The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Old Dominion
No. 24 Akron set to battle nationally-ranked ODU
August 29 | Men's Soccer
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MATCH NOTES NO. 2 VS. ODU (PDF)
No. 24 Akron (1-0) at No. 24 Old Dominion (0-1)
Sunday, Aug. 30
Old Dominion Soccer Complex (4,000)
Norfolk, Va. • 7 p.m.
Live Stats: www.odusports.com
Webstream (subscription-based): www.odusports.com
WHAT'S AHEAD
The Zips go in search of their second-consecutive victory when Akron faces No. 24 Old Dominion on Sunday, Aug. 30. Match time at the Old Dominion Soccer Complex is slated for 7 p.m.
SCOUTING THE MONARCHS
Old Dominion (0-1) enters its home contest versus Akron ranked 24th in the College Soccer News preseason poll. The Monarchs suffered a 2-0 setback in their season opener against No. 21 Coastal Carolina on Friday, Aug. 28. Old Dominion outshot the Chanticleers in the affair, 16-14, and were led by three shots apiece from juniors Jesse Miralrio and Cole Stringer and senior Ivan Militar. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Alex Tiesenhausen recorded four saves for the Monarchs.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's match marks the third regular season encounter between Akron and Old Dominion and first since 1990. The Zips own a 1-0-1 series advantage registering a 3-2 home overtime triumph on Sept. 10, 1988 before earning a 1-1 overtime draw at Old Dominion on Sept. 28, 1990.
THE COACHES
ODU: Alan Dawson is in his 19th season as head coach of the Monarchs' program, owning a 206-112-32 (.634) record. He maintains a 335-142-42 (.686) ledger in this his 28th campaign 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 31-10-3 mark (.739), including 78-31-13 (.693) 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 have registered a 31-10-3 (.739) 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 141-23-19 (.822), including a 44-2-1 (.947) 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.
GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS AKRON TO 3-2 DOUBLE-OVERTIME WIN AT VCU
A golden goal by sophomore Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.) in the 108th minute (107:09) lifted 24th-ranked Akron to a 3-2 season-opening victory past VCU (0-1) on Friday, Aug. 28.
The game-winning tally was set up by junior Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.), who served a ball into the box which Macchione struck with his head and sent past Rams' goalkeeper Garrett Cyprus.
The Zips (1-0) registered a 5-1 advantage in shots in overtime, including 2-1 on goal, en route to outshooting VCU on the night, 14-10. Each team posted six shots on goal.
Sophomore Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) and senior Sean Sepe (West Islip, N.Y.) sparked Akron each recording a match-high three shots, while redshirt sophomore Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) and redshirt junior Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) notched two shots apiece.
Senior Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) collected four saves for Akron, with all four stops coming in the second half and overtime.
In the 55th minute (54:48), Gainford connected on a strike from outside the box that found the back of the net to give Akron a 1-0 advantage.
The lead was short lived as Jason McGlothern netted the equalizer for the Rams at the 63:01 mark.
Gainford collected his second goal of the evening in the 78th minute (77:12) connecting on a bicycle kick for the go-ahead tally. He scored off an assist from Sepe.
Dennis Castillo forced overtime scoring at the 87:41 mark for the Rams to knot the score at two.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• Adam Najem and Brad Ruhaak have been named as team captains for the 2015 campaign.
• Akron finished the 2014 campaign with a 7-2-1 mark in its last 10 matches en route to winning the 2014 Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament championships.
• Senior goalkeeper Jake Fenlason, a first-team All-MAC honoree in 2014, registered 73 saves a season ago and posted a 0.78 goals against average and seven shutouts.
• Najem was selected by United State's Under-23 men's national team head coach Andi Herzog to attend a college identification training camp that allowed the coaching staff to evaluate collegiate players as the team continues preparations ahead of October qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The four-day camp ran Aug. 5-8 at the U.S. National Training Center in Carson, California.
• Akron owns a 16-1-1 record in its last 18 home matches.
• Since 2007, Akron owns a league record of 44-2-1 (.947) mark in the MAC. Furthermore, the Zips have won 10 consecutive MAC regular season championships and seven of the last eight MAC Tournament titles.
• In all, Akron leads all league members with 17 regular-season and 11 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 10 times after doing so in 2014.
• In 22 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 161 All-MAC honorees, including a conference-record nine first-team selections in 2010.
• In all, the Zips have produced 20 Academic All-American honors in its history, dating back to the 1998 season.
• Akron has long been associated with academic excellence. In addition to posting a team GPA of better than 3.37 in 2014, the Zips finished second in Division I in 2011-12 with a cumulative mark of 3.44. The remarkable feat follows years that saw the Zips post GPAs of 3.43 in 2010-11 and 3.33 in 2009-10.
• Akron garnered scoring contributions from 16 players last season, including eight freshmen.
• Najem is Akron's active career leader in goals (18), assists (14), points (50), shots (94) and shots on goal (46). Andrew Souders (Amherst, Ohio) leads active Zips on the roster in games played (61) and in contests started (49).
