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Villanova
Akron Squares Off Against Villanova in NCAA Tournament Opener
November 16 | Men's Soccer
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MATCH NOTES NO. 21 VS. VILLANOVA (PDF)
No. 23 Akron (12-5-3) vs. Villanova (10-7-3)
Thursday, Nov. 17
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 5 p.m.
Live Stats: www.akronstats.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
WHAT'S AHEAD
Akron opens its quest to capture its second-ever NCAA Championship on Thursday, Nov. 17, as the Zips welcome Villanova to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field for a first-round showdown. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
With Akron hosting American in men's basketball action on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m., fans attending the Zips' men's soccer contest are encouraged to park in the South Campus Parking Deck (Lot 36) located just off of Exchange Street or the East Campus Parking Deck (Lot 1) at the corner of Carroll and Spicer Streets. These will be the only free parking locations available for men's soccer.
ZIPS' NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Akron maintains an 25-24-8 mark in 57 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 4-1-2 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 16-4-8 ledger.
Senior Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) is Akron's active leader in NCAA Tournament games started (7). Junior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) owns a team-high three goals in career tournament play, while Najem and senior Goncalo Soares (Lisbon, Portugal) have recorded two and one tournament goal(s), respectively, in their Akron careers. Najem has registered a team-best four tournament assists as a Zip, while recording Holthusen owns one assist. Najem enters action versus Villanova as the team's NCAA Tournament career scoring leader with eight points on the strength of two goals and four assists.
Najem has recorded a team-best 20 shots, including 10 on goal. Najem, Holthusen, redshirt junior Robby Dambrot (Akron, Ohio), Soares, senior Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio), redshirt junior Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), junior Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.), redshirt sophomore Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea), senior Danilo Radjen (Broadview Heights, Ohio), redshirt junior Tyler Sanda (North Royalton, Ohio) and junior Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio), have recorded 21, 17, six, six, five, four, two, one, one, one and one shot, respectively.
AKRON VERSUS THE BIG EAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips bettered Georgetown, 1-0, on Aug. 26 in the lone encounter between Akron and a team from the Big East Conference this season.
• A year ago, the Zips bested Creighton in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals, 3-2, on Dec. 5, at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• In all, Akron is 19-3-9 (.758) versus teams from the Big East (Creighton (2-0-2), Georgetown (2-0-1), Marquette (8-1-4), St. John's (0-2-2), Seton Hall (1-0-0), Xavier (6-0-0)
SCOUTING VILLANOVA
Villanova (10-7-3) comes into play this Thursday, Nov. 17, 4-2-2 in its last eight contests after a 1-0 double-overtime setback at No. 15 Butler in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament on Nov. 10. Juniors Miguel Polley and Lucas Hodges have each posted a team-high six goals, while Polley paces the Wildcats in assists (8), shots on goal (21) and game-winners (3). Redshirt junior goalkeeper Will Steiner owns a 1.18 goals against average on the strength of 84 saves and five shutouts this season.
As a team, Villanova is ranked in 43rd in the NCAA in total goals (31), 48th in total points (88) and 50th in save percentage (.777).
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday afternoon's match is the first-ever meeting between Akron and Villanova
THE COACHES
Villanova: Tom Carlin is in his ninth season as head coach of the Villanova program, owning a 79-73-20 (.517) record. He is 178-96-29 (.635) in 15 years overall as a head coach.
Akron: In his fourth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 10th season overall, is Jared Embick, who has a 60-18-9 mark (.741), including 107-39-19 (.706) 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 60-18-9 (.741) 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 170-31-25 (.808), including a 51-3-3 (.921) 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.
HINDS PROPELS ZIPS TO MAC TITLE WITH 2-1 WIN OVER BUFFALO
Freshman Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.) picked an opportune time to register his first career multi-goal game as his scoring efforts combined with a smothering defensive performance propelled the Zips to a 2-1 victory past Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Championship game on Sunday, Nov. 13, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Zips garnered a season-best 25 shots in the affair, besting the Bulls in shots, 25-4, including 9-2 on goal.
Hinds and freshman Jonathan Lewis (Plantation, Fla.) each turned in a career- and game-high five shots for Akron, while redshirt juniors Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal) and Sam Gainford, Ezana Kahsay, Adam Najem and Stuart Holthusen tallied four, three, three, two and two shots, respectively. Russell Cicerone paced the Buffalo attack with a pair of shots.
