The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer Match Versus West Virginia To Be Featured On NSCAATV
July 22 | Men's Soccer
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2014 Zips Schedule | Buy Tickets | NSCAA Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – A home match between The University of Akron men's soccer team and Mid-American Conference member West Virginia on Fri., Oct. 17 has been selected to air on NSCAATV.com, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced Tuesday.
It will represent the fifth consecutive season the Zips have been selected for the organization's national broadcast package, joining just UC Santa Barbara as the only other Division I school in that prestigious category. Akron and West Virginia will kick off at 7 p.m. ET at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
In all, the NSCAA's preliminary broadcast schedule for 2014 includes 15 matches, featuring five Top 25 men's teams from last year's final NSCAA/Continental Tire rankings and four Top 25 women's programs.
"We created NSCAATV a year ago with a focus on being an attractive and entertaining outlet for college soccer fans and coaches to watchoa live games from all over the country," NSCAA CEO Joe Cummings said. "Last year, we broadcast more than 40 college soccer games, as well as 20 College Soccer Specials. This fall, we will do more than 80 broadcasts covering all levels of soccer, from the college, high school and youth game. Additionally, we continue to provide coverage of the professional game, by hosting live stream broadcasts of NWSL and USL Pro games."
Men's soccer season and single-game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online anytime at ZipsTickets.com, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays by either calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets).
The Zips posted a 1-0 victory over Ohio State in front of 3,328 rowdy fans at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field in last year's NSCAATV match-up of in-state adversaries and own an all-time record of 2-0-2 in NSCAA-produced contests overall. Moreover, Zips fans have been a large part of the match day atmosphere in those games with an average of 3,851 spectators to see Akron post wins over OSU and Tulsa (4-0 in 2010), and play St. John's (0-0, 2012) and New Mexico (1-1, 2011) to draws.
Despite the loss of 14 players to the professional ranks – including nine underclassmen – over the previous three seasons, first-year Zips head coach Jared Embick enjoyed an impressive inaugural campaign in 2013. With an opening day lineup that featured five first-year starters, Embick guided UA to a sweep of MAC regular season and tournament titles, a No. 7 national ranking in the NSCAA's final regular season poll, and an overall record of 17-4-1 (.795), which represented the seventh-highest winning percentage in the country.
Moreover, Akron took a 10-match unbeaten streak (9-0-1) into the NCAA Tournament where it defeated defending national champion Indiana, 3-2, in the first round of play. Further establishing its standing as an elite program, the Zips, who own the highest winning percentage in the country since 2006 (.828), became one of just eight Division I programs to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past seven seasons.
The 2014 campaign will represent the 60th year of the men's soccer program at Akron. The Zips will honor its storied past with a special celebration to be held during The University of Akron Tournament weekend from Sept. 12-14. More details will be posted to GoZips.com at a later time.
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America debuted NSCAATV.com in July of 2013, thrusting the association into the evolving world of television and digital technology. The online channel started with original programming, live streams, and other content promoting the beautiful game.
Dean Linke will return for his seventh season as the play-by-play voice of the NSCAA College Soccer Special presented by Continental Tire. He will again be joined in the booth for the majority of the men's Division I games by former Georgetown head coach Keith Tabatznik.
