The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
SMU
Akron Hosts No. 11 SMU in NCAA Tournament Third Round
November 28 | Men's Soccer
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MATCH NOTES NO. 22 VS. SMU (PDF)
No. 3 Akron (16-3-2) vs. No. 11 SMU (15-2-4)
Sunday, Nov. 29
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 continues its quest to captures its second-ever NCAA Championship on Sunday, Nov. 29, as the Zips welcome 11th-rated SMU to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field for a third-round showdown. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
ZIPS' NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Akron maintains an 23-24-7 mark in 54 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 2-1-1 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 14-4-7 ledger.
Senior Andrew Souders (Amherst, Ohio) is Akron's active leader in NCAA Tournament games started (5). Sophomores Richie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario (Canada)) and Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) own a team-high two goals each in tournament play, while juniors Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) and Victor Souto (Sao Paulo, Brazil) have each recorded one tournament goal in their Akron careers. Najem has registered a team-best three tournament assists as a Zips, while recording one helper apiece has been Laryea and senior Sean Sepe (West Islip, N.Y.). Najem enters action versus SMU as the team's NCAA Tournament career scoring leader with five points on the strength of a goal and three assists.
Najem has recorded a team-best seven shots, including four on goal. Najem, Sepe, Holthusen, Laryea, sophomore Adi Dakwar (Fassouta, Israel ), Souto, redshirt sophomore Robby Dambrot (Akron, Ohio), Gainford, sophomore Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.), senior Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio), sophomore Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (Portland, Ore.), redshirt sophomore Tyler Sanda (North Royalton, Ohio), redshirt junior Goncalo Soares (Lisbon, Portugal) and Souders and have recorded seven, six, four, four, three, three, two, two, two, two, one, one, one and one shot, respectively. In four NCAA Tournament starts in goal, junior Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) has made 19 saves.
When postseason play began, the Zips joined 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-SMU NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
The Zips have met SMU one other time in NCAA Championship play with Akron owning a 3-2 road triumph on Nov. 20, 2003.
AKRON VERSUS THE AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the American Athletic Conference for the first time since defeating Tulsa, 3-0, on Sept. 20, 2014, at FirstEnergy Stadium Cub Cadet Field.
• A year ago, Akron posted a 2-1-0 mark against schools from the conference defeating Tulsa (3-0) and Central Florida (2-1), while dropping a 2-1 overtime decision at South Florida.
• In all, Akron is 21-5-2 (.815) versus teams from the American Athletic Conference.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
SMU(15-2-4) enters its showdown versus Akron on Sunday, Nov. 29, having earned 2-0 and 1-0 shutout victories over Utah Valley and Denver in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Mustangs own a 13-0-2 mark in their last 15 games, including posting seven shutouts over the unbeaten streak. Sophomore Mauro Cichero leads SMU's offensive efforts having recorded team-high marks in goals (10), assists (9), points (29), shots (70), shots on goal (28) and game-winning goals (3). Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Michael Nelson has played every minute for the Mustangs this season and has recorded 81 saves, while owning a 0.94 goals against average and nine shutouts. As a team, SMU is rated second, third, ninth, 11th, 19th, 24th, 28th, 32nd, 39th, 42nd and 47th in the NCAA in total assists (47), assists per game (2.24), winning percentage (.810), points per tilt (5.95), total goals (39), scoring offense (1.86), shutout percentage (.430), save percentage (.804), shots on goal per contest (6.10), shots per game (14.24), goals against average (.940).
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday afternoon's game is the fourth meeting between Akron and SMU. The Zips lead the all-time series, 2-1-1. Akron garnered a 3-2 road triumph over the Mustangs in the last encounter between the two schools on Nov. 20, 2011.
THE COACHES
SMU: Kevin Hudson is in his first season as head coach of the SMU program, owning a 15-2-4 (.810) record.
Akron: In his third year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and ninth season overall, is Jared Embick, who has a 46-13-5 mark (.758), including 93-34-15 (.708) 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 46-13-5 (.758) 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 156-26-21 (.820), 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.
