The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
West Virginia
Key MAC Showdown Ahead as Akron Hosts West Virginia
October 21 | Men's Soccer
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MATCH NOTES NO. 14 VS. WEST VIRGINIA (PDF)
No. 22 Akron (7-4-2, 2-0-0 MAC) vs. West Virginia (6-5-1, 0-2-0 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 22
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 7:30 p.m. ET
Live Stats: www.akronstats.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
WHAT'S AHEAD
A pivotal Mid-American Conference showdown awaits the University of Akron men's soccer team as the squad welcomes West Virginia to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field on Saturday, Oct. 22. The Zips are looking to gain valuable points in the league standings when the team battles the Mountaineers at 7:30 p.m.
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia (6-5-1, 0-2-0 MAC) comes into play this Saturday, Oct. 22, having suffered setbacks in each of its last four contests, including a 2-1 home loss versus Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 15. Senior Felix Angerer, junior Jad Arslan and sophomore Tucker Stephenson have directed the offensive exploits of the Mountaineers having each recorded two goals this season. Junior goalkeeper Jose Santos has been stellar in net for West Virginia owning a 0.65 goals against average on the strength of 35 saves and seven shutouts.
As a team, the Mountaineers are ranked eighth in the NCAA in shutout percentage (0.58), 17th in goals against average (0.65), 24th in save percentage (.814) and 40th in shots per game (14.08).
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday evening's game is the 18th meeting between Akron and West Virginia. The Zips lead the all-time series, 14-2-1. A year ago, Akron earned a 3-2 home triumph past the Mountaineers on Nov. 13, 2015, after besting West Virginia, 2-0, on Oct. 18, 2015, Morgantown, W. Va.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
No. 4 Akron def. West Virginia, 3-2 (Nov. 13, 2015)
AKRON, Ohio - Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) registered a pair of goals and Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) added another to direct the fourth-ranked Zips to a 3-2 victory over West Virginia in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Championship at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Mountaineers outshot Akron in the affair, 15-13, including 9-5 on goal.
Holthusen directed the Zips' offensive attack with a game-high five shots, while adding four, two and two shots, respectively, was Najem, Richie Laryea and Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England).
Zak Leedom led West Virginia with a team-high four shots, including three on frame, while Jamie Merriam added three strikes.
Jake Fenlason pulled in seven saves for the Zips, while corralling two saves for the Mountaineers was Alec Boerner.
Najem opened the scoring in the affair registering a goal at the 22:23 mark. Najem served a free kick from just outside the box into the corner of the net to give Akron an early 1-0 advantage.
The Zips carried the 1-0 lead into the intermission on the strength of outshooting the Mountaineers in the initial stanza, 8-6.
Holthusen netted what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 49th minute (48:58) collecting a ball served into the middle by Najem and delivering a strike from the top of the box past Boerner.
The Mountaineers got on the board at the 67:48 mark when a ball served into the box by West Virginia was accidentally headed into the goal by an Akron defender for an own goal.
Five seconds later at the 67:53 mark off the restart off the goal, Holthusen registered his second goal of the evening to extend the Zips' lead to 3-1.
Merriam rounded out the scoring finding the back of the net in the 72nd minute (71:17) off an assist from Mike Desiderio to bring West Virginia to within one, 3-2.
THE COACHES
West Virginia: Marlon LeBlanc is in his 10th season as head coach of the West Virginia program, owning a 92-69-27 (.561) record. Overall in 11 years as a head coach, LeBlanc owns a 96-72-27 (.562) mark.
Akron: In his fourth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 10th season overall, is Jared Embick, who has a 55-17-8 mark (.738), including 102-38-18 (.703) 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 2016 campaign marks his fourth year leading the Zips having registered a 55-17-8 (.738) ledger after posting an 18-3-3 record 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 165-30-24 (.808), including a 50-2-2 (.944) mark in Mid-American Conference play, while securing eight conference tournament titles, nine trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in an NCAA final.
