The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Soccer Releases 2011 Fall Schedule
April 14 | Women's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio - Two trips to the state of Florida and home matches against Michigan State and five Mid-American Conference foes at Cub Cadet Field, formely Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field, highlight the 2011 University of Akron women's soccer schedule, fourth-year head coach Chris Pfau announced Thursday. The Zips will also play three sides that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season.
"Once again we have put together a schedule that will prepare us physically and mentally for our conference matches," said Pfau. "Along with our two trips to Florida, we want to challenge our players against some of the best programs in the country."
Akron begins the season with the first of two Big Ten opponents when it travel to Michigan on Aug. 19. The Wolverines were an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament in 2010. The match will also be the first ever meeting between the two sides.
The Zips will then make the first of two trips to the state of Florida when they head south to take on Florida International for the first time in program history on Aug. 27.
Akron will get its first chance to test the pitch at Cub Cadet Field the following weekend hosting Michigan State on Sept. 4. UA and MSU have met two previous times, with the Spartans taking both matches.
"We are very excited about bringing a Big Ten opponent, Michigan State, to our new stadium," said Pfau.
Participation in a tournament at the University of South Florida will comprise the squad's second Florida trip. Akron will take on the host Bulls - who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season - on Sept. 9 and Florida Atlantic two days later (Sept. 11). Akron's final non-conference test will be a home match with Eastern Illinois on Sept. 17.
The conference slate gets underway on Sept. 23 with a home match against 2010 MAC tournament champion Central Michigan. Eastern Michigan will visit Cub Cadet Field on Sept. 25.
The Zips continue MAC West play by hitting the road for four-straight matches beginning with tests at Northern Illinois (Sept. 30) and Western Michigan (Oct. 2). The following weekend Akron travels to Ball State (Oct. 7) and 2010 MAC regular-season champion Toledo (Oct. 9).
Home matches with Bowling Green (Oct. 14) and Miami (Oct. 16) open Akron's MAC East schedule. The Zips then travel to rival Kent State on Oct. 21 and Buffalo on Oct. 23. The regular-season finale sees Akron taking on Ohio at Cub Cadet Field on Oct. 28. Akron went 4-0-1 against the MAC East last season and is 9-0-1 against East Division opponents during the last two seasons.
The 2011 MAC Tournament begins with quarterfinal action at campus sites on Oct. 30. The semifinals and finals are slated for Nov. 4 and 6 at the campus of the highest remaining seed.
Recently announced was a partnership between The University of Akron and Cub Cadet, the premier brand of Cleveland-based MTD Products, which will rename the Zips' new, state-of-the-art grass soccer field Cub Cadet Field.
Formerly known as Lee R. Jackson Field, the new soccer field and complex underwent a complete and remarkable transformation during 2010 to effectively establish it as a premier example of a model natural grass playing field. Renovations were significant and included installing a new field base, drainage and irrigation system, special natural grass surface, grandstands, stadium seating, and an advanced lighting system to accommodate requirements for national media and television coverage.
Women's soccer season tickets (all general admission) are on sale now for $40. Tickets can be purchased through the Akron Athletics Ticket Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays by either calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting the ticket window at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets).
