The University of Akron Athletics
Akron To Open NCAA Tournament Hosting Villanova
November 14 | Men's Soccer
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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer team learned its draw for the 2016 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Monday, Nov. 14, and the Zips (12-5-3) will host Villanova (10-7-3) in first-round action on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 5 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The winner of the match will advance to face No. 7 national seed Indiana (11-1-7) on Sunday, Nov. 20, in Bloomington, Ind.
Winner of the Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament titles, Akron will be making its 10th consecutive and 31st overall tournament appearance.
When postseason play begins, the Zips will join an elite group of just five Division I programs that have qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of the past 10 seasons. Only Indiana, Maryland, UCLA, and Virginia can share that claim.
Also seeded in the Zips' region are No. 2 Wake Forest (15-23), No. 10 Charlotte (12-3-2) and No. 15 Butler (13-5-1). The remaining top-four overall national seeds went to No. 1 Maryland (18-0-2), No. 3 Clemson (12-3-5) and No. 4 Louisville (12-5-2).
The 2016 College Cup will be played at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas., on Dec. 9 and 11.
The Zips, who have won four-consecutive matches and are 6-2-2 in their last 10 contests, will be making their 31st all-time appearance in the NCAA postseason. Akron has advanced to the round of 16 in six of the last eight seasons and captured the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010.
A year ago, Akron advanced all the way to the College Cup in Kansas City, Kan., where the Zips battled eventual national champion Stanford to a 0-0 double-overtime draw. The Cardinal advanced in the tournament by virtue of bettering the Zips in 10 rounds of penalty kicks, 8-7.
Villanova will be making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Wildcats enter the tournament at 10-7-3 overall and finished tied for third in the Big East Conference with a 5-3-1 mark. Villanova advanced to the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament after defeating DePaul in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks. The Wildcats then dropped a 1-0 double-overtime decision at Butler in the conference semifinals.
Tickets will be available on Tuesday, Nov. 15, by calling the Akron ticket office at 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. Prices are $15 for reserved, $10 for general admission and $35 for a family four-pack.
Those who have already purchased a postseason ticket package already have a ticket for Thursday's game between Akron and Villanova.
One thousand free tickets will be provided to University of Akron students with a valid Zip Card (limit one per Zip Card). Tickets can be picked up at Rob's dining hall Tuesday (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) or at the Student Union on Wednesday and Thursday (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.). Any extra tickets will be left at the ticket office for pickup at the game.
