The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Michigan State
Zips Look To Extend Win Streak Hosting Michigan State
October 20 | Men's Soccer
Follow Akron Men's Soccer on Twitter and Facebook
MATCH NOTES NO. 14 VS. MICHIGAN STATE (PDF)No. 5 Akron (10-2-1) vs. Michigan State (7-4-2)
Wednesday, Oct. 21
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Webstream: www.gozips.com
Radio: www.sportsradio1350.com
WHAT'S AHEAD
Another huge challenge awaits Akron this week as the Zips look to push their winning streak to seven welcoming Michigan State to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field for a non-conference showdown on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Game time against the Spartans is set for 7 p.m. The contest will also be carried live on the radio on Akron Fox Sports 1350-AM with Steve French providing the play-by-play.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
Michigan State (7-4-2) comes into play against Akron on Wednesday, Oct. 21, owning a 3-1-1 mark in its last five contests, including a 2-1 victory over Penn State on Sunday, Oct. 18. Freshman Ryan Sierakowski paces the Spartans with five goals, while adding three assists on 25 shots, including 10 on goal. Senior Jason Stacey directs Michigan State in assists (4), shots (30) and shots on goal (14) and has tallied two goals. Senior goalkeeper Zach Bennett owns 39 saves en route to registering a 0.82 goals against average and five shutouts. As a team, the Spartans are rated 30th, 32nd and 45th, respectively, in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.460), team goals against average (0.81) and save percentage (.792).
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday evening's game is the 40th meeting between Akron and Michigan State The Zips lead the all-time series, 25-12-2. A year ago, the Spartans edged Akron, 1-0, on Oct. 7, 2014, in East Lansing, Mich.
THE COACHES
Michigan State: Damon Rensing is in his seventh season as head coach of the Michigan State program, owning a 76-48-29 (.592) record.
Akron: In his third year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and ninth season overall, is Jared Embick, who has a 40-12-4 mark (.750), including 87-33-14 (.701) overall, in his seventh year as a head coach.
AKRON HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK
Jared Embick, who had previously served as the Zips' associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, officially became the seventh head coach in the history of The University of Akron men's soccer program in December of 2012.
The 2015 campaign marks his third year leading the Zips and the squad has registered a 40-12-4 (.750) ledger after going 13-6-2 a season ago.
During Embick's time at Akron, the Zips have posted the highest winning percentage in the nation with an overall record of 150-25-20 (.821), including a 46-2-1 (.949) mark in Mid-American Conference play, while securing seven conference tournament titles, eight trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in an NCAA final.
Akron entered the 2014 season seeking to reload the Zips' talented foundation with a young squad following the departure of six starters from a 2013 team that posted a 17-4-1 record and a No. 7 national ranking.
Recording their 14th consecutive double-digit victory campaign, the Zips finished the season with a 13-6-2 ledger, including 4-1-0 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Akron's efforts were rewarded as the Zips earned the MAC's regular season and tournament crowns en route to collecting a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the 29th time in program history.
The Zips became one of just six Division I programs to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past eight seasons with their 29th overall selection.
Led by Adam Najem, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Jake Fenlason and Andrew Souders, who were selected as first-team All-MAC men's soccer selections, seven Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades a year ago. Additionally, Stuart Holthusen, Richie Laryea and Victor Souto were recognized as second-team selections.
The Zips came into the campaign maintaining a No. 13 preseason ranking by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as well as being tabbed preseason No. 14, 15 and 23 by TopDrawerSoccer.com, College Soccer News and Soccer America, respectively.
Akron's opening night line-up featured seven players making their initial collegiate starts for the Zips, while six first-year players took to the field at No. 5 New Mexico.
Individually, Najem, who garnered first-team All-Great Lake Regional honors, ranked fourth, fifth, eighth, eighth and 24th in the NCAA in goals scored (14), total points (32), goals per game (0.67), points per match (1.52) and game-winning goals (4). Jake Fenlason was equally impressive in goal rating 27th, 32nd and 53rd nationally in goals against average (.785), save percentage (.811) and total saves (73).
In January, 2015, Abdul-Salaam became the 10th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection 12th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City.
Due in large part to Embick's recruiting efforts, Akron identified and secured some of the best prospects in the country – and around the world – with top-five recruiting classes in each of the past five seasons. The Zips' classes of 2012 and 2009 were ranked No. 1 in the country, while the classes of 2011 and 2010 each received a No. 2 designation.
