).
As a team, Buffalo has been out-scored 24-18 on the year, including
a 10-6 deficit in the first half. On average, the Bulls are
allowing 1.80 goals per game as they lost All-MAC Second Team
honoree Bobby Shuttleworth to the professional ranks (New England
Revolution of the MLS). Veteran Nick Fetterman (nine starts) and
newcomer Ryan Lewis (four starts) have rotated between the pipes
with mixed results. Junior forward Mike Unwin leads the UB attack
with seven goals and one assist. Buffalo is ranked second in the
MAC with an average of 12.62 shots per game.
Last Year versus UB
The Zips controlled the game from start to finish in their
2-0 victory over Buffalo last year at Lee Jackson Field -
out-shooting the Bulls, 18-4, in a rematch of the 2007 MAC
Tournament final.
Steve Zakuani gave the Zips
all the offense they would need with his 15th goal of the season
coming in the 27th minute. The decisive score came from 12 yards
out and followed a cross from the right side of the box from senior
Matt Tutich. Tutich then put
the game away with his fifth goal of the year coming in the 73rd
minute off a deflection from the goal keeper.
Poll Position
For the fifth straight week, the Zips are the consensus
No. 1 team in the nation according to all five polls. UA owns the
top spot according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of
America (NSCAA), Soccer America, Top Drawer Soccer, College Soccer
News and the Soccer Times.
While all five polls are reputable, it is important to note that
the NCAA recognizes the NSCAA/adidas and Soccer America polls in
its final standings.
Zips Recap
Akron recorded one of its most impressive victories of the
season with a 5-1 rout at Michigan Tuesday afternoon. Darlington
Nagbe led the charge with the first hat trick of his young
career, scoring three goals while also adding an assist, as the
Zips improved on their best start in school history.
Nagbe assisted the first goal of the game then scored twice in less
than a minute as Akron took a 3-0 lead into halftime. The
midfielder then completed Akron's first hat trick of the year with
a goal in the 63rd minute to close out the scoring. Teal
Bunbury (31st minute) and Michael Nanchoff (52nd)
accounted for the Zips' other two scores. For the match, UA
out-shot the Wolverines, 22-8, and doubled their shots on goal,
8-4. It was the first time Akron had ever won at Michigan in four
attempts.
MAC Tournament Preview
The MAC Tournament is scheduled for Fri., Nov. 13 and
Sun., Nov. 15 and will once again be hosted by the No. 1 seed. This
year, however, just the top four teams in the league will qualify
as opposed to the format used last season when all six teams
participated. The two semifinal games will be held on that Friday
with the championship game being on the following Sunday.
Hosting honors have yet to be determined as both Akron and Hartwick
own perfect league records. UA (4-0) has two MAC games remaining
while Hartwick (3-0) has three. Coincidentally, UA and HC will face
off in the final regular-season match of the year at Lee Jackson
Field on Nov. 7 in a contest which very well could determine the
site of the MAC Tournament. Aside from its Nov. 7th game against
UA, Hartwick also plays at Bowling Green (2-8-2, 1-2-0) on Oct. 25
and at home versus Western Michigan (5-8-0, 2-1-0) on Oct. 31.
Nagbe Enjoys Career Day Vs. Michigan
Nagbe, who had one multiple-goal performance in his career
heading into play Tuesday, recorded the first hat trick of his
career against the Wolverines. It was Akron's first of the season
and first since Steve Zakuani, who did it
twice in 2008, accomplished the feat against Wright State last
season in an 8-0 victory.
Nagbe's seven points for the game was the most recorded by an Akron
player since Geir Nyheim matched that figure against Cleveland
State during the 2005 campaign.
Akron Sets Second Standard With Perfect Record
By defeating Virginia Tech on the road last week, the Zips
officially recorded the best start in program history with 12 wins
in 12 games, surpassing the previous mark of 11 set in 2005. Then,
by defeating Michigan Tuesday, UA set another school record by
winning 14 consecutive matches, breaking a 48-year standard set in
1961. UA won its last 10 games of the 1960 campaign before running
off three wins to start the season in 1961.
Tracking the Zips
Akron entered the week ranked No. 1 in the nation in
several major categories, including scoring offense (2.77
goals/game), team goals-against-average (0.15), shutout percentage
(0.85) and winning percentage (1.000). The Zips are also ranked
fourth in save percentage (0.905).
