The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
UC Santa Barbara
Key road showdown awaits Akron at UC Santa Barbara
September 24 | Men's Soccer
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MATCH NOTES NO. 8 VS. UC SANTA BARBARA (PDF)
No. 6 Akron (4-2-1) at No. 25 UC Santa Barbara (4-2-1)
Friday, Sept. 25
Harder Stadium (17,000)
Santa Barbara, Calif. • 10:30 p.m. ET
Live Stats:Â Â Â www.ucsbgauchos.com
Webstream:Â Â Â www.ucsbgauchos.com
WHAT'S AHEAD
A key road test awaits Akron as the Zips travel across the country to square off against 25th-rated UC Santa Barbara on Friday, Sept. 25. Game time at Harder Stadium is slated for 10:30 p.m. ET.
SCOUTING THE GAUCHOS
UC Santa Barbara (4-2-1) enters its tilt with Akron on Friday, Sept. 25, having won its last tw0 games, including a 4-2 triumph over UCLA on Monday, Sept. 21. Junior Nik DePuy is the Gauchos' leading scorer having registered a team-high six goals, while also pacing the squad in shots (26) and shots on goal (12). Freshman goalkeeper Justin Vom Steeg owns the majority of minutes in goal for UC Santa Barbara having recorded 14 saves and two shutouts en route to owning a 1.00 goals against average.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday evening's game is the third meeting between Akron and UC Santa Barbara in series history. The Gauchos have won both of the previous two encounters.
THE COACHES
UC Santa Barbara: Tim Vom Steeg is in his 17th season as head coach of the UC Santa Barbara program, owning a 222-94-37 (.681) record.
Akron: In his third year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and ninth season overall, is Jared Embick, who has a 34-12-4 mark (.720), including 81-33-14 (.688) 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 34-12-4 (.720) 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 144-25-20 (.815), 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.
WAKE FOREST EDGES AKRON, 2-1
In a battle of top 10 nationally ranked teams, a successful penalty kick by Michael Gamble proved to be the game-winning goal that lifted Wake Forest to a 2-1 victory over Akron in men's soccer action on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Zips recorded six of their eight shots on goal over the final 45 minutes to mount a furious second-half attack in the affair, but Akron was not able to net the equalizer as the Demon Deacons outshot the Zips in the game, 18-14.
Wake Forest took the early advantage in the showdown as Jon Bakero capitalized off passes from Jack Harrison and Kris Reaves to notch his third goal of the season from eight yards out at the 20:54 mark.
Sophomore Richie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario (Canada)) was played into the box by junior Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) and was able to spin around a beat the defender to net the game-tying goal for the Zips in the 30th minute (29:10).
Akron entered the intermission tied at one despite the Demon Deacons posting an 11-3 advantage in shots in the initial stanza.
The Zips were whistled for a handball in the box in the 51st minute (50:39) that set the stage for a Wake Forest penalty kick. Stepping over the ball and delivering his team-leading sixth goal of the season was Gamble.
The Zips nearly squared the contest at two at the 62:48 mark when junior Victor Souto (Sao Paolo, Brazil) slid a ball into the box for redshirt sophomore Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), who was denied in his shot attempt by a save from Wake Forest goalkeeper Alec Ferrell.
Laryea followed with a strong shot on goal in the 73rd minute (72:16) that was again stopped by a Farrell save.
A corner kick by Gainford at 79:44 mark squared the ball into the box to senior Andrew Souders (Amherst, Ohio), whose shot on the goal was denied by a save from Ferrell.
The Zips registered three shots, including a pair from sophomore Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.), over the final 10 minutes, but were not able to find the back of the net.
Laryea and senior Sean Sepe (West Islip, N.Y.) paced the Akron offensive attack with three shots apiece, while Gainford, De Vera and redshirt junior Goncalo Soares (Lisbon, Portugal) added two shots each.
Senior Jake Fenlason (San Diego, Calif.) recorded seven saves for the Zips.
ZIPS AND BUCKEYES BATTLE TO 3-3 DRAW
Five second-half goals highlighted a spirited in-state showdown in which then seventh-rated Akron and Ohio State fought to a 3-3 double-overtime draw on Sept. 16, before 3,889 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Zips twice overcame second-half deficits to net the equalizer and eventually force the contest in overtime where Akron outshot the Buckeyes in extra time, 7-2, including 3-2 on net.
Sean Sepe opened the scoring in the affair in the eighth minute (7:44) connecting on his first goal of the season chesting the ball past Ohio State goalkeeper Chris Froschauer to give the Zips a 1-0 advantage. Registering the first of three assists on the night after playing the ball in from the corner to a charging Sepe was Sam Gainford.
The Zips held a 1-0 lead at the intermission despite being outshot in the initial stanza, 7-6, including 3-2 on goal.
Danny Jensen netted the equalizer for the Buckeyes in the 49th minute (48:09) off an assist from Kyle Culbertson.
Culbertson gave Ohio State a 2-1 advantage in the 56th minute (55:15) delivering a ball from approximately 13 yards out. Garnering the assist with a solid ball from the corner was Yaw Amankwa.