More importantly, Akron's recruits have flourished in the Zips' system, which features a style of play that is attractive and attack-oriented, yet effective on both sides of the ball. In total, Embick recruited or helped develop 24 players who have gone on to play professionally either in MLS or overseas since 2007.
The success of this formula was no more evident than at the 2011 MLS SuperDraft where seven Zips had their names called, including five with the first eight selections overall, to set a pair of MLS records.
Embick has also served as a staff coach with the Under-16 and Under-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy's Cleveland Internationals club team for the past five years.
Prior to joining the Zips, Embick spent four seasons (2003-06) as the head men's soccer coach at Missouri Baptist University where he led the Spartans to a record of 47-21-8 and the program's first NAIA regional tournament berth in 2003. In all, Embick spent six seasons at MBU, including two seasons as a graduate assistant (2000-01) and one season as an assistant coach (2002).
During his time at Missouri Baptist, Embick also served as assistant coach for River Cities FC of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) whom he helped lead to a 13-2-1 record in its inaugural season and an appearance in the WPSL national final.
A 2000 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan, Embick was named an All-American by the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in 1998 and 1999 as a player. He was also an NAIA honorable mention All-America honoree in 1999 and was twice named to the All-Mid-Central Conference squad.
LARYEA' HAT TRICK PROPELS AKRON TO 4-0 WIN OVER NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The first career hat trick for sophomore Richie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario (Canada)) lifted sixth-ranked Akron to a convincing 4-0 men's soccer triumph over Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 17, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The three-goal explosion for Laryea helped the Zips extend their winning streak to six, while marking the first hat trick for an Akron player since junior Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) recorded three goals in a 5-0 victory past Cleveland State on Oct. 28, 2014.
The Zips were able to secure playing time for a season-best 23 players in the contest and netted a 21-12 advantage in shots, including 13-5 on goal. The 13 shots on goal represented a season-high mark.
Redshirt sophomore Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) posted a game-high four shots in the affair, while Laryea, Najem, junior Victor Souto (Sao Paolo, Brazil), redshirt sophomore Robby Dambrot (Akron, Ohio) and redshirt junior Goncalo Soares (Lisbon, Portugal) added three, three, two, two and two shots, respectively. Laryea's effort was even more impressive as he scored on each of his three shots.
Senior Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) made five saves for Akron en route to notching his fifth shutout of the season.
Laryea capitalized on the Zips' offensive pressure scoring his team-leading seventh goal of the year at the 32:58 mark. Soares knocked a shot on goal that was deflected by a Glaeser save to the foot of Laryea, who blasted the ball into the back of the net. The assist for Soares was the first of his collegiate career.
Souto extended the Zips' margin to 2-0 in the 37th minute (36:09) connecting on his second goal on the campaign. The score was made possible by a ball played into the box off a corner kick from Gainford. The serve was cleared out of the box by the Northern Illinois defender and found a charging Souto for the tally.
The Zips carried a 2-0 lead into the intermission on the strength of a 10-5 shot advantage.
Gainford played a scoring role in the Zips' next goal as Laryea redirected the deflection off of Gainford's shot in the 60th minute (59:23) for his eighth goal of the year.
Less than two minutes later at the 61:02 mark, Laryea capped a three-goal evening finding himself 1v1 with Glaeser. Laryea delivered his team-leading ninth goal of the season on the shot off assists from Gainford and Soares.
ZIPS OPEN MAC PLAY WITH 2-1 VICTORY AT BUFFALO
A successful penalty kick by junior Victor Souto in the 84th minute (83:05) lifted No. 7 Akron to a come-from-behind 2-1 men's soccer victory over Buffalo on Oct. 9, in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools.
The Zips dominated the shot count in the affair outshooting the Bulls, 26-6, including 9-2 on goal. The 26 shots and nine shots on goal represented season-high marks for Akron.
Sam Gainford, Adam Najem and redshirt junior Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) paced Akron registering a game-high four shots each, while senior Sean Sepe (West Islip, N.Y.) contributed three shots in reserve duty. Daniel Cramarossa directed the Buffalo attack with a team-best two shots, while the Zips limited the Bulls' leading scorer Russell Cicerone to only one shot in the game.
Jake Fenlason made one save in goal for Akron.