Recording their 15th consecutive double-digit victory campaign, the Zips finished the 2015 season ranked No. 3 nationally with an 18-3-3 ledger, including 4-0-1 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 No. 4 national seed and a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the 30th time in program history.
The Zips became one of just five Division I programs to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past nine seasons with their 30th overall selection.
Akron was led by the play of Adam Najem and Richie Laryea, who garnered second- and third-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America accolades, respectively, en route to directing the Zips to rank second in the NCAA in points (159), goals (56), and scoring offense (2.33), third in points per game (6.63) and shots per contest (17.54), fourth in assists (47), seventh in winning percentage (.813) and 10th in shots on goal per game (7.13).
The Zips also found success in the classroom as Akron boasted a team 3.1955 grade-point average, while Najem was tabbed a first-team NSCAA Academic All-American.
Led by Sam Gainford, Stuart Holthusen, Laryea, Najem, Brad Ruhaak and Andrew Souders, who were selected as first-team All-MAC men's soccer selections, eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades a year ago. Additionally, Jake Fenlason and Sean Sepe were recognized as second-team selections.
The Zips came into the campaign maintaining a No. 25 preseason ranking by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as well as being tabbed preseason No. 24 by College Soccer News.
After opening the season splitting a pair of matches at VCU and Old Dominion, Akron rolled off three consecutive victories over ranked opponents registering a 1-0 triumph at No. 4 Georgetown before notching a 3-2 road win at No. 6 Maryland and then opening its home campaign downing No. 14 Saint Louis, 3-2.
In a rematch of its 2014 NCAA Tournament showdown, the Zips battled Ohio State to a 3-3 double-overtime draw before No. 8 Wake Forest bettered Akron, 2-1.
The Zips then began a run of seven straight wins with a 2-0 triumph at No. 25 UC Santa Barbara.
Akron followed with victories past Penn State (1-0), UAB (2-1 in OT), Santa Clara (2-0), Buffalo (2-1), Northern Illinois (4-0) and Michigan State (4-1) before earning a 1-1 double-overtime draw at Western Michigan.
Akron closed out the month of October recording a 2-0 win at West Virginia before dropping a 4-2 decision against No. 25 UCLA to open the month of November.
The Zips registered a 4-0 victory over Bowling Green to earn the right to host the MAC Championship at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field after claiming the schools 18th regular season league title.
Akron captured the MAC Tournament crown with a 1-0 victory past Buffalo before opening NCAA Tournament play downing No. 25 Rutgers, 6-1, in the tournament's second round.
The Zips continued tournament besting No. 11 SMU, 2-1, before earning a 3-2 overtime victory over No. 3 Creighton in the Elite Eight to advance to the College Cup where Akron battled eventual national champion Stanford to a 1-1 double-overtime draw, before the Cardinal advanced on penalty kicks, 8-7 in 10 rounds.
In January, 2016, Laryea became the 11th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection seventh overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City.
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 BATTLES PENN STATE TO 2-2 DOUBLE-OVERTIME DRAW
Stuart Holthusen's two-goal performance directed the Zips to a 2-2 double-overtime draw at Penn State in men's soccer action on Tuesday, Oct 18.
Holthusen garnered three of his team-high five shots in overtime for Akron, and narrowly missed connecting on a golden goal with a header in the 109th minute (108:25).
Holthusen finished the affair posting his team-best fourth career multi-goal tilt to direct the Zips to a 23-18 advantage in shots, including a 9-1 difference in overtime. Sam Gainford, Adam Najem, freshman Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario), senior Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) and freshman Jonathan Lewis (Plantation, Fla.) added four, three, three, two and two shots, respectively, to Akron's offensive attack. Dayonn Harris and Connor Maloney combined to post 12 shots for Penn State in the affair.
Sophomore goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) made six saves for the Zips, while his counterpart, Evan Finney also corralled six stops.
