The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer To Host Cleveland State in Exhibition Saturday
April 13 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer team will welcome a familiar foe to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field Saturday when Cleveland State makes the short trip down for a spring exhibition.
The Zips and Vikings will kick off at 7:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission.
Akron opened the spring with a pair of 2-1 victories on its home field over Pittsburgh and Colgate last weekend. The Zips were paced by Eric Stevenson, who found the net three times in the two exhibitions, and Scott Caldwell, who assisted both UA scores against the Raiders.
UA earned a 5-0 victory over Cleveland State in last season's season opener to set the NCAA record for the longest home unbeaten streak, which was extended to 40 games that day. To get a similar result Saturday, the Zips will have to do so short handed however, as starters Wil Trapp and Bryan Gallego will not be available because of their responsibilities with the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team.
Following Saturday's match, Akron will head to Xavier (Sat., Apr. 21) for its lone road contest before returning home home to play Wright State (Sat., Apr. 28) in its spring finale.
Despite losing seven starters from its 2010 NCAA National Championship squad to the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, the 2011 Zips defied the odds by capturing their seventh consecutive Mid-American Conference regular season championship and advancing all the way to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
Following the season, sophomore striker Darren Mattocks, who finished second in the country with 21 goals as a first team All-American, was selected with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. The Zips will return eight of 11 starters this season and announced the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation in February.
2012 UA Spring Schedule
Fri., Apr. 6 vs. Pittsburgh, FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 7 vs. Colgate, FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 14 vs. Cleveland State, FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 21 at Xavier, Xavier University Soccer Complex, 7 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 28 vs. Wright State, FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field, 7 p.m.
