The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Rutgers
Akron Opens NCAA Tournament Play Hosting No. 23 Rutgers
November 21 | Men's Soccer
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MATCH NOTES NO. 21 VS. RUTGERS (PDF)
No. 3 Akron (15-3-2) vs. No. 23 Rutgers (12-6-2)
Sunday, Nov. 22
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 4 p.m.
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Webstream: www.gozips.com
WHAT'S AHEAD
Fourth-seeded Akron opens its quest to captures its second-ever NCAA Championship on Sunday, Nov. 22, as the Zips welcome Rutgers to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field for a second-round showdown. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
ZIPS' NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Akron maintains an 22-24-7 mark in 53 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 1-1-1 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 13-4-7 ledger.
Senior Andrew Souders (Amherst, Ohio) is Akron's active leader in NCAA Tournament games started (4). Junior Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) owns the lone NCAA Tournament goal and assist among active Zips. He has recorded a team-best six shots, including four on goal. Najem, senior Sean Sepe (West Islip, N.Y.), junior Victor Souto (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Souders and sophomore Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (Portland, Ore.) have recorded six, four, two, one and one shot, respectively. In three NCAA Tournament starts in goal, junior Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) has made 17 saves.
When postseason play begins, the Zips will join an elite group of just five Division I programs that have qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of the past nine seasons. Only Indiana, Maryland, UCLA, and Virginia can share that claim.
AKRON-RUTGERS NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
The Zips have met Rutgers one other time in NCAA Championship play with Akron owning a 3-2 triumph on Nov. 26, 2003 at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
AKRON VERSUS THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
• The Zips went 3-0-1 against the Big Ten Conference during the regular season and have gone 15-2-3 against the league since 2012.
• This season, Akron defeated Maryland (3-2 on Sept. 7), Penn State (1-0 on Sept. 30) and Michigan State (4-1 on Oct. 21), while earning a 3-3 double-overtime draw with Ohio State (Sept. 16).
• In all, Akron is 32-6-6 (.795) versus teams from the Big Ten since 2007. During that time, the Zips have out-scored the competition, 82-33.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers (12-6-2) enters its showdown versus Akron on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2-2-1 in its last five contests, including a 1-1 double-overtime draw versus LIU Brooklyn in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 19, in which it advanced on penalty kicks, 3-2. The Scarlet Knights closed the regular season with wins in seven of their last eight games. Sophomore Jason Wright, the 2015 Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year, leads Rutger's offensive efforts having recorded team-high marks in goals (13), points (31), shots (62), shots on goal (30) and game-winners (5), while ranking second in assists (4). Junior goalkeeper David Greczek has played every minute for the Scarlet Knights this season and has recorded 77 saves, while owning a 1.16 goals against average and eight shutouts. As a team, Rutgers is rated sixth, 11th, 12th, 12th, 16th, 16th, 18th, 38th, 38th and 39th in the NCAA in total assists (40), assists per game (2.00), points per contest (6.00), total points (120), scoring offense (2.00), total goals (40), shots per game (15.70), shots on goal per contest (6.25), shutout percentage (.400) and winning percentage (.650).
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday afternoon's game is the fifth meeting between Akron and Rutgers. The Zips lead the all-time series, 2-1-1. Akron garnered a 2-1 road triumph over the Scarlet Knights in the last encounter between the two schools on Sept. 8, 2013.
THE COACHES
Rutgers: Dan Donigan is in his sixth season as head coach of the Rutgers program, owning a 46-54-11 (.464) record. He is 164-96-34 (.616) in 15 years overall as a head coach.
Akron: In his third year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and ninth season overall, is Jared Embick, who has a 45-13-5 mark (.754), including 92-34-15 (.706) 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 45-13-5 (.754) 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 155-26-21 (.819), including a 48-2-2 (.942) 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.
SOUTO LIFTS ZIPS TO MAC CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE WITH 1-0 WIN OVER BUFFALO
A 45th-minute (44:30) goal from junior Victor Souto proved to be all the scoring fourth-ranked Akron needed en route to capturing the Mid-American Conference Championship title with a 1-0 victory past Buffalo on Sunday, Nov. 15, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
Akron registered a 26-11 advantage in shots in the affair, including an 11-6 margin in shots on goal.