AKRON OPENS NCAA TOURNAMENT WITH 6-1 WIN OVER NO. 23 RUTGERS
Third-ranked Akron picked an opportune time to play arguably its best game of the season as the Zips opened NCAA Tournament play with a 6-1 victory over Rutgers on Sunday, Nov. 22, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
After a slow start to begin the game, the Zips capitalized when senior Sean Sepe was tackled in the box to earn Akron a penalty kick at the 4:56 mark. Stepping to the line for the penalty kick was junior Victor Souto, who calmly struck the ball into the back of the net for his seventh tally of the season to give the Zips a lead they didn't relinquish.
Stuart Holthusen extended Akron's margin to 2-0 in the 13th minute (12:28) accepting a pair of strong passes from Sepe and finally Richie Laryea and delivering his sixth goal on the campaign.
Seventeen seconds later, Laryea pushed Akron's lead to 3-0 connecting on an unassisted tally at the 12:45 mark. The goal was Laryea's team-leading 10th of the season.
Holthusen netted his second goal of the contest and his third multi-goal tilt of the year in the 17th minute (16:09), scoring off a set piece to give the Zips a 4-0 advantage. Adam Najem garnered his team-leading ninth assist of the year on the play.
Laryea posted his team-best fourth multi-goal performance on the campaign finding the back of the net for the 11th time in 2015 at the 17:39 mark.
The Zips entered the intermission holding a commanding 5-0 lead on the strength of recording a 14-6 margin in first-half shots, including 8-1 on frame.
Sepe capped the scoring explosion for Akron in the affair netting his second goal of the season off a Najem assist in the 60th minute (59:50).
Sugor Al Awwad spoiled the Zips' bid for a clean sheet in the contest delivering his second goal on the campaign at the 80:08 mark. Mitchell Tainer earned the assist on the score.
Akron finished the affair registering a 25-10 margin in shots, including a decisive 12-3 mark in shots on goal.
Twelve different Zips record a shot in the game, led by a pair of four-shot performances from Holthusen and Laryea. Notching three strikes in reserve action was sophomore Adi Dakwar, while redshirt junior Sam Gainford, Brad Ruhaak, Sepe, Robby Dambrot and Anthony Macchione each collected two shots apiece.
Taintor and Erik Sa paced the Scarlet Knights with two shots each. Akron turned in a strong defensive effort limiting Rutgers' leading scorer and Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Jason Wright, to only one shot.
Jake Fenlason notched two saves for the Zips, while David Greczek made six stops for the Scarlet Knights.
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 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.
Sam Gainford netted a game-high eight shots for the Zips, including three on frame. Sophomore Stuart Holthusen 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 fueled 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 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.
LARYEA EARNS PAIR OF NATIONAL HONORS
Richie Laryea was named this week by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com to their National Men's Soccer Teams of the Week.
Laryea turned in his team-leading fourth multi-goal performance, while adding an assist, to spark the Zips to a 6-1 triumph over Rutgers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 22, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
Laryea recorded his sixth assist of the season with a finishing pass to Stuart Holthusen, who capitalized in the 13th minute (12:28) against the Scarlet Knights to give Akron a 2-0 lead.
Seventeen seconds later, Laryea pushed Akron's lead to 3-0 connecting on an unassisted tally at the 12:45 mark. The goal was Laryea's team-leading 10th of the season.
Laryea posted his second goal of the game finding the back of the net for the 11th time in 2015 at the 17:39 mark.
On the campaign, Laryea owns team-best marks in goals (11), points (28), shots on goal (25) and game-winners (3), while rating third in assists (6) and shots (51).
A LEAGUE-BEST EIGHT ZIPS GARNER ALL-MAC ACCOLADES
Led by Sam Gainford, Stuart Holthusen and Richie Laryea, Adam Najem, redshirt junior Brad Ruhaak 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 46 games in which he has appeared in as a Zip, registering 176 saves and 16 shutouts en route to posting a 32-10-4 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 21 games this season and owns 85 saves and eight shutouts.