The Bulls stole the early momentum in the affair as Cicerone netted his ninth goal of the year on a successful penalty kick at the 2:34 mark.
The shot proved to be Buffalo's lone shot on goal in the first half as the Zips outshot the Bulls, 15-2, including 5-1 on goal in the initial stanza.
The Bulls were whistled for a foul of their own in the box in the 35th minute (34:51) to give Akron a penalty kick. Gainford stepped to the line attempting to net his sixth goal of the season, but his shot was stopped for the save.
Ruhaak parlayed a strong corner kick from Gainford at the 43:53 mark into his first goal on the campaign to square the contest at one.
Opportunity came to the Zips at the 83:05 mark when the Bulls where hit with a foul in the box to set the stage for Akron's second penalty kick of the evening. Souto eyed his target and found the back of the net with what proved to be the game-winning tally.
LARYEA GARNERS NATIONAL ACCLAIM
Richie Laryea continues to gain recognition for his outstanding play this fall as this week he was chosen by College Soccer News and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as their respective National Player of the Week for the period spanning Oct. 12-18.
The honor marks the third and fourth time, respectively, this season in which Laryea has been tabbed as the National Player of the Week after earning accolades from TopDrawerSoccer.com and the NSCAA on Sept. 15.
Additionally, he was selected by the Mid-American Conference as the MAC Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week on Monday, Oct. 19.
The conference award represented the second straight and third of the season/career for Laryea.
Laryea turned in a dominating performance in a battle of MAC league leaders on Oct. 17 as he netted his first career hat trick to lead the Zips to their sixth straight victory, a 4-0 home decision past Northern Illinois.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• Richie Laryea's three multi-goal games this season mark the most in a campaign for a Zip since Darren Mattocks registered six multi-goal efforts during the 2011 season.
• Akron's current six-game winning streak is the longest since the Zips rolled off seven straight wins from Oct. 26-Nov. 21, 2013.
• Richie Laryea has established career high marks in goals (9), shots (39), shots on goal (19), points (21), game-winners (3) and assists (3).
• Akron's victory over Northern Illinois marked the 150th win for the Zips since 2007, tops in the nation.
• The Zips currently own the fifth longest winning streak in the nation (as of Oct. 19) having won their last six games. Creighton owns the nation's longest streak having won its last 14 contests. The Bluejays are followed by SMU (8), Georgetown (7) and Ohio State (7).
• Richie Laryea is now Akron's active leader in multi-goal games owning three in his career, all this season.
• Akron posted a season-best 13 shots on goal in the Zips' 4-0 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 17.
• The Zips registered a season-high 26 shots in a 2-1 win past Buffalo.
• Since 2007, the Zips own a 30-2-3 mark in the month of October in games played at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field
• The Zips' contest at Buffalo marked the opening game in Akron's five-game conference slate in this the Zips' 23rd season in the MAC. Following a 2-1 victory over the Bulls, Akron owns a 21-1-1 mark.
• Victor Souto's game-winning tally at Buffalo was the first in his Akron career.
• The Zips have finished halves strong this season as 14 of Akron's 28 goals have occurred during the final 15 minutes of the first and second periods. The Zips own seven tallies over the final 15 minutes of the first half and seven during the final 15 minutes of regulation.
• Richie Laryea netted his third career multi-goal game knocking in a trio of tallies in Akron's 4-0 win past Northern Illinois. He earlier added two goals in a 3-2 victory at No. 6 Maryland and in a 2-0 decision over Santa Clara.
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Richie Laryea has paced the Akron attack registering six goals. Adam Najem has contributed a pair of goals over the same span, while as a team, the Zips are averaging 2.20 goals per game en route to a 5-0 ledger.
• Sam Gainford, Richie Laryea and Adam Najem have played a major role in the offensive exploits of the Zips this season as the trio has played a scoring role in 24 of Akron's 28 goals this fall.
• Jake Fenlason, Adam Najem, Brad Ruhaak, Andrew Souders (Amherst, Ohio) and Victor Souto have started each of Akron's 13 games this season.
• Four Zips currently owns starting streaks of 30 or more games in which they have played led by Adam Najem (47), Jake Fenlason (38), Andrew Souders (36) and Richie Laryea (32).
• The Zips are rated 13th nationally in attendance averaging 2,462 fans per contest.