Redshirt sophomore Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) netted a game-high eight shots for the Zips, including three on frame. Sophomore Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) and Adam Najem added four and three shots, respectively, while five different Akron players recorded two shots apiece.
Jake Fenlason corralled six saves for the Zips en route to collecting his eighth shutout of the season.
The Zips dictated the pace of play in the initial stanza registering a 16-3 advantage in shots, but it was the Bulls' defense fueld by six saves from Joseph Kuta that kept Akron at bay until Souto's heroics.
Holthusen nearly netted the game's first tally at the 13:49 mark as only a diving save from Kuta prevented Holthusen's curving half-volley off a serve from the corner by Andrew Souders from finding the back of the net.
Just under two minutes later in the 16th minute (15:43), a strong Kuta save denied redshirt sophomore Robby Dambrot (Akron, Ohio) from notching his first career goal off a strike from six yards out.
Souto was able to garner his sixth goal of the season with 30 seconds remaining in the first half. Gainford served a ball into the box off a corner kick that was cleared out by the Buffalo defender. A charging Souto intercepted the clearance and capitalized with a strike that beat Kuta for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
The two sides waged through a defensive second half with the Bulls picking up their offensive pace recording eight second-half shots.
Buffalo was nearly awarded a penalty kick in the 66th minute as the Zips were called for a foul just outside of the box. Russell Cicerone took the free kick, but Fenlason came up with the save to deny the scoring opportunity.
HOLTHUSEN LEADS AKRON PAST WEST VIRGINIA, 3-2
Stuart Holthusen registered a pair of goals and Adam Najem added another to direct the fourth-ranked Zips to a 3-2 victory over West Virginia in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Championship on Nov. 13, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Mountaineers outshot Akron in the affair, 15-13, including 9-5 on goal.
Holthusen directed the Zips' offensive attack with a game-high five shots, while adding four, two and two shots, respectively, was Najem, sophomore Richie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario (Canada)) and Sam Gainford.
Jake Fenlason pulled in seven saves for the Zips.
Najem opened the scoring in the affair registering his team-leading ninth goal of the season at the 22:23 mark. Najem served a free kick from just outside the box into the corner of the net to give Akron an early 1-0 advantage. The scoring play was set-up by a long strike from Fenlason that soared over the West Virginia defensive line and to Gainford, who was taken down on a sliding tackle just outside the box by Alec Boerner, who was issued a yellow card on the play.
The Zips carried the 1-0 lead into the intermission on the strength of outshooting the Mountaineers in the initial stanza, 8-6.
Holthusen netted what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 49th minute (48:58) collecting a ball served into the middle by Najem and delivering a strike from the top of the box past Boerner for his fourth goal on the campaign.
The Mountaineers got on the board at the 67:48 mark when a ball served into the box by West Virginia was accidentally headed into the goal by an Akron defender for an own goal.
Five seconds later at the 67:53 mark off the restart off the goal, Holthusen registered his second goal of the evening to extend the Zips' lead to 3-1. The tally gave Holthusen back-to-back two-goal games after his two-goal explosion versus Bowling Green last Saturday, Nov. 7.
Jamie Merriam rounded out the scoring finding the back of the net in the 72nd minute (71:17) off an assist from Mike Desiderio to bring West Virginia to within one, 3-2.
A LEAGUE-BEST EIGHT ZIPS GARNER ALL-MAC ACCOLADES
Led by Sam Gainford, Stuart Holthusen and Richie Laryea, Adam Najem, redshirt junior Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) and Andrew Souders who were selected as first-team All-Mid-American Conference men's soccer selections, a conference-best eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades as announced by the league on Nov. 12.
Najem and Souders became the first three-time first-team All-MAC recipients for Akron since Chad Barson was tabbed a first-team honoree in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.
Seniors Jake Fenlason and Sean Sepe were tabbed second-team recipients.
HOLTHUSEN EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Stuart Holthusen has been named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its National Men's Soccer Team of the Week it was announced on Nov. 10.