Sepe has appeared in 40 games as a Zip, including making 29 starts. He has recorded five goals, while adding six assists on 68 shots, including 27 on goal during his career at Akron. This season, he has posted two goals and three assists on 33 shots.
Souders is a two-time first-team All-MAC honoree and has played in a team-best 81 games as a Zip, including 69 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 five wins over ranked opponents. In contests versus ranked foes, Laryea, Najem, Gainford and Holthusen have registered five, three, two and twp goals, respectively.
Laryea leads the group with four assists, while Najem has collected three helpers. 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 21 games, the trio of Laryea, Najem and Gainford are among the nation's scoring leaders having posted 11, nine and eight goals, respectively, entering Akron's showdown with SMU on Sunday, Nov. 29. The group also ranks, first, second and third on the team in assists with Najem, Gainford and Laryea having contributed 10, seven and six 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
• Akron advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last eight seasons and first since the 2012 with its 6-1 triumph over Rutgers.
• The Zips are rated first in goals (6), goals per tilt (6.0) and shots per game (25.0), second in points per contest (16.0), third in assists per contest (4.0), sixth in assist (4) and eighth in goals allowed (1) in NCAA Tournament play.
• Akron's six goals against Rutgers marked the most for the Zips in an NCAA Tournament affair since registering a 7-0 victory past Green Bay in 1983.
• The multi-goal efforts from Holthusen and Laryea marked the first for an Akron player in a NCAA Tournament game since Reinaldo Brenes netted a pair of tallies in a 3-2 opening-round victory against Indiana in 2013.
• The victory enabled Akron to improve to 14-4-7 in NCAA Tournament games since 2005, while also pushing the Zips' record this season versus the Big Ten Conference to 4-0-1.
• Akron's win also enabled the Zips to go to 10-0-2 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field in NCAA Tournament contests since 2008.
• Akron will encountering SMU for the fourth time in program history. The Zips own a 2-1-0 series advantage over the Mustangs, including a 3-2 NCAA Tournament second-round road triumph in 2011.
• 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 on Nov. 15.
• The Zips have played some of their best soccer at home this season as Akron enters its game versus SMU on Sunday, Nov. 29, with 12 players having contributed points. Leading the way with 21, 17, 16, 14 and 14 points, respectively, is Richie Laryea (eight goals and five assists), Adam Najem (five goals and seven assists), Stuart Holthusen (six goals and four assists), Sam Gainford (four goals and six assists), and Victor Souto (six 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. 23) to have three players owning eight or more goals. The Zips' trio of Richie Laryea (11), Adam Najem (9) and Sam Gainford (8) have combined to register 27 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 and Richie Laryea's two-goal outbursts versus Rutgers on Nov. 22, Akron has recorded 10 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 four 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 (11), shots (51), shots on goal (25), points (28), game-winners (3) and assists (6).
• 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 four 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 51 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 (six goals and three assists) and Adam Najem (two goals and five assists) and have paced the Akron attack registering 15 and nine points, respectively, while Richie Laryea and Sam Gainford have added a pair of tallies. As a team, the Zips are averaging 3.20 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 40 of Akron's 51 goals this fall.
• Jake Fenlason, Adam Najem, Brad Ruhaak, Andrew Souders and Victor Souto have started each of Akron's 21 games this season.
• Four Zips currently owns starting streaks of 30 or more games in which they have played led by Adam Najem (55), Jake Fenlason (46), Andrew Souders (44) and Richie Laryea (39).
• The Zips are rated eighth nationally in attendance averaging 2,108 fans per contest.
