The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer Hosts Cleveland State in Non-Conference Action on Tuesday Night
October 27 | Men's Soccer
GAMENOTES IN PDF
Match #15: Cleveland State (5-9) at Akron (8-5-1)
Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014 • 7 p.m. ET
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field • Akron, Ohio
WARF RADIO • Webstream • Live Stats
THIS WEEK
Akron returns home to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field to host Cleveland State in non-conference play on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. GoZips.com and WARF 1350 AM will carry the game live with Steve French (play-by-play) and David Suntup (analyst) calling the action.
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Jared Embick, the Zips stand 8-5-1 overall and 2-1 in MAC play after a 1-0 loss to Western Michigan on Oct. 25.
After 14 matches, sophomore MF Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) is the Zips' leading scorer with six goals, two assists, and 14 points. Freshman F Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) follows with four goals, three assists, and 11 points. In goal, junior Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) has started all 14 games and has a 0.83 goals-against average. He has 57 saves in 1,300 minutes of action.
The Cleveland State Vikings, under the tutelage of ninth-year head coach Ali Kazemaini, stand 5-9 overall after a 3-0 loss at Detroit on Oct. 25.
After 14 matches, freshman MF Alec Nagucki is the team leader with three goals, and six points. Junior F Alvaro Pichardo follows with two goals, an assist, and five points. Sophomore GK Nick Ciraldo has 50 saves and a 1.92 GAA in 13 games.
AKRON-CSU: THE SERIES
Tuesday night's game is the 52nd meeting between Akron and Cleveland State in series history (since 1955). The Zips lead, 37-11-3.
Last fall, Adam Najem scored a goal in each half to lead the No. 20 Zips to a 2-1 victory over Cleveland State at Krenzler Field On. Oct. 9.
It was a convincing bounce-back performance for the Zips, who out-shot the Vikings 11-6 and controlled the large majority of the match. Najem gave UA a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute, then found the back of the net again in the 70th to put the game away. It was the first two goals of his collegiate career.
With the win, Akron avoided dropping back-to-back games for the first time since 2007.
SMART COOKIES
Four Akron Zips have been nominated for the 2014 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team. To be eligible, student-athletes must have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.30 or better and be a starter or significant reserve. Representing the Zips are GK Jake Fenlason, MF Adam Najem, D Brad Ruhaak, and D Andrew Sounders. The district Academic teams will be announced on Oct. 30. District honorees are then forwarded to the national ballot. The Academic All-America Team will be announced on Nov. 25.
THE ROAD TO MAC CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS
Defending MAC champion Akron opened 2014 conference play at Bowling Green. Since 1998, the Zips have won 10 conference crowns [1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013], as well as 16 regular-season MAC titles. UA has made 28 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the College Cup three times [1986, 2009, 2010], and the national championship game twice [2009, 2010]. Akron won the 2010 national championship.
UP NEXT
Akron travels to Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 1 for an 8 p.m. ET contest.