Akron has boasted the nation's No. 1-ranked offense and defense for
nearly three weeks now.
Zips Notebook
• Despite losing the nation's leading scorer from a
year ago in MLS No. 1 overall draft pick Steve Zakuani, the Zips
have actually improved their offensive attack in 2009. In fact,
Akron has already scored 41 goals through just 14 games this fall
after totalling 47 in 23 a year ago.
And this year's version has already proven to be much more diverse
with six players with three or more goals and seven different
players recording at least one game-winner. Last season, Zakuani
accounted for 42.5 percent (20 of 47) of UA's goals and recorded
seven of 17 game-winners.
• Sophomore Teal Bunbury continues to
score at an incredible pace. The athletic forward has recorded at
least one goal in seven of his last nine games for a total of 10
goals during that time. Two of those goals were game-winners as
Bunbury notched the decisive blow against Virginia Tech (Oct. 13)
and Florida Atlantic (Oct. 3). Bunbury is ranked ninth in the
nation for goals scored (0.79) and 11th in points (1.79).
• UA has allowed just three goals all season in 1,260:00 of
play in 2009. The Zips have also posted 11 shutouts this fall, just
four shy of matching the school record of 15 set in 2005.
• True freshman goalkeeper David Meves leads the nation
with a goals-against-average of 0.22 and is ranked fifth in save
percentage (0.880).
• UA has received goals from 10 different players in 2009 and
game-winning goals from seven different players. Of those 10
players, nine have found the net two or more times.
• The Zips have yet to allow a goal in the first half this
season, out-scoring opponents 22-0 before the intermission. In
fact, the last UA opponent to score in the first half was Oakland
(in a game eventually won by Akron, 2-1) on Oct. 8, 2008. Since
then, Akron has gone 26 games without allowing a goal in the
opening period.
• Along those lines, the last time the Zips trailed at the
intermission was against Ohio State on Sept. 26, 2007 in a game
that ended in a 1-1 tie. In fact, Akron has gone 50 games since it
trailed at half. The Zips are 40-0-0 when leading at the break
under fourth-year head coach Caleb Porter.
• The Zips are limiting foes to an average of 4.4 shots and
2.6 corner kicks per game.
• Akron has out-shot its opponents, 239-62, in 2009 including
a 127-23 margin in the first half.
• The Zips are 7-0 on the road and 2-0 at neutral sites this
season.
• UA has been the flagship program of the Mid-American
Conference since joining the league in 1993. During that time, the
Zips have captured 11 regular-season championships and six
tournament titles - the most by any member school in either
category - while posting an overall record of 76-10-6 (.859).
Since arriving on campus in 2006, head coach Caleb Porter has
elevated the Zips' dominance over its league members, posting a
18-1-1 (.925) record all-time versus the MAC while out-scoring
opponents 65-9, including postseason play. In fact, the Zips have
won their last 13 regular-season meetings versus MAC members and
have not lost a league contest since 2006 (0-1 at Northern
Illinois).
Porter's Zips have captured three league titles in as many years
and have won the past two tournament championships.
Zemanski Recognized for Efforts Both On and Off the
Field
University of Akron senior Ben Zemanski has been named
one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for men's
soccer.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in
School, the annual award focuses on the total student-athlete and
encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a
positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible, a
student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and
have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - classroom,
character, community and competition.
Nationwide balloting begins immediately to determine the winner.
Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce
the Senior CLASS Award winners during the 2009 NCAA Men's College
Cup championships in early December. Fans are encouraged to vote
once a day until the ballot period ends on Nov. 13. To vote for
Zemanski, visit http://www.seniorCLASSaward.com
Fans can also text M10 to 74567 to vote. These votes will be
combined with votes from coaches and media to determine the
recipient of the award.
Joining Zemanski on the list of finalists are Zak Boggs, from South
Florida; Ronnie Bouemboue, from N.C. State; Richard Edgar, from
George Mason; Rylan Hawkins, from Washington; Tennant McVea, from
Loyola University (Md.); Patrick Sampson, from Loyola Marymount;
Zack Schilawski, from Wake Forest; Eric Weigman, from IUPUI; and
Jason Yeisley, from Penn State.
Zemanski, a senior co-captain, has started every game this season
at midfield for the No. 1 Zips (9-0-0), who are the only team in
the nation with a perfect record. He has recorded two goals and one
assists thus far in 2009.
