The University of Akron Athletics
Akron opens NCAA Championship play at Ohio State on Thursday
November 17 | Men's Soccer
Follow Akron Men's Soccer on Twitter and Facebook
NCAA Interactive Championship Bracket | Akron Selection Show Highlights | NCAA Selection Show
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron men's soccer team learned its draw for the 2014 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Monday, Nov. 17, as the Zips (13-6-1) will travel to Ohio State (9-7-4) on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the opening round of the 48-team field. Game time at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, is set for 5 p.m.
Winner of the Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament titles, Akron will be making its eighth consecutive and 29th overall tournament appearance when it squares off against the Buckeyes. The winner will advance to face No. 1 seed Notre Dame (11-4-4) on the road Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.
When postseason play begins, the Zips will join an elite group of just six Division I programs that have qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of the past eight seasons. Only Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, UCLA, and Virginia can share that claim.
Also seeded in the Zips' region are No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 8 Georgetown (12-4-2), No. 9 Syracuse (15-3-1), and No. 16 Virginia (10-6-2). The remaining top-four seeds went to No. 2 UCLA (11-4-4), No. 3 Michigan State (11-4-5) and No. 4 Maryland (13-5-3).
The 2014 College Cup will be played at Wakemed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., on Dec. 12 and 14.
The Zips, who have won three-consecutive matches and eight of 10 overall, will be making their 29th all-time appearance in the NCAA postseason. Akron has advanced to the round of 16 in five of the last six seasons and captured the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010.
A year ago, Akron defeated Indiana in the first round at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field, 3-2, before being eliminated by Marquette in overtime, 1-0, in the second round.
Ohio State, which went 5-3 in the Big Ten during the regular season, earned an at-large selection after advancing to the semifinals of the Big Ten Championship. The Buckeyes defeated Michigan, 1-0, before dropping a 2-1 decision versus Indiana.
Earlier this season, the Zips registered a 3-1 triumph at Ohio State on Sept. 24.
Admission for the first-round match at Ohio State will be $5 for students/children and $8 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance of Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