Holthusen garnered his first goal of the season at the 10:59 mark to give the Zips an early 1-0 advantage. Earning the assist on the tally was redshirt junior Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia).
Penn State bettered Akron in shots in the initial stanza, 9-7, including 5-3 on goal.
Maloney netted the equalizer for the Nittany Lions in the 66th minute (65:24) to square the contest at one off an assist from Harris.
Maloney gave Penn State a 2-1 lead at the 74:30 mark, as he slotted in a ball past Lundt off of a defensive deflection.
Holthusen recorded his second tally of the evening in the 81st minute (80:40) to level to score at two, heading in a cross from the corner of the box off the foot of freshman Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.).
The Zips bettered the Nittany Lions in shots on goal over the final 45 minutes of regulation, 4-3, despite being outshot overall, 9-7.
GAINFORD SPARKS ZIPS TO 7-0 VICTORY AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Propelled by four first-half goals, Akron cruised to a 7-0 Mid-American Conference victory past Northern Illinois on Oct. 15.
The Zips bettered the Huskies in the affair in shots, 18-7, including 9-3 on goal. Sam Gainford directed Akron's offensive attack with a game-high four shots, while redshirt junior Robby Dambrot (Akron, Ohio), junior Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.), Jonathan Lewis and Adam Najem added two shots apiece. Adam Lightner and Christian Molina collected two shots each for Northern Illinois.
Ben Lundt and redshirt freshman keeper Nick Costa (North Royalton, Ohio), in his collegiate debut, combined to earn Akron's seventh shutout of the season. Lundt played the first 79 minutes in the tilt and made one save before yielding to Costa, who closed out the affair with one stop over the final 11 minutes. Drew Donnally pulled in two saves for the Huskies.
Gainford scored what proved to be the game-winning tally in the fourth minute (3:16) beating Donnally for his first goal of the season. Delivering the assist off a cross was redshirt freshman Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio).
Gainford again found the back of the net at the 27:12 mark, courtesy of an assist from Stuart Holthusen, to extend the Zips' lead to 2-0. The tally enabled Gainford to record his third career multi-goal performance of his career and first since scoring twice in a 3-2 win past Saint Louis on Sept. 11, 2015.
Redshirt junior Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal) notched his initial collegiate score for the Zips in the 31st minute (30:26) to push Akron's advantage to 3-0. Cordeiro headed the ball in off assists from Dambrot and Gainford.
After many close scoring opportunities up this point in his career, Dambrot was rewarded for his tenacity capitalizing on his first career goal at the 42:42 mark to send the Zips into the intermission leading 4-0.
Brad Ruhaak netted his third goal of the season in the 49th minute (48:43) off an assist from Pau Belana to extend the Zips' margin to 5-0.
A pair of first-ever collegiate goals from De Vera and freshman Reggie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario) at the 56:20 and 77:03 marks, respectively, capped the scoring for the Zips.
De Vera's tally was unassisted, while junior Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) and Harter earned assists on Laryea's goal.
NAJEM AMONG THE NCAA'S ELITE
One of the most dynamic players in men's collegiate soccer, Adam Najem enters play this Saturday, Oct. 22, versus West Virginia as the only active men's soccer player in Division 1 to have scored more than 25 career goals and registered 25 or more career assists. He has amassed 33 goals and 27 assists in 80 career games. Najem is currently ranked second, third, third, fifth, eighth and 10th, respectively, among active career leaders in assists (27), games played (30), points (93), goals (33), assists per contest (0.34) and points per game (1.16). Across all divisions of men's soccer, Najem is rated 15th in games played and 18th in assists.
NAJEM RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF NATION'S BEST PLAYERS
Adam Najem has been named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Midseason National Top 100 list of men's collegiate soccer players. Najem checked in at No. 24 on the midseason rankings.
Najem has started all 13 games for the Zips this season owning team-high marks in goals (5), points (3), shots (31) and shots on goal (13), while ranking second in assists (3) and game-winners (1).