• Adam Najem is currently ranked 16th, 16th and 19th, respectively, among active NCAA career leaders in goals per game (0.43), total assists (18) and total goals (24).
• With its win over No. 4 Georgetown on Sept. 4 and No. 6 Maryland on Sept. 7, Akron posted back-to-back regular season road victories over top 10 opponents for the first time since defeating No. 4 North Carolina (3-0) and No. 3 Wake Forest (2-0) to open the 2010 National Championship campaign.
• In Akron's 10 victories this season, Richie Laryea, Adam Najem, Sam Gainford, and Sean Sepe have recorded 33, 30, 30 and 14 shots, respectively.
• Former Zips Saad Abdul-Salaam was a part of Sporting KC's victory on Sept. 30, in the U.S. Open Cup as his squad prevailed in penalty kicks, 7-6, over the Philadelphia Union.
• The Zips have posted a winning record in the month of September in each of the last 13 seasons, including 5-1-1 this season.
• Jake Fenlason recorded a season-high seven saves in Akron's 2-1 setback versus Wake Forest.
• Akron has benefited from scoring contributions from 12 players this season, led by 21, 16 and 16 points from Richie Laryea, Adam Najem and Sam Gainford.
• Sam Gainford has already amassed a career-best five goals through 13 games this season, and with his three assists versus Ohio State, he surpassed set a new career-high for points (11) after collecting nine a year ago. He will enter the showdown with Michigan State owning 16 points.
• Richie Laryea's nine goals and three assists represent career-high marks.
• Despite having only registered three shots on the campaign, sophomore Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) owns a pair of assists on the year.
• The Zips' game at UC Santa Barbara marked a homecoming for assistant coach Leo Chappel, who played a key role in transforming the Gauchos into a national powerhouse serving as an assistant coach from 2001-06 and again from 2009-10.
• Akron returned to the site of its greatest triumph when it battled UC Santa Barbara as the Zips claimed the 2010 National Championship with a 1-0 victory past Louisville in the championship game of the 2010 College Cup at Harder Stadium.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 12 of the squad's last 19 matches, including on 10 occasions this season.
• Sam Gainford registered the Zip' first multi-goal performance of the season with his two tallies versus VCU (Aug. 28). A year ago, only Adam Najem with his three-goal effort against Cleveland State logged a multi-goal game.
• The Zips own four victories over ranked opponents this season having defeated No. 4 Georgetown (1-0 on Sept. 4), No. 6 Maryland (3-2 on Sept. 7), No. 14 Saint Louis (3-2 on Sept. 11) and No. 25 UC Santa Barbara (2-0 on Sept. 25).
• Najem and Brad Ruhaak have been named as team captains for the 2015 campaign.
• Senior goalkeeper Jake Fenlason, a first-team All-MAC honoree in 2014, registered 73 saves a season ago and posted a 0.78 goals against average and seven shutouts.
• Najem was selected by United State's Under-23 men's national team head coach Andi Herzog to attend a college identification training camp that allowed the coaching staff to evaluate collegiate players as the team continues preparations ahead of October qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The four-day camp ran Aug. 5-8 at the U.S. National Training Center in Carson, California.
• Akron owns a 20-2-2 record in its last 24 home matches.
• Since 2007, Akron owns a league record of 46-2-1 (.949) mark in the MAC. Furthermore, the Zips have won 10 consecutive MAC regular season championships and seven of the last eight MAC Tournament titles.
• In all, Akron leads all league members with 17 regular-season and 11 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 10 times after doing so in 2014.
• In 22 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 161 All-MAC honorees, including a conference-record nine first-team selections in 2010.
• In all, the Zips have produced 20 Academic All-American honors in its history, dating back to the 1998 season.
• Akron has long been associated with academic excellence. In addition to posting a team GPA of better than 3.37 in 2014, the Zips finished second in Division I in 2011-12 with a cumulative mark of 3.44. The remarkable feat follows years that saw the Zips post GPAs of 3.43 in 2010-11 and 3.33 in 2009-10.
• Najem is Akron's active career leader in goals (24), assists (18), points (66), shots (131) and shots on goal (64). Andrew Souders leads active Zips on the roster in games played (73) and in contests started (61).
• Saad Abdul-Salaam became the 10th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection 12th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City in January.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
Michigan State def. Akron, 1-0 (Oct. 7, 2014)
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Akron dropped a 1-0 decision at No. 19 Michigan State, 1-0 at DeMartin Stadium.