Holthusen turned in a stellar effort for the Zips helping the squad secure its 18th Mid-American Conference title scoring a pair of goals, including the game-winner, while also adding an assist, in a 4-0 Akron victory over Bowling Green on Nov. 7.
He netted what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 12th minute (11:53) off an assist from Sam Gainford.
Less than a minute later at the 12:41 mark, he garnered an assist on a Gainford goal that pushed Akron's advantage to 2-0.
Holthusen then recorded his second goal of the evening in the 21st minute (20:31) heading in a ball from the corner off assists from sophomore Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) and Adam Najem. The tally gave Holthusen his first multi-goal game of the season.
On the campaign, Holthusen owns three goals, while contributing five assists for 11 points on 16 shots, including seven on frame.
ZIPS HONOR TRIO ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips honored seniors Jake Fenlason, Sean Sepe and Andrew Souders prior to Akron's game versus Bowling Green on Nov. 7.
Fenlason has started all 45 games in which he has appeared in as a Zip, registering 174 saves and 16 shutouts en route to posting a 31-10-4 mark. He was named a first-team All-MAC selection a year ago after recording 73 saves, seven shutouts and a 0.78 goals against average. He has started all 20 games this season and owns 83 saves and eight shutouts.
Sepe has appeared in 39 games as a Zip, including making 29 starts. He has recorded four goals, while adding five assists on 66 shots, including 26 on goal during his career at Akron. This season, he has posted a goal and two assists on 31 shots.
Souders is a two-time first-team All-MAC honoree and has played in a team-best 80 games as a Zip, including 68 starts. He has registered a goal and two assists on 20 shots, while helping anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted 33 shutouts during his career, including eight this fall.
AKRON'S NATIONAL AWARD CANDIDATES LEAD THE ZIPS' ATTACK
The Zips have gotten strong performances from their leading All-America candidates this season in Sam Gainford, Richie Laryea, Adam Najem, Andrew Souders and Victor Souto as the quintet has led Akron to four wins over ranked opponents. In contests versus ranked foes, Najem, Laryea and Gainford have registered four, three and three goals, respectively.
Laryea leads the group with three assists, while Najem and Souto have each collected a helper. Defensively, Souders has helped direct the Zips' defensive unit to shutouts at No. 4 Georgetown (W, 1-0) and at No. 25 UC Santa Barbara (W, 2-0).
Through 20 games, the trio of Laryea, Najem and Gainford are among the nation's scoring leaders having posted nine, nine and eight goals, respectively, entering Akron's showdown with Rutgers on Sunday, Nov. 22. The group also ranks, first, second and third on the team in assists with Najem, Gainford and Laryea having contributed eight, seven and five assists.
On the other side of the ball, Souders has anchored a Zips' defensive unit that has posted eight shutouts on the campaign.
QUARTET OF ZIPS EARN MID-SEASON RECOGNITION FROM TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
Four Zips were recognized by TopDrawerSoccer.com for their play at the halfway point of this season with their selections to its mid-season Men's Top 100 Player and Freshmen lists.
Richie Laryea was the top-rated Akron player coming in at No. 10 nationally, while Adam Najem and Victor Souto were tabbed 19th and 50th, respectively.
On the Men's Freshman Top 100 list, Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia) checked in at No. 23.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• The Zips are now 11-4-1 all-time in the championship game of the Mid-American Conference Tournament after a 1-0 win over Buffalo last Sunday, Nov. 15.
• The Zips have played some of their best soccer at home this season as Akron enters its game versus Rutgers on Sunday, Nov. 22, with 12 players having contributed points. Leading the way with 16, 15, 14, 12 and 12 points, respectively, is Richie Laryea (six goals and four assists), Adam Najem (five goals and five assists), Sam Gainford (four goals and six assists), Stuart Holthusen (four goals and four assists) and Victor Souto (five goals and two assists).
• The Zips own a 32-6-4 ledger all-time at home in the month of November in regular season contests.
• Akron and Seattle are the only schools in the NCAA (as of Nov. 21) to have three players owning eight or more goals. The Zips' trio of Richie Laryea (9), Adam Najem (9) and Sam Gainford (8) have combined to register 25 goals.
• Stuart Holthusen registered his first career multi-goal performance netting two goals in a 4-0 victory over Bowling Green on Nov. 7.