GAINFORD GARNERS CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL HONORS
Sam Gainford was selected by the Mid-American Conference as the MAC Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Monday, Oct. 17. Additionally, he was named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its National Team of the Week.
The conference award was the first in Gainford's career and marked the third weekly conference accolade for a Zip in 2016.
Gainford registered team-high marks in goals (2), points (5), shots (5), shots on goal (2) and game-winners (1) en route to leading Akron to a 1-1 mark this past week.
Gainford sparked the Zips to a 7-0 road victory at Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 15, collecting a pair of goals, while adding an assist.
Gainford scored what proved to be the game-winning tally in the fourth minute (3:16) beating goalkeeper Drew Donnally for his first goal of the season. He then again found the back of the net at the 27:12 mark to extend the Zips' lead to 2-0.
The tally enabled Gainford to record his third career multi-goal performance of his career and first since scoring twice in a 3-2 win past Saint Louis on Sept. 11, 2015.
Additionally, he posted one of eight shots for the Zips in a 2-1 setback at No. 14 Michigan State on Oct. 11.
OWNING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The recent successes of the Akron men's soccer program over the past 10 seasons (2007-present) can be attributed to its play in the month of October. Since the start of the 2007 campaign, the Zips own a 61-8-6 (.853) ledger in the month, including a 32-3-3 (.882) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
LEWIS MAKING HIS MARK
Jonathan Lewis has provided a dynamic presence for the Zips on the offensive end this season as he enters play versus West Virginia on Saturday, Oct. 22, second nationally among NCAA Division I freshmen having recorded a team-leading six assists on the campaign. Only Nick King (Bucknell) has recorded more assists as a freshman this season nationally.
TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM RECOGNIZES TRIO OF AKRON FRESHMEN
A trio of freshmen for the Zips this season in Nick Hinds, Jonathan Lewis and Marcel Zajac have been named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Midseason Men's Freshman Top-100 list. Hinds checks in at No. 5 nationally and is followed by Lewis at No. 10, while Zajac was tabbed at No. 44. Akron was one of two teams nationally to have a pair of freshman standouts chosen among the top 10 selections, joining North Carolina.
Hinds has appeared in 12 contests for the Zips as a rookie, including 10 starts, helping anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted seven shutouts. Offensively, he has added a pair of assists on six shots.
Lewis has played in all 13 matches for the Zips this fall, including 11 starts, and has been a key offensive playmaker for Akron owning a team-high six assists. He has also contributed 18 shots, including 10 on frame.
Having played in 10 tilts, including five starts, Zajac has recorded a goal on 17 shots, including six on goal.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Sam Gainford, Stuart Holthusen and Brad Ruhaak have paced the Akron attack registering two goals each. As a team, the Zips are averaging 2.80 goals per game en route to a 2-1-2 ledger.
• Since 2007, Akron owns a league record of 50-2-2 (.944) mark in the Mid-American Conference. Furthermore, the Zips have won 10 consecutive MAC regular season championships and seven of the last eight MAC Tournament titles.
• The Zips registered the sixth clean sheet of the season on their home pitch with a 4-0 win past Buffalo on Oct. 7, to extend Akron's unbeaten streak at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field to 12 straight dating back to the 2015 campaign.
• The Zips have proven a daunting task for visiting opponents over recent history as Akron has won nine or more home contests in every season since 2005, including earning 13 triumphs during the 2009 campaign. Through six games this season, the Zips own five home victories on the campaign.
• The Zips' offensive eruption in a 7-0 win over Northern Illinois, Oct. 15, marked the most goals in a game for Akron since registering a 7-1 decision past Michigan on Oct. 29, 2010. The seven-goal winning margin also represented the largest scoring difference for the Zips in a triumph since downing Wright State, 8-0, on Oct. 15, 2008.
•The Zips will be looking to continue their domination of the MAC over the last decade as Akron owns a 14-0-1 mark in conference road games during the regular season since the start of the 2001 campaign. Additionally, the Zips continued their league road success at Northern Illinois, Oct. 15, as Akron has registered a 5-0 record in league road tilts following a setback since 2007.