• Adam Najem is currently ranked fifth, sixth, ninth, 10th and 17th, respectively, among active NCAA career leaders in total assists (23), assists per contest (0.36), total points (77), points per game (1.20) and goals (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 16 victories this season, Sam Gainford, Richie Laryea, Adam Najem, Stuart Holthusen, Sean Sepe and Victor Souto have recorded 49, 44, 41, 28, 21 and 21 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 28, 28 and 23 points, respectively, from Adam Najem, Richie Laryea and Sam Gainford.
• Sam Gainford has already amassed a career-best eight goals through 21 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 SMU owning 23 points.
• Richie Laryea's 11 goals and six assists represent career-high marks.
• Despite having only registered four shots on the campaign, 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 17 of the squad's last 27 matches, including on 16 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 five 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), No. 23 Rutgers (3-1 on Nov. 22) 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 24-3-2 record in its last 29 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 (23), points (77), shots (148) and shots on goal (71). Andrew Souders leads active Zips on the roster in games played (81) and in contests started (69).
• 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. SMU, 3-2 (Nov. 20, 2011)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas - Behind a pair of goals from Darren Mattocks, Akron danced into the Round of 16 for the fourth-consecutive season with a 3-2 victory at sixth-seeded SMU.
Mattocks opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and found the net again in the 76th minute to lead the Akron attack.
His third goal, which gave the Zips a 3-0 lead with less than 15 minutes to play, proved to be the difference as Akron survived a scare from the Mustangs, who cut the margin to one with two goals coming just 34 seconds apart. Both goals came in the 83rd minute and on set pieces; the second on a penalty kick.
But the resilient Akron side kept its composure and finished out the match.
Luke Holmes added Akron's second goal in the 63rd minute off a direct free kick from 28 yards out. Holmes fired a low, one-hopper through the SMU wall and past Mustangs' keeper Jaime Ibarra, who finished with eight saves. Holmes, who also sprung Mattocks on Akron's third goal with a long pass from midfield, recorded a game-high six shots, four on frame.
Although the shots' margin was close, with Akron holding a 18-16 edge, the Zips were clearly the more dangerous team for the large majority of play with 11 shots on goal, compared to five for SMU. In fact, all but one Mustangs' shot on frame came in the second half when they were chasing the equalizer recklessly.
Holmes had the game's first scoring chance in the sixth minute with a shot from straight on, but Ibarra dove to his right to make the stop. Scott Caldwell also had an opportunity in the 21st minute when Holmes slipped him the ball near the middle of the penalty area. But once again, Ibarra was there again to turn the Zips away.
UA's persistence paid off just one minute later however when Mattocks found the net for the second consecutive game on a beautiful sequence.
Aodhan Quinn, who had the ball deep in Mustangs' territory, kicked it out to DeAndre Yedlin, who was waiting near the top right corner of the box. He then followed with a cross into the penalty area where Mattocks buried it near back post with a diving header from close range.
Akron kept up its pressure and found the second goal in the 63rd minute after Thomas Schmitt was taken down from behind in the middle of the field. Holmes made the Mustangs pay with his first goal of the NCAA Tournament.
Holmes then provided the entry pass that sprung Mattocks in the 76th minute. Mattocks, who took the pass in stride, beat his man then slammed the ball home for what would prove to be the eventual game winner..
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 (.820) through games of Nov. 22 with an overall record of 156-26-21. The Zips are followed by Creighton, 130-35-23 (.753), Maryland, 142-38-28 (.750), North Carolina, 130-40-30 (.725), Connecticut, 123-36-38 (.721), Wake Forest, 123-44-27 (.704) 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 92-7-12 (.883) 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 opened the Eastern Conference aggregate-goal finals with a 2-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Nov. 22, while Portland bested FC Dallas, 3-1, in the Western Conference aggregate-goal finals on Nov. 22. The final games in the series will be played on Sunday, Nov. 29.
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 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 second time in program history on Nov. 29 when Akron hosts SMU on Sunday. The Zips registered a 2-0 victory past Stanford in the third round of the NCAA Tournament 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 Quarterfinal round versus the winner of the Creighton/North Carolina game.