The lone Spartan score came late in the first half. Adam Montague collected the ball just over midfield and sent a pass up the right side for Jason Stacy. As Stacy raced to the ball, Jake Fenlason raced out to try to fall on it before Stacy could get there. Stacy launched it into the right upper corner to put Michigan State on the board in the 35th minute.
Akron's best chance to score came in the 56th minute. After a corner play, MSU tried to get the ball deep into the offensive third, but it was redirected by Victor Souto, who sent it ahead for a breakaway at midfield by Richie Laryea. Laryea raced down the field with Jimmy Fiscus in hot pursuit, and Laryea's shot was batted by the Spartan keeper.
Overall, Akron outshot Michigan State, 12-9. The Spartans had three shots on goal compared to Akron's two. Fenlason recorded two saves for the Zips.
LARYEA NAMED MAC ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Richie Laryea was tabbed by the Mid-American Conference as the MAC Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Oct. 12.
The conference award was the second of the season and of the career for Laryea. The honor marked the fourth weekly conference accolade for a Zip in 2015.
Laryea turned in a strong week for Akron helping the Zips extend their winning streak to five straight with triumphs past Santa Clara (2-0) and Buffalo (2-1). He recorded a pair of goals on six shots.
NAJEM EARNS NATIONAL AND CONFERENCE HONORS
Akron junior Adam Najem received national recognition for his play as TopDrawerSoccer.com named him as the National Player of the week, while College Soccer News named him to its National Team of the Week on Oct. 5.
Najem also earned recognition by the Mid-American Conference named him as its Athlete of the Week as well as being named the Zips' Student-Athlete of the Week, presented by The University of Akron, Ohio's Polytechnic University.
The conference award is the second of the season and sixth of the career for Najem. The honor marked the third weekly conference accolade for a Zip in 2015.
Najem led the Zips to victories over Penn State (1-0) and at UAB (2-1, OT) as he played a hand in every goal for Akron recording a pair of goals, while adding an assist.
AKRON NO. 4 IN LATEST RPI REPORT
The NCAA released its fourth RPI report of the 2015 campaign on Monday, Oct. 19, and the Zips sit at No. 4 nationally. Atop this list is Wake Forest, whom Akron played on Sept. 22 at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. The NCAA RPI is one of the strongest indicators used in the selection and seeding for the NCAA Tournament every year.
ZIPS EARN NSCAA COLLEGIATE TEAM ACADEMIC RECOGNITION
Akron was one of 215 school nationwide to have its men's and women's soccer teams recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as 2014-15 Collegiate Team Academic Award winners.
The Zips were also one of only two schools in the Mid-American Conference to have both of their respective soccer programs honored.
Under third-year head coach Jared Embick was recognized for the eighth consecutive year and ninth time overall after registering a cumulative 3.37 grade point average for the 2014-15 academic year.
LARYEA GARNERS NATIONAL ACCOLADES
Akron sophomore Richie Laryea continued to garner national recognition for his play as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and TopDrawerSoccer.com named him as their National Player of the Week on Sept. 15.
Laryea also earned recognition by College Soccer News as a member of its National Team of the Week. Additionally, the Mid-American Conference named him as its Athlete of the Week.
In the Zips' 3-2 road win over No. 6 Maryland on Sept. 7, Laryea registered two goals, including the game-winner, while adding an assist. He connected on four shots in the contest, with three falling on goal, and played a role in each of Akron's three goals.
Laryea earned the assist on Adam Najem's 22nd-minute (21:41) tally before giving the Zips a 2-0 lead registering his first goal of the season at the 38:30 mark on what proved to be the game-winning tally. He later extended Akron's margin to 3-1 on his second goal of the match at the 82:49 mark.
In the Zips' 3-2 come-from-behind win past No. 14 Saint Louis on Sept. 11, Laryea netted a pair of assists, including on Sam Gainford's game-winning goal in the 71st minute (70:27). His first assist was also on a Gainford goal at the 38:58 mark.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.821) through games of Oct. 19 with an overall record of 150-25-20. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 137-35-26 (.758), Connecticut, 116-35-36 (.717), North Carolina, 125-40-28 (.720) and New Mexico, 111-44-20 (.691). Akron has made eight straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-14), earning a first-round bye in six seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in five of the last seven years. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 29 times, including each of the past eight seasons and 13 of the past 14.
PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Since 2007, the Zips have recorded an 87-6-12 (.886) ledger in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. Akron owns four unbeaten campaigns during that span, including posting home marks of 12-0-1, 13-0-0, 12-0-1 and 10-0-2 during the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 seasons, respectively.
SERNA AND TRAPP PLAY FOR U.S. NATIONAL SQUAD AT CONCACAF OLYMPIC QUALIFYING
A pair of former Akron men's soccer players in Dillon Serna and Wil Trapp were among the 20 players selected by U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team head coach Andi Herzog for the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, which was played from Oct. 1-13.
The Americans opened tournament play downing Canada, 3-1, on Oct. 1, at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The United States then registered a 6-1 win over Cuba on Oct. 3, also at Sporting Park. The victory, combined with the USA's tournament opening triumph against Canada secured a top two spot for the team in Group A. The squad concluded group play at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on Oct. 6, with a 4-0 win against Panama.
The United States dropped a 2-0 decision to Honduras in the semifinal round on Oct. 10 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. The United States logged a pair of second-half goals to beat Canada 2-0 in the third-place match on Oct. 13 to keep alive its quest to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The USA now advances to a March playoff against Colombia for the right to attend the 2016 Olympics.
NAJEM NAMED TO MAC HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Adam Najem added another accolade to his growing resume with his selection to the 2015 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Najem is one of 30 men tabbed for consideration for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer presented annually to one male and one female athlete. The winners will be announced Jan. 8, 2016, at the trophy presentation banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
Near the end of the collegiate regular season, NCAA Division I coaches whose programs are current NSCAA College Services members will vote on their top choices and the lists will be narrowed down to the top 15 players.
College soccer fans will also have the opportunity to participate in the selection process, by voting for their favorite semifinalist in November at the MAC Hermann Trophy website, managed by LockerDome.
From that pool of 30, six finalists (three men, three women) will be chosen for the award. The winners will be announced in January.
ZIPS PRIMED FOR BIG THINGS IN 2015
The Zips entered the 2015 campaign looking to build upon an 13-6-2 mark last season, including a 4-1-0 ledger in the Mid-American Conference.
Akron is seeking to integrate six newcomers Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia), Alonzo Clarke (New Carrollton, Md.), Nick Costa (North Royalton, Ohio), Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), Barth-Luther Mouafo (Potomac, Md.) and Goncalo Soares this season onto a roster that boasts nine returning starters from a year ago.
Included among the returnees are nine starters from the close of the 2014 campaign is a trio of first-team All-MAC performers in junior Adam Najem and seniors Jake Fenlason and Andrew Souders.
Sophomores Stuart Holthusen and Richie Laryea along with junior Victor Souto were tabbed as second-team All-MAC honorees in 2014.
Complimenting that quartet is the return of sophomore Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (Portland, Ore.), junior Brad Ruhaak and senior Sean Sepe, who were each starters in 2014.
AKRON TABBED TO CAPTURE MAC REGULAR AND POSTSEASON TITLES
Akron was tabbed to capture the Mid-American Conference regular and postseason titles in a preseason poll of six conference coaches.
The Zips under third-year head coach Jared Embick, were picked to repeat as conference champions in the MAC Coaches Preseason poll with three first-place votes. Akron (32 points) was followed by Western Michigan (28 points), who received two first-place votes, while West Virginia (28 points) also garnered a first-place tally.
Rounding out the rest of the poll was 2014 MAC Tournament runner-up Bowling Green (16 points), Buffalo (13 points) and Northern Illinois (nine points).
Also voted on by the coaches was the predicted 2015 MAC Tournament Champion. Akron received three of the six first-place votes. Western Michigan collected two championship votes and West Virginia garnered the final tally.
MLS TOP 24 UNDER 24
The annual MLSsoccer.com's "24 Under 24" list was released on Sept. 22 and a number of familiar names on it, including Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew) and Perry Kitchen (DC United). The duo was rated fourth and eighth, respectively. Trapp was tabbed as the ninth-best prospect on the 24 under 24 list a year ago, while Kitchen was 18th.
Trapp, who was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection in 2011 and 2012 and a third-team NSCAA All-American in 2012, moved up five spots after being tabbed as the ninth-best prospect on the 24 under 24 list a year ago.