• The Zips are 3-3 this season versus ranked opponents following wins over No. 7 Georgetown (Aug. 26, No. 9 Seattle (Aug. 28) and No. 5 UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 12).
• Akron owns a 31-3-3 record in its last 37 home matches.
• In the process of earning a 4-0 win over Buffalo on Oct. 7, Akron extended its run of not allowing a home goal in 2016 to 560 minutes. Dating back to the 2015 campaign, the Zips have not surrendered a home tally in nearly 580 minutes (577:38).
• Following its 4-0 win over Buffalo, Akron owns a 22-1-1 mark all-time in MAC openers.
• 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.
• The Zips have posted a winning record in the month of September in each of the last 14 seasons, including a 3-3-1 mark this season.
• Akron's 2-0 triumph over No. 5 UC Santa Barbara, Sept. 12, marked the third win of the season for Akron over a ranked opponent through 13 games this season.
• Akron's 2-1 victory over Tulsa on Sept. 16 represented the 100th career coaching win for Zips' head coach Jared Embick.
• The Zips have made the most of the initial and final 15 minutes of their games this season as Akron has recorded 13 of its 26 goals in this span. Three of the Zips' seven tallies in the final 15 minutes have been game-winners.
• Akron has seen eight newcomers, including five true freshmen, earn playing time through 13 games this season. Of that group, Jonathan Lewis and Nick Hinds have started 11 and 10 contests, respectively, and have combined to record eight of the Zips' 26 assists on the campaign.
• Adam Najem owns 193 career shots, the fifth-highest total in program history. He is 11 shots behind Michael Apple for fourth place.
• Freshman Jonathan Lewis and Nick Hinds registered the first points in their Zips' careers as the duo netted two and one assist, respectively, versus Oregon State on Sept. 9.
• Akron has garnered scoring contributions from 18 players this year, while 19 players have recorded a shot. Of those players, all but one have placed a shot on goal.
• In just his second career contest and first start, Skye Harter posted a pair of tallies in a 2-0 victory over Oregon State on Sept. 9. It marked the first multi-goal game for a Zip since Stuart Holthusen recorded a pair of goals in a 6-1 win over Rutgers in the 2015 NCAA Tournament on Nov. 22, 2015.
• Akron has found success at home this season as the Zips own a 5-0-1 mark and have posted shutouts in each of those contests. Akron is averaging 18.2 shots per tilt at home, while limiting the opposition to 11.2 shots a game.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 10-6-1 mark against ranked opponents. In 2015, Akron registered seven victories over ranked opponents defeating No. 3 Creighton (3-2 on Dec. 5), No. 4 Georgetown (1-0 on Sept. 4), No. 6 Maryland (3-2 on Sept. 7), No. 11 SMU (2-1 on Nov. 29), 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).
• The Zips are ranked 13th nationally in attendance in 2016 averaging 2,566 in six home games. A year ago, Akron rated seventh nationally in attendance in 2015 averaging 2,187 fans per contest.
• On the season, Ben Lundt owns seven shutouts on the strength of 42 saves. His efforts helped the Zips extend their shutout streak dating back to last season to nearly 369 minutes (368.32) before the run was halted by a San Diego State penalty kick on Sept. 2 at the 60:55 mark.
• Akron's 1-0 victory over No. 9 Seattle represented the 50th career win for Zips' head coach Jared Embick at Akron.
• Tyler Sanda connected on his first-ever game-winning goal with his tally in the 88th minute (87:49) against No. 9 Seattle on Aug. 28.
• Najem is Akron's active career leader in goals (33), assists (27), points (93), shots (193) and shots on goal (90).
• Ben Lundt, Adam Najem, Danilo Radjen (Broadview Heights, Ohio) and Victor Souto were named all-tournament selections after leading the Zips to the title at the Akron Classic.