Inserted into the game in the 64th minute, redshirt sophomore Tyler Sanda (North Royalton, Ohio) made the most of his opportunity scoring his first career goal on a sliding shot in front of the box at the 68.46 mark. Sanda was the beneficiary of strong passes into the box from Adam Najem and Gainford.
The momentum quickly swung back in favor of Ohio State as Abdi Mohamed extended the Buckeye's lead to 3-2 with his first goal of the season in the 70th minute (69:34). Collecting the assist on the tally was Hunter Robertson.
Scoring a dominating equalizer at the 76:43 mark with a header to score his fourth goal of the year was Najem. Gainford served a ball in from the corner that Najem propelled into the back of the net.
Sophomore Richie Laryea, senior Andrew Souders and Gainford notched shots on goal in overtime at the 96:34, 104:31 and 108:09 marks, respectively, that were stopped by saves from Froschauer.
Senior goalkeeper Jake Fenlason made two of his five saves for Akron in overtime. Froschauer registered six saves for Ohio State.
The Zips bettered the Buckeyes on the evening in shots, 24-13, including a 9-8 margin in shots on goal. Akron outshot Ohio State in the second half and overtime, 17-6.
Sepe recorded a game-high five shots, while Najem, Gainford and Laryea added four, three and three shots, respectively, to the Zips' offensive efforts.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• The Zips' game at UC Santa Barbara will mark 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 returns to the site of its greatest triumph 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 NCAA will release its initial RPI report of the 2015 campaign on Sept. 28.
• The Zips will be playing in only their sixth game in the state of California since 2000 when Akron battles UC Santa Barbara. In those contests, the Zips own a 3-1-1 mark with victories over Michigan (2-1) and Louisville (1-0) at the 2010 College Cup and a 2-1 double-overtime triumph past Cal State Northridge during the 2011 campaign.
• Akron owns a 3-3-1 overall record against the current men's soccer members of the Big WestConference.
• The Zips are rated 11th nationally in attendance averaging 3,046 fans per contest.
• Jake Fenlason recorded a season-high seven saves in Akron's 2-1 setback versus Wake Forest.
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Adam Najem has paced the Akron attack registering four goals and adding a pair of assists. Richie Laryea has contributed a trio of goals and assists over the same span, while as a team, the Zips are averaging 2.20 goals per game.
• In Akron's four victories this season, Adam Najem, Sam Gainford, Richie Laryea and Sean Sepe have recorded 13, 10, 10 and seven shots, respectively.
• Akron has benefited from scoring contributions from eight players this season, led by 11, 11 and nine points from Sam Gainford, Adam Najem and Richie Laryea.
• Sam Gainford has already amassed a career-best four goals through seven 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.
• Richie Laryea's three goals and three assists represent career-high marks.
• Despite having only registered one shot on the campaign, sophomore Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) owns a pair of assists on the year.
• Adam Najem is currently ranked 12th, 12th and 17th, respectively, among active NCAA career leaders in goals per game (0.44), total assists (17) and total goals (22).
• 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.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in seven of the squad's last 13 matches, including on five 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.
• Richie Laryea netted his first career multi-goal game knocking in a pair of tallies in Akron's 3-2 victory at No. 6 Maryland.
• The Zips own a trio of victories over ranked opponents this season having defeated No. 4 Georgetown (1-0 on Sept. 4), No. 6 Maryland (3-2 on Sept. 7) and No. 14 Saint Louis (3-2 on Sept. 11).
• Najem and Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) 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 17-2-2 record in its last 21 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.
• Najem is Akron's active career leader in goals (22), assists (17), points (61), shots (114) and shots on goal (55). Andrew Souders leads active Zips on the roster in games played (67) and in contests started (55).
• 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.
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.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
UC Santa Barbara def. Akron, 3-2 (OT) (Oct. 5, 2011)
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Third-ranked Akron suffered its first loss of the 2011 season in a 3-2 overtime decision at No. 19 Santa Barbara.
The Zips rallied back from a 2-1 deficit midway through the second half only to surrender a golden goal to UCSB's Luis Silva – who found the net twice in the game – 33 seconds into the first overtime period.
Darren Mattocks and Thomas Schmitt each found the net in a losing effort for Akron.
The Gauchos were in control early and had a few dangerous sequences, but two shots went wide, one hit the post and Akron goalkeeper David Meves, who finished with four saves on the night, came up with a pair of big stops of Silva and Michael David in the first 12 minutes of the contest.
The tide turned quickly however and the Zips began gaining momentum, starting when Mattocks buzzed a shot off the cross bar in the 12th minute and continued when Aodhan Quinn banged the left post with a turn-and-fire from 17 yards just two minutes later.
Akron kept pressing and finally broke through in the 15th minute when Wil Trapp slipped the ball to Mattocks, who lifted the ball from the left flank over UCSB keeper Andre Grandt and into the back right corner of the net.