Moving up 10 spots from his No. 18 ranking in 2014 was Kitchen, who as a freshman in 2010, started 25 games, scoring six goals and adding one assist. He earned first-team All-MAC honors and helped Akron to the 2010 National Championship. He scored an unassisted goal on an emphatic right-footed blast from 30 yards out during Akron's 2-1 win over Michigan in the national semifinal of the College Cup
MLS TOP 24 UNDER 24 PREVIEW
The annual MLSsoccer.com's "24 Under 24" list has become an annual staple for soccer enthusiasts. Will Parchman of TopDrawerSoccer.com has revealed his award for the competition and a number of familiar names on it, including the No. 1 selection midfielder Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew), No. 11 Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids) and No. 14 Perry Kitchen (DC United).
As a freshman in 2012, Serna was named by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com to its All-Freshmen Teams as well as being chosen as the MAC Player of the Year and first-team all-conference honoree. He was signed as an MLS Homegrown Signee by the Colorado Rapids following the 2012 campaign after registering a pair of goals and adding eight assists on 48 shots to lead the Zips to a 18-1-3 record in 2012.
EMBICK RECEIVES CONTRACT EXTENSION
Akron men's soccer head coach Jared Embick received a three-year contract extension, interim Director of Athletics Nathan J. Mortimer announced on July 17. The extension will keep Embick at the helm of the storied program through the 2018 season.
ZIPS WELCOME BACK ALUMNI
Akron held its annual alumni reunion in conjunction with the Zips' clash against Saint Louis at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field on Friday, Sept. 11.
Akron head coach Jared Embick and the current Zips welcomed back all of the proud alumni that have contributed to the growth and development of the Akron men's soccer tradition over the course of the program's 61 years.
A pre-game tailgate and March to the Match festivities preceded the match. On Saturday, Sept. 12, the alums gathered to watch team training at 11 a.m. before a Varsity "A" Tailgate.
ON THIS DATE IN ZIPS HISTORY
The Zips will be playing for the 11th time in program history on Oct. 21 when Akron hosts Michigan State on Wednesday. The Zips own a 9-1 mark in the previous 10 matches on the date registering victories over Slippery Rock (4-1 in 1961), Cleveland State (4-0 in 1964), Ohio (2-1 in 1967), Bowling Green (6-0 in 1978 and 5-1 in 1988), Miami (3-2 in 1992), Central Michigan (5-0 in 1994), Northern Illinois (5-1 in 2005) and Buffalo (5-2 in 2011).
ZIPS LIVE RADIO SHOW
Every Thursday throughout the season from 7-8 p.m. ET, Akron head coaches can be heard on the weekly radio program Zips Live, presented by Lee Hyder and Associates. The show airs locally on 1350 AM (WARF) and originates from Johnny J's Pub and Grill in the Valley (1282 Weathervane Lane). A free audio stream is available on SportsRadio1350.com.
WHAT IS A ZIP?
• One of the unique nicknames in collegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron.
• Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth "Red" Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams.
• Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers.
• The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for Zippers, a $6 pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company.
• The evolution of Zippy, UA's mascot, began 40 years ago when the student council decided the University needed a mascot.
• "Zippy" the kangaroo was officially declared the school's mascot on May 1, 1953. The first known printed reference to the mascot as "Zippy" was a 1965 Zip football press brochure. The Buchtelite's first use of the name "Zippy" came Sept. 24, 1965, in an identification of a photo of the cheerleaders listing "Mascot - 'Zippy' - Charles Huettner."
• In 2007, Zippy was named the Capital One National Mascot of the Year.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Redshirt sophomore MF/D Robby Dambrot is the son of Zips' men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot.
• Akron men's soccer has produced 20 Academic All-Americans since 1998.
• Nine Zips have had their names called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, including a league record five selections in the first eight picks in 2011 following the Zips' national championship season.
• Akron broke a second MLS record that day as seven Akron players were chosen in the first two rounds, the most from a single team in draft history.
• Zippy is just one of five female-gendered college mascots in Division I athletics. Do you know the other four? (YoUDee, the Delaware Blue Hen; Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State; Lucy Lobo of New Mexico; and Wilma Wildcat of Arizona).
UP NEXT
Akron faces a key Mid-American Conference tilt as the Zips travel to face Western Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 24. Game time is set for noon in Kalamazoo, Mich.