• By virtue of its back-to-back shutouts to open the 2016 campaign, Akron has now opened a season with consecutive shutouts for the sixth time in the last nine years.
• Brad Ruhaak's game-winning goal in a 1-0 win past Georgetown on Aug. 26, was the second of his career. He also netted game-winner in a 2-0 victory at West Virginia last season.
• Ben Lundt made the most of his Akron debut as he registered the shutout on the strength of two saves in a 2-0 win against No. 7 Georgetown on Aug. 26.
• Adam Najem has started in each of the last 71 games in which he has played in.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 26 of the squad's last 43 matches, including on seven occasions this season.
• Akron advanced to the College Cup for the fourth time (1986, 2009, 2010 and 2015) in program history in 2015.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 19-5-4 record.
• Najem and Brad Ruhaak have been named as team captains for the 2016 campaign.
• In all, the Zips have produced 22 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's of better than 3.20 in 2015 and 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.
• Richie Laryea became the 11th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection seventh overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City SC in January.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.808) through games of Oct. 20, with an overall record of 165-30-24. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 155-39-30 (.759), Creighton, 139-38-26 (.749), North Carolina, 140-43-32 (.726) and Connecticut, 134-40-38 (.722). Akron has made nine straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-15), earning a first-round bye in seven seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in seven of the last nine 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 99-7-13 (.887) 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.
RUHAAK NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Brad Ruhaak has been named a semifinalist for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award® in men's collegiate soccer. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
A mechanical engineering major, Ruhaak maintains a 3.651 cumulative grade point average.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Outside of academics and athletics, all candidates also have been consistently involved in community service on their campus or in their communities.
The men's candidate class will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C's of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2016 NCAA Men's and Women's College Cup® championships in December.
RUHAAK GARNERS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK HONORS
Brad Ruhaak was named by College Soccer News to its National Men's Soccer Team of the Week on Monday, Oct. 10, as well as by TopDrawerSoccer.com's National Men's Team of the Week on Oct. 11.
Ruhaak played a key role at both ends of the field to help spark the Zips to a 4-0 victory past Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference openers for both schools on Oct. 7, at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field.
Ruhaak scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the fifth minute (4:19) delivering a header within the six-yard box past Bulls' goalkeeper Joseph Kuta off a corner kick from Pau Belana.
Ruhaak led a defensive charge that allowed Akron to post its sixth shutout of the season and extend its run of not allowing a home goal in 2016 to 560 minutes.
KAHSAY EARNS NATIONAL AND LEAGUE ACCOLADES
Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea) was selected by the Mid-American Conference as the MAC Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 19.
The conference award was the first in Kahsay's career and marks the second weekly conference accolade for a Zip in 2016. He was also named by College Soccer News to its National Team of the Week on Sept. 19.
Kahsay turned in a strong week helping the Zips extend their then winning streak to three straight on the strength of team-high marks in goals (2) and point (4), while registering four shots, all on frame.
In Akron's 2-0 triumph past No. 5 UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 12, Kahsay recorded his first goal of the season in the 83rd minute (82:42) to secure the Zips' victory. He finished the affair posting two shots.
Kahsay followed notching his first career game-winning goal at the 87:18 mark to provide the difference in a 2-1 triumph at Tulsa on Sept. 16. He finished the tilt with two shots, both on frame.
NAJEM NAMED TO MAC HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Adam Najem added another accolade to his growing resume with his selection to the 2016 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Najem is one of 28 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. 6, 2017, 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 28, six finalists (three men, three women) will be chosen for the award. The winners will be announced in January.
LUNDT EARNS NATIONAL HONORS
Ben Lundt garnered recognition for his early season play as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) named him as their National Player of the Week on Aug. 30.
Lundt also earned recognition by the Mid-American Conference as its Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week on Aug. 29, as well as by TopDrawerSoccer.com, who named him to its National Team of the Week. On Aug. 31, he was selected by an online vote at the NCAASoccer.com National Player of the Week.
