The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer Set To Open Spring Season Friday At Cleveland State
March 07 | Men's Soccer
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AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer team will play its first of five spring exhibition matches this Friday night at Cleveland State.
The Zips and Vikings will kick off at Krenzler Soccer Field, which has an air-supported dome, at 7:30 p.m. The game is open to the public and there is no charge for admission.
Horizon League champion CSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980 last fall where it was defeated by Michigan State in the first round. Akron picked up a 2-0 victory over Cleveland State during the exhibition season last spring in a match that was played at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
Following its match at CSU, Akron will have nearly a month off before playing in front of its home fans when two more postseason qualifiers – Kentucky and Xavier – come to town on April 6th and 13th, respectively. UA will kick off against the Wildcats at 5 p.m. and the Musketeers at Noon. Both matches will be open to the public and free of charge.
The Zips will close out their spring schedule on the road at Butler (Apr. 21) and Maryland (Apr. 27). Game times are scheduled for 3 p.m. against the Bulldogs and 2:30 p.m. at the College Cup-qualifying Terrapins.
Akron, which swept the Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament titles for the fifth time in six years in 2012, claimed the nation's No. 1-ranking in the final poll of the regular season and advanced to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.
UA will return nine letterwinners and five starters this fall, including leading goal scorer Reinaldo Brenes and center back Bryan Gallego. It will mark the first season at the helm for Jared Embick, who served the previous six years as an assistant on the Zips' staff.
2013 Spring Schedule
Fri., March 8, at Cleveland State, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., April 6, vs. Kentucky, 5 p.m.
Sat., April 13, vs. Xavier, Noon
Sun., April 21, at Butler, 3 p.m.
Sat., April 27, at Maryland, 2:30 p.m.