Sophomore goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) recorded one save in net for Akron, while Joseph Kuta posted six stops for the Bulls.
The Zips dictated the pace of play in the initial stanza registering a 13-0 advantage in shots, but neither side was able to find the back of the net over the initial 30 minutes of play.
Hinds secured a 1-0 advantage for the Zips at the 31:09 mark accepting a pass in from the corner of the box by Gainford and delivering the ball past Kuta for his second goal of the season.
Akron carried the one-goal margin into the intermission, as the squad did not allow a first-half shot by Buffalo.
Hinds capped his first career multi-goal effort in at the 52:32 mark scoring his third tally on the campaign off an assist from Lewis to give the Zips a 2-0 lead. The assist was the team-leading 11th of the year for Lewis.
The Bulls didn't record their first shot of any kind in the match until Cicerone connected on his team-leading 14th tally of the year in the 63rd minute (62:53) to cut the Zips' lead to 2-1.
AKRON ADVANCES TO MAC TITLE GAME BETTERING WESTERN MICHIGAN, 4-0
The Akron men's soccer team garnered scoring contributions from four players as the Zips registered a 4-0 victory past Western Michigan in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Championship on Nov. 11, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Zips bettered the Broncos on the evening in shots, 16-7, including a dominating 10-2 advantage over the final 45 minutes. Akron posted a 6-2 margin in shots on goal en route to collecting its 10th clean sheet of the season.
Ezana Kahsay sparked the Zips in reserve duty with a game-high four shots, while Sam Gainford and Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) added three and two shots, respectively. Diego Lopez led Western Michigan with a team-high four shots.
Goalkeeper Ben Lundt made two saves in net for Akron to garner his 10th shutout of the year, including the eighth at home, while Drew Shepherd recorded two stops for the Broncos.
After a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes of play, Stuart Holthusen took control of a ball near the midfield and glided down the sideline in a 1v1 opportunity. He was able to move down the flank before sliding back into the box where he unfurled a laser that deflected off the shoulder of Nick Hinds into the back of the net for his team-leading seventh goal of the season at the 23:33 mark.
In the 36th minute (35:32), Western Michigan was whistled for a takedown in the box that resulted in a penalty kick for the Zips. Stepping to the line and delivering his fourth goal on the campaign was Gainford.
Akron carried a 2-0 lead into the intermission, outshooting the Broncos in the initial stanza, 6-5.
It was not long before Zajac stretched the margin to 3-0 at the 51:54 mark striking his third tally of the year. Earning the assist on the goal was Goncalo Soares.
Kahsay was rewarded for his tenacity going at the goal in the second half as he recorded his fourth goal on the campaign in the 60th minute (59:12). The tally was setup by a pair of beautiful passes from Hinds and Jonathan Lewis. The assist marked the team-leading 10th of the year for Lewis and fourth for Hinds.
LEAGUE-BEST EIGHT ZIPS EARN ALL-MAC HONORS
Led by Pau Belana and Adam Najem and Brad Ruhaak, who were selected as first-team All-Mid-American Conference men's soccer selections, a league-best eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades as announced by the league on Nov. 10.
Arguably the most well-rounded player in the conference, Najem, a first-team All-MAC honoree in each of his four seasons as a Zip, has started all 20 games for Akron this season, owning team-high marks in points (15), while ranking second in goals (5), assists (5), shots (45) and shots on goal (16) and third in and game-winners (1).
Ruhaak was named a first-team honoree for the second consecutive campaign, while Belana garnered All-MAC accolades for the first time.
Ruhaak, a team captain, has helped anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted 10 shutouts on the season. He has started all 20 matches for the Zips and has provided an offensive punch registering career-high marks in goals (4), assists (3), points (11), shots (21) and shots on goal (9).
Belana has played in all 20 games for Akron on the campaign, including 15 starts, and has posted a pair of assists on 13 shots, including netting five shots on goal.
Sam Gainford, Nick Hinds, Stuart Holthusen, Jonathan Lewis and Ben Lundt were tabbed second-team honorees.