• Following Stuart Holthusen's two-goal outburst versus West Virginia on Nov. 13, Akron has recorded eight multi-goal games this season.
• Victor Souto's three-goal explosion against Michigan State represented the first multi-goal game of his Akron career.
• Victor Souto was selected by the Mid-American Conference as the MAC Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Oct. 26. Additionally, he was named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its National Team of the Week.
• On the strength of hat tricks in back-to-back games from Richie Laryea (Northern Illinois) and Victor Souto (Michigan State), the Zips posted hat tricks in consecutive games from different players for the first time since the 2010 campaign. Oct. 16, 2010, in a 4-0 home win over Buffalo, Darren Mattocks netted three goals before four days later on Oct. 20, 2010, Kofie Sarkodie recorded three goals of his own in a 7-1 home triumph past Michigan.
• 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 seven-game winning streak (Sept. 25 - Oct. 21) was the longest since the Zips rolled off 15 straight wins from Sept. 16 - Nov. 18, 2012.
• Richie Laryea has established career high marks in goals (9), shots (47), shots on goal (22), points (23), game-winners (3) and assists (5).
• Akron's victory over Northern Illinois marked the 150th win for the Zips since 2007, tops in the nation.
• 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 Oct. 17.
• The Zips registered a season-high 26 shots in a 2-1 win past Buffalo.
• Since 2007, the Zips own a 31-2-3 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 16 of Akron's 45 goals have occurred during the final 15 minutes of the first and second periods. The Zips own nine 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, Stuart Holthusen (four goals and four assists) and Adam Najem (two goals and four assists) and have paced the Akron attack registering 12 and eight points, respectively, while Sam Gainford has added a pair of tallies. As a team, the Zips are averaging 2.40 goals per game en route to a 4-1-0 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 35 of Akron's 45 goals this fall.
• Jake Fenlason, Adam Najem, Brad Ruhaak, Andrew Souders and Victor Souto have started each of Akron's 20 games this season.
• Four Zips currently owns starting streaks of 30 or more games in which they have played led by Adam Najem (54), Jake Fenlason (45), Andrew Souders (43) and Richie Laryea (38).
• The Zips are rated eighth nationally in attendance averaging 2,115 fans per contest.
• Adam Najem is currently ranked eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 17th, respectively, among active NCAA career leaders in total assists (21), assists per contest (0.33), points per game (1.19), total points (75) and gosals (27).
• 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 15 victories this season, Sam Gainford, Richie Laryea, Adam Najem, Stuart Holthusen and Victor Souto have recorded 47, 40, 40, 24 and 20 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 14 players this season, led by 26, 23 and 23 points, respectively, from Adam Najem, Richie Laryea and Sam Gainford.
• Sam Gainford has already amassed a career-best eight goals through 20 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 Rutgers owning 23 points.
• Richie Laryea's nine goals and five assists represent career-high marks.
• Despite having only registered four shots on the campaign, sophomore Nate Shultz 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 16 of the squad's last 26 matches, including on 15 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.
• 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 23-3-2 record in its last 28 home matches.
• Since 2007, Akron owns a league record of 48-2-2 (.942) 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 18 regular-season and 12 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 11 times after doing so in 2015.
• In 23 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 169 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 (27), assists (21), points (75), shots (147) and shots on goal (71). Andrew Souders leads active Zips on the roster in games played (80) and in contests started (68).
• 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
Akron def. Rutgers, 2-1 (Sept. 8, 2013)
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - A penalty kick by Reinaldo Brenes in the 105th minute lifted the No. 5 Akron men's soccer team to a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory in double overtime at Rutgers.
Just five minutes into the second overtime period, Matt Foldesy split a pair of Scarlet Knight defenders with a great through ball that found Saad Abdul-Salaam, who was tackled from behind before he could get a shot off.
Akron had to play from behind when Rutgers' Kene Eze headed a cross from the left side of the field into the right corner of the net in the 54th minute.
The Zips nearly got it right back, however, when a long pass from beyond midfield sprung Brenes, who found himself all alone with the keeper from the near right flank, but his liner bounced across the goal and banged off the far post and out.