EMBICK GARNERS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Akron head coach Jared Embick received high praise for his efforts leading the Zips as TopDrawerSoccer.com named him as one of the Top-10 coaches in the country.
TopDrawerSoccer.com described Akron as a machine with talented young players, and much of that goes down to Embick's aesthetic. Akron seeks to dominate possession, build from the back and create scoring opportunities that way. That, in turn, creates well-rounded pros.
ZIPS PAIR WITH TEAM IMPACT TO ADD MAVERICK WESTOVER TO 2016 ROSTER
The University of Akron men's soccer team and head coach Jared Embick announced the signing of Maverick Westover on Aug. 19. The 11-year-old Akron native, signed a national letter of intent to join the Zips' men's soccer squad this season.
Team IMPACT, an organization that connects children facing chronic or life threatening illnesses to college athletic teams in an effort to improve their quality of life, orchestrated Maverick's recruitment with the Akron men's soccer program.
Maverick deals with Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID), which makes him highly susceptible to infection, especially in his lungs, sinuses, and ears.
ZIPS PRIMED FOR BIG THINGS IN 2016
The Zips enter the 2016 campaign looking to build upon an 18-3-3 mark last season, including a 4-0-1 ledger in the Mid-American Conference, an return to the College Cup in search of winning the program's second national championship.
Akron is seeking to integrate 12 newcomers Manuel Cordeiro, Jackson Crawford (Massillon, Ohio), Nick Hinds, Joe Korb (Willowick, Ohio), Reggie Laryea, Jonathan Lewis, Ben Lundt, Alex Mapp (Medina, Ohio), Jesus Perez (Waukegan, Ill.), Jeremy Pollard (Sydney, Australia), Tor Saunders (Bothell, Wash.) and Marcel Zajac this season onto a roster that boasts seven returning starters from a year ago.
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 fourth-year head coach Jared Embick, were picked to repeat as conference champions in the MAC Coaches Preseason poll with five first-place votes. Akron (29 points) was followed by Western Michigan (17 points), who also garnered a first-place tally.
Rounding out the rest of the poll was 2015 MAC Tournament participants West Virginia (16 points) and Buffalo (15 points), along with Bowling Green (11 points) and Northern Illinois (two points).
Also voted on by the coaches was the predicted 2016 MAC Tournament Champion where Akron was a unanimous selection to repeat as league tournament winner.
NAJEM, SOUTO AND HINDS RECOGNIZED TO TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
Three University of Akron men's soccer standouts were recognized as some of the game's best when TopDrawerSoccer.com unveiled its Men's Preseason Best XI squads.
Adam Najem was honored as a first-team honoree in the midfield, while Victor Souto and freshman Nick Hinds were recognized as third- and freshman-team selections.
NAJEM AND SOUTO GARNER MEN'S NATIONAL TOP 100 HONORS
Adam Najem and Victor Souto were honored as members of the initial Men's National Top 100 list compiled by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Najem was tabbed as the No. 2 player in the country, while Souto came in at No. 32.
NAJEM AND LARYEA EARN 2015 ALL-AMERICA HONORS
University of Akron men's soccer standouts Adam Najem and Richie Laryea garnered All-America accolades when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) unveiled its 2015 All-American teams on Dec. 11, 2015. Both Zips earned All-America status for the first time in their respective Akron careers as Najem and Laryea were tabbed as second- and third-team honorees. The NSCAA All-America citations were the 54th and 55th in the Zips' storied men's soccer history.
NAJEM SELECTED AS FIRST-TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN
Adam Najem was selected as a First-Team Scholar All-America award winner when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) unveiled its 2015 Scholar All-American team last season.
Najem became the sixth Zip to garner First-Team NSCAA Scholar All-America accolades and the first since Reinaldo Brenes in 2013. The NSCAA Scholar All-America citation was the ninth in the Zips' storied men's soccer history, while also marking the 22nd overall academic All-America honor in program history.
