The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer Travels to Northern Illinois for MAC Match on Saturday
October 31 | Men's Soccer
GAMENOTES IN PDF
Match #16: Akron (9-5-1, 2-1-0) at Northern Illinois (3-7-5, 0-2-1)
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 • 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT
NIU Soccer & Track & Field Complex • DeKalb, Ill.
Webstream • Live Stats
THIS WEEK
Akron hits the road for two games. First the Zips open November play at Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT).
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Jared Embick, the Zips stand 9-5-1 overall and 2-1 in MAC play after a 5-0 win over Cleveland State on Oct. 28.
After 15 matches, sophomore MF Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) is the Zips' leading scorer with nine goals, two assists, and 20 points. Freshman F Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) follows with four goals, four assists, and 12 points. In goal, junior Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) has started all 15 games and has a 0.78 goals-against average. He has six shutouts, 58 saves in 1,390 minutes of action.
The NIU Huskies, under the tutelage of sixth-year head coach Eric Luzzi, stand 3-7-5 overall and 0-2-1 after a 2-1 loss at Buffalo on Oct. 25.
After 15 matches, senior MF Isaac Kannah is the team leader with four goals, four assists, and 12 points. Sophomore F Chris Paton follows with three goals, two assists, and eight points. Redshirt junior GK Andrew Glaeser has 21 saves and a 1.39 GAA in 14 games.
AKRON-NIU: THE SERIES
Saturday night's game is the 22nd meeting between Akron and Northern Illinois in series history (since 1990). The Zips lead, 17-3-1.
Last fall, the No. 18 Zips won with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Northern Illinois at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
After being honored as one of five Zips' seniors in a pre-game ceremony, Robbie Derschang made his Senior Night even more memorable with the game-winning goal in the 76th minute. It was his first goal of the season.
LAST GAME: AKRON 5, CLEVELAND STATE 0
Akron men's soccer picked up its sixth shutout of the season with a 5-0 victory over Cleveland State in non-conference play on Oct. 28 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The five goals were the most scored by the Zips this season.
In the sixth minute, senior forward Saad Abdul-Salaam (Gahanna, Ohio) fed the ball to sophomore midfielder Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) who found the back of the net to put the Zips on the board first.
In the 10th minute, Najem launched Akron's first corner kick to freshman forward Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) who ripped it to CSU goalkeeper Aleksander Drobac for the save.
In the 18th minute, Najem drilled his second goal into the left side of the net off of a free kick. The Zips led, 2-0.
In the 41st minute, Najem netted the first hat trick of his career, assisted by Abdul-Salaam and Holthusen.
The Zips' school record for goals in a game by a single player is seven by Pete Milich in the 9-4 win over Frostburg State on Nov. 3, 1962. The last Zip to score a hat trick was Reinaldo Brenes in the 4-0 win over Buffalo on Sept. 29, 2012.
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 Penn State on Tuesday, Nov. 4 for a 7 p.m. game.