• 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.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.822) with an overall record of 141-23-19. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 131-33-23 (.762), Connecticut, 112-30-33 (.734), North Carolina, 116-39-27 (.712) and New Mexico, 104-40-18 (.698). Akron has made eight straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-14), earning a first-round bye in six seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in five of the last seven years. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 29 times, including each of the past eight seasons and 13 of the past 14.
PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Since 2007, the Zips have recorded an 83-5-11(.894) 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.
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 Friday, 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 enter the 2015 campaign looking to build upon an 13-6-2 mark last season, including a 4-1-0 ledger in the Mid-American Conference.
Akron is seeking to integrate six newcomers Pau Belana (Barcelona, Spain), 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 (Toronto, Ontario (Canada)) along with junior Victor Souto (Sao Paulo, Brazil) were tabbed as second-team All-MAC honorees in 2014.
Complimenting that quartet is the return of sophomore Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (Portland, Ore.), junior Brad Ruhaak and senior Sean Sepe, who were each starters in 2014.
AKRON TABBED TO CAPTURE MAC REGULAR AND POSTSEASON TITLES
Akron was tabbed to capture the Mid-American Conference regular and postseason titles in a preseason poll of six conference coaches.
The Zips under third-year head coach Jared Embick, were picked to repeat as conference champions in the MAC Coaches Preseason poll with three first-place votes. Akron (32 points) was followed by Western Michigan (28 points), who received two first-place votes, while West Virginia (28 points) also garnered a first-place tally.
Rounding out the rest of the poll was 2014 MAC Tournament runner-up Bowling Green (16 points), Buffalo (13 points) and Northern Illinois (nine points).
Also voted on by the coaches was the predicted 2015 MAC Tournament Champion. Akron received three of the six first-place votes. Western Michigan collected two championship votes and West Virginia garnered the final tally.
MLS TOP 24 UNDER 24 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) who was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection in 2011 and 2012 and a third-team NSCAA All-American in 2012.
At No. 11 is Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids). 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.
At No. 14 in Perry Kitchen (DC United). As a freshman in 2010, Kitchen 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.
EMBICK RECEIVES CONTRACT EXTENSION
Akron men's soccer head coach Jared Embick received a three-year contract extension, interim Director of Athletics Nathan J. Mortimer announced on July 17. The extension will keep Embick at the helm of the storied program through the 2018 season.
ZIPS WELCOME BACK ALUMNI
Akron will hold its annual alumni reunion in conjunction with the Zips' clash against Saint Louis at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field on Sept. 11.
Akron head coach Jared Embick and the current Zips welcome back all of the proud alumni that have contributed to the growth and development of the Akron men's soccer tradition over the course of the program's 61 years.
A pre-game tailgate and March to the Match festivities will precede the match. Alumni will gather at the Game Grill following the match. On Saturday, Sept. 12, the alums may watch team training at 11 a.m. before a Varsity "A" Tailgate. Zips football hosts Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field. A cigar/cognac fundraising event will follow the game.
ON THIS DATE IN ZIPS HISTORY
The Zips will be playing for the sixth time in program history on Aug. 30 when Akron faces Old Dominion on Sunday. The Zips own a 4-1 mark in the previous five matches on the date registering victories over Western Kentucky (3-0, 1986), Canisius (1-0, 1996), Northeastern (2-1, 1997) and College of Charleston (2-0, 2013). Akron's lone setback on the date was a 2-1 overtime loss at North Carolina in 2002.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
The Zips were nationally-ranked in several categories last season. As a team, Akron was 17th in total goals (37), 25th in goals against average (0.78), 26th in save percentage (0.815), 30th in scoring offense (1.76), 34th in winning percentage (.667), 35th in total points (100) and 42nd in points per game (4.76). Individually, Adam Najem was rated fourth, fifth, eighth, eighth and 24th nationally in total goals (14), total points (32), goals per contest (0.67), points per game (1.52) and game-winning goals (4). Goalkeeper Jake Fenlason was 27th in goals against average (0.785), 32nd in save percentage (0.811) and 53rd in total saves (53). Additionally, Saad Abdul-Salaam ranked 55th in total assists (6).
SEASON AND INDIVIDUAL-GAME TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Limited Reserved Bleacher Back ($110) and General Admission ($60) season tickets as well as individual-game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by logging on to GoZips.com/tickets, calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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 (Akron, Ohio) is the son of Zips' men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot.
• Akron men's soccer has produced 20 Academic All-Americans since 1998.
• Nine Zips have had their names called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, including a league record five selections in the first eight picks in 2011 following the Zips' national championship season.
• Akron broke a second MLS record that day as seven Akron players were chosen in the first two rounds, the most from a single team in draft history.
• Zippy is just one of five female-gendered college mascots in Division I athletics. Do you know the other four? (YoUDee, the Delaware Blue Hen; Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State; Lucy Lobo of New Mexico; and Wilma Wildcat of Arizona).
UP NEXT
Akron travels to Washington D.C., to square off against No. 3 Georgetown on Friday, Sept. 4. Match time at Shaw Field is slated for 4 p.m.