SANDA NAMED 2015 ELITE 90 WINNER
Tyler Sanda was named the recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 award for the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.
In its seventh year, the award recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
Sanda appeared in 14 games for Akron this past fall and registered a pair of goals, while adding two assists. He maintains a 3.954 GPA majoring in biology.
DECISION DAY LOOMS AS MLS PLAYOFF FIELD NEARLY SET
The final day of the MLS regular season awaits on Sunday, Oct. 23, as all 20 teams will square off at the same time with six squads vying for he final four postseason berths. Colorado Rapids (Dillon Serna), D.C. United (Chris Korb), Montreal Impact (Evan Bush) have all qualified for the playoffs, while several former Zips' teams still in contention include; New England Revolution (Teal Bunbury and Scott Caldwell), Portland Timbers (Darren Mattocks, Darlington Nagbe, Zarek Valetin and Ben Zemanski) and Sporting KC (Saad Abdul-Salaam).
KITCHEN AND YEDLIN ADDED TO USMNT ROSTER FOR PAIR OF FRIENDLIES
Perry Kitchen and DeAndre Yedlin were added to the USMNT roster for a pair of recent friendlies as the Americans defeated Cuba, 2-0, Oct. 7, before they battled New Zealand to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Beginning in November, the USMNT embarks on the last leg of the journey to qualify for its eighth-consecutive World Cup. The six-team, 10-game Final Round – also known as the Hex – will span 11 months and see three teams from CONCACAF automatically qualify for Russia 2018.
KITCHEN SELECTED AS TEAM CAPTAIN FOR HEARTS SQUAD
Former Akron standout Perry Kitchen, the U.S. men's national team midfielder, was named captain of Heart of Midlothian, whom he joined in March after five seasons with D.C. United. He has played in eight matches this season, including three in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds.
MLS TOP 24 UNDER 24
The annual MLSsoccer.com's "24 Under 24" list was released on Sept. 22 and former Zip Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew) made the list checking in at No. 7.
Trapp, who was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection in 2011 and 2012 and a third-team NSCAA All-American in 2012, was previously tabbed as the fourth- and ninth-best prospect on the 24 under 24 list a in 2015 and 2014, respectively.
NAGBE AND YEDLIN HELP LEAD USMNT IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
A pair of former Zips in Darlington Nagbe and DeAndre Yedlin helped lead the USMNT as the Americans in their advancement to the Final Round of World Cup Qualifying, a.k.a. 'The Hex.' Yedlin started and played all 90 minutes in the United States' 6-0 victory in the semifinal round past St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 2. The United States propelled itself to the top spot in Group C of Semifinal Round CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, as well as a berth in the Final Round beginning in November with a 4-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago on Sept. 6, at Everbank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.
YEDLIN JOINS NEWCASTLE UNITED
Former Akron standout DeAndre Yedlin recently joined Newcastle United after transferring from Tottenham Hotspur and signing a five-year deal. A year ago, he joined Sunderland on loan for the Premier League season from Tottenham. A 40-cap international, Yedlin made his debut in February 2014 and had represented his country at the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Copa America
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 the Spaghetti Warehouse (510 S. Main Street). A free audio stream is available on www.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 junior MF/D Robby Dambrot is the son of Zips' men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot.
• Eleven Zips have had their names called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, including a league record five selections in the first eight picks in 2011 following the Zips' national championship season.
• Akron broke a second MLS record that day as seven Akron players were chosen in the first two rounds, the most from a single team in draft history.
• Zippy is just one of five female-gendered college mascots in Division I athletics. Do you know the other four? (YoUDee, the Delaware Blue Hen; Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State; Lucy Lobo of New Mexico; and Wilma Wildcat of Arizona).
UP NEXT
Akron faces the first of two in-state showdowns next week as the Zips travel to square off versus Ohio State on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Game time at Jesse Owens Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