The Zips, who pushed on, nearly went up 2-0 before the break but a goal by Luke Holmes was negated by an offsides call. As it was, Akron took a one-goal lead into the locker room at the half.
Akron's momentum did not carry over into the second half though, and Santa Barbara found the equalizer in the 64th minute when Silva finished a cross from Dom Sarle from 10 yards out.
Akron then trailed for the first time all season just minutes later when Sarle cleaned up a volley in front of the net.
But UCSB's lead didn't last long. The Zips pulled even in the 69th minute when Quinn sent a beautiful cross from the left side to Schmitt, who buried it for the goal.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.815) through games of Sept. 23 with an overall record of 144-25-20. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 134-35-25 (.755), Connecticut, 115-31-35 (.733), North Carolina, 121-39-28 (.718) and New Mexico, 109-41-19 (.701). 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 84-6-12 (.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.
SERNA AND TRAPP ADDED TO U.S. NATIONAL SQUAD 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 will be played from Oct. 1-13. The USA is seeking to earn a spot in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The United States was selected to play in Group A opening with a pair of games at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas, against Canada on Oct. 1 at 9 p.m. ET and Cuba on Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. ET. The squad will conclude group play at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on Oct. 6 against Panama at 9:30 p.m. ET.
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, Catalonia), Alonzo Clarke (New Carrollton, Md.), Nick Costa (North Royalton, Ohio), Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), Barth-Luther Mouafo (Potomac, Md.) and Goncalo Soares this season onto a roster that boasts nine returning starters from a year ago.
Included among the returnees are nine starters from the close of the 2014 campaign is a trio of first-team All-MAC performers in junior Adam Najem and seniors Jake Fenlason and Andrew Souders.
Sophomores Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) and Richie Laryea along with junior Victor Souto were tabbed as second-team All-MAC honorees in 2014.
Complimenting that quartet is the return of sophomore Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (Portland, Ore.), junior Brad Ruhaak and senior Sean Sepe, who were each starters in 2014.
AKRON TABBED TO CAPTURE MAC REGULAR AND POSTSEASON TITLES
Akron was tabbed to capture the Mid-American Conference regular and postseason titles in a preseason poll of six conference coaches.
The Zips under third-year head coach Jared Embick, were picked to repeat as conference champions in the MAC Coaches Preseason poll with three first-place votes. Akron (32 points) was followed by Western Michigan (28 points), who received two first-place votes, while West Virginia (28 points) also garnered a first-place tally.
Rounding out the rest of the poll was 2014 MAC Tournament runner-up Bowling Green (16 points), Buffalo (13 points) and Northern Illinois (nine points).
Also voted on by the coaches was the predicted 2015 MAC Tournament Champion. Akron received three of the six first-place votes. Western Michigan collected two championship votes and West Virginia garnered the final tally.
MLS TOP 24 UNDER 24 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 held its annual alumni reunion in conjunction with the Zips' clash against Saint Louis at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field on Friday, Sept. 11.
Akron head coach Jared Embick and the current Zips welcomed back all of the proud alumni that have contributed to the growth and development of the Akron men's soccer tradition over the course of the program's 61 years.
A pre-game tailgate and March to the Match festivities preceded the match. On Saturday, Sept. 12, the alums gathered to watch team training at 11 a.m. before a Varsity "A" Tailgate.
ON THIS DATE IN ZIPS HISTORY
The Zips will be playing for the 15th time in program history on Sept. 25 when Akron visits UC Santa Barbara on Friday. The Zips own a 7-7-0 mark in the previous 14 matches on the date registering victories over UIC (5-2 in 1976), Milwaukee (2-1 in 1982 and 2-0 in 1983), Ohio State (5-0 in 1985), Miami University (5-1 in 1990), Tulsa (3-0 in 1993) and Oakland (1-0 in 2005).
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
The Zips are nationally-ranked in several categories this season as of Sept. 21. As a team, Akron is rated 15th in scoring offense (2.14) and total goals (15), 20th in points per contest (6.14) and in shots on goal per game (6.86), 23rd in shots per contest (15.57), 25th in total points (43), 26th in total assists (13), 29th in assists per game (1.86), 45th in winning percentage (.643) and 49th in saves per game (4.43). Individually, Richie Laryea is ranked 33rd in assists per game (0.50), 40th in points per contest (1.50), 41st in shots on goal per game (1.67), 47th in total assists (3) and 65th in total points (9). Adam Najem is rated 36th in points per tilt (1.57), 38th in total goals (4) and in total points (11), 47th in total assists (3), 52nd in goals per game (0.57), 64th in assists per game (0.43) and 70th in shots per contest (3.00). Additionally, Sam Gainford is 36th in points per outing (1.57), 38th in total points (11) and in total goals (4), 47th in assists (3), 52nd in goals per game (0.57) and 64th in assists per game (0.43). Goalkeeper Jake Fenlason is rated 29th in total saves (31), 43rd in saves per game (4.43) and 53rd in minutes played (665:17).
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
The Zips return to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field on Wednesday, Sept. 30, for a 7 p.m. tilt versus No. 21 Penn State.