With the clock running out on the Zips, Ismail Seremba, who entered the match after Rutger's goal, then found the equalizer in the 85th minute. He took a quick pass from Eric Stevenson and buried it into the left corner of the net from the top of the box.
From the 87th minute on, Rutgers was forced to play a man down after Drew Morgan received a red card for tackling Brenes on a breakaway. Morgan was yellow carded in the eighth minute.
After a slow first half, the Zips responded quickly after Rutgers' goal and outshot the Scarlet Knights 28-8 for the match.
LARYEA GARNERS NATIONAL ACCLAIM
Richie Laryea continued to gain recognition for his outstanding play this fall as he was chosen by College Soccer News and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America on Oct. 19 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 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.
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. 6 IN LATEST RPI REPORT
The NCAA released its eighth RPI report of the 2015 campaign on Monday, Nov. 16, and the Zips sit at No. 6 nationally. Atop this list is Wake Forest, whom Akron played on Sept. 22 at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
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 (.819) through games of Nov. 19 with an overall record of 155-26-21. The Zips are followed by Creighton, 129-35-23 (.751), Maryland, 141-38-28 (.749), North Carolina, 129-40-30 (.724), Connecticut, 123-35-38 (.724), Wake Forest, 122-44-27 (.702) and New Mexico, 112-46-22 (.683). 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 30 times, including each of the past nine seasons and 14 of the past 15.
PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Since 2007, the Zips have recorded an 91-7-12 (.882) 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.
ZIPS WELL REPRESENTED IN MLS PLAYOFFS
Akron was well represented when the MLS Playoffs began on Oct. 28, as 12 former Zips had their teams qualify for the playoffs. Sporting KC (Saad Abdul Salaam) battled Portland (Darlington Nagbe, Michael Nanchoff and Ben Zemanski) to a 2-2 draw in the knockout round before the Timbers advanced on penalty kicks, 7-6. D.C. United (Perry Kitchen and Chris Korb) defeated the New England Revolution (Teal Bunbury and Scott Caldwell), 2-1, also in the knockout round. D.C. United advanced to battle the New York Red Bulls in the conference semifinal round in a home-and-away, aggregate-goal series, while Vancouver (Darren Mattocks) plays Portland. Montreal (Evan Bush) squared off against Columbus (Wil Trapp and Chad Barson) also in the semifinal round. In the conference semifinals, the New York Red Bulls edged D.C. United, 2-0, Columbus edged Montreal, 4-3, and Portland bettered Vancouver, 2-0. Columbus will battle the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference aggregate-goal finals (Nov. 22 and Nov. 29), while Portland faces FC Dallas in the Western Conference aggregate-goal finals.
NAGBE AND YEDLIN ADDED TO USMNT WORLD CUP QUALIFYING ROSTER
A pair of former University of Akron men's soccer standouts in Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers) and DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland) have been added to the 23-man U.S. national soccer team roster for the first two 2018 World Cup qualifiers this month by U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Receiving his first call up to the senior National Team after becoming a United States citizen in September was Nagbe, who is one of 10 players looking to make their debut in World Cup Qualifying competition. Yedlin has appeared in 17 of the 18 MNT matches in 2015 and has tallied four assists.
The USA's first match of 2018 World Cup Qualifying campaign was a 6-1 victory on Nov. 13, over St. Vincent & the Grenadines at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
The MNT was drawn into Group C for the Semifinal Round of Qualifying along with St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and Guatemala. Following the match in St. Louis, the USA traveled to Port of Spain for the away leg with Trinidad, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
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, Alonzo Clarke (New Carrollton, Md.), Nick Costa (North Royalton, Ohio), Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), Barth-Luther Mouafo (Potomac, Md.) and Goncalo Soares (Lisbon, Portugal) 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, 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.
ON THIS DATE IN ZIPS HISTORY
The Zips will be playing for the fourth time in program history on Nov. 22 when Akron hosts Rutgers on Sunday. The Zips own a 1-2-0 mark in the previous three matches on the date registering a 2-0 NCAA Tournament victory over South Florida on the date in 2009.
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
A victory sends the Zips into the NCAA Tournament round versus the winner of the Denver/SMU game.