Gaining All-MAC recognition for the second time was Gainford, who has appeared in 17 contests, including starting 15 games for the Zips this season, ranking first on the team in shots (46), second in shots on goal (16), while rating third in goals (4) and fourth in points (11).
Playing primarily defense before seeing extended playing time in the midfield, Hinds has appeared in 19 matches for Akron as a freshman, including making 17 starts. He owns three goals and four assists on 24 shots, including seven on net. He has helped the Zips' defensive efforts to record 10 shutouts on the year.
A three-time all-conference honoree after earning first-team status in 2015 and second-team recognition in 2014, Holthusen has overcome injuries that sidelined him for the first half of the 2016 campaign to appear in 10 games, including seven starts. He has recorded a trio of multi-goal outings en route to leading the Zips in goals (7), points (15) and game-winners (3), while ranking fourth in shots on goal (13) and fifth in shots (27).
Lewis has played in all 20 matches for Akron this fall, including 18 starts, and has been a key offensive playmaker for the Zips owning a team-high 11 assists, while netting a pair of goals. He has also contributed 42 shots, including a team-best 20 on frame.
Stepping into the starting goalkeeper's slot this season, Lundt has responded for the Zips recording 56 saves and posting a 1.15 goals against average en route to posting 10 shutouts.
NAJEM SELECTED AS MAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Adam Najem was selected as the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year in a vote of the league coaches released on Nov. 10.
Najem became the 12th Zip to garner league Player of the Year accolades and first since Aodhan Quinn was named the conference's best player in 2013.
Najem joins an exclusive club as only the third Akron player to earn first-team All-MAC honors in each of his four campaigns as a Zip. He joins Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2007-10) and Matt Tutich (2005-08) as the only other Akron standouts to be so recognized. Additionally, he is seventh Zip to tabbed as a four-time All-MAC (first- or second-team honoree) recipient joining Ampaipitakwong, Tutich, Orjan Bjanese (1998-2001), Kyle Milligan (1998-2001), Cameron Knowles (2001-04) and Ossie Michalsen (2005-08).
LEWIS NAMED MAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Lewis was selected as the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year in a vote of the league coaches released on Nov. 10.
Lewis' selection marked the 12th time a Zip has taken home the top newcomer award in the conference and first since Dillon Serna was honored in 2012.
A second-team All-MAC performer this season, Lewis has played in all 20 matches for the Zips, including 18 starts, and has been a key offensive playmaker for Akron owning a team-high 11 assists, while netting a pair of goals. He has also contributed 42 shots, including a team-best 20 on frame.
ZIPS HONOR FIVE ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips honored seniors Adam Najem, Danilo Radjen, Goncalo Soares, Brad Ruhaak and Tyler Sanda prior to Akron's game versus Western Michigan on Nov. 5.
A four-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference performer and 2015 second-team All-American, Najem, a team captain, has started all 20 games for Akron this season, owning team-high marks in points (15), while ranking second in goals (5), assists (5), shots (45) and shots on goal (16) and third in and game-winners (1). During his decorated Akron career he has appeared in 87 career tilts, including making 85 starts and has recorded 33 goals, while adding 29 assists and currently stands as the active leader in D1 with more than 25 goals and 25 assists.
Radjen has appeared in 30 games during his Zips' career, including making 29 starts and owns a pair of shots. Over the last two campaigns, he has started all 27 games in which he has appeared in, helping lead a defensive unit that has posted 18 shutouts during that span.
Joining the Akron squad prior to the 2015 campaign, Soares has played in 38 contests for the Zips, including 21 starts. He has garnered a trio of goals, while adding four assists on 28 shots, of which 10 fell on frame.
A team captain, Ruhaak was a 2015 first-team All-MAC honoree and has played in 68 games as a Zip, including 64 starts. He has registered seven goals and three assists on 49 shots, while helping anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted 26 shutouts over the last three years, including 10 this fall. This season he has posted career-high totals in goals (4), assists (3), points (11), shots (21), shots on goal (9) and game-winners (2).
Persevering through injuries over his career to become a valuable member of the Zips is Sanda, who has appeared in 28 career contests, including making six starts. He has recorded four goals and three assists on 16 career shots, including eight on net. This season, he owns a pair of tallies, including the game-winning goal in a 1-0 triumph past No. 9 Seattle on Aug. 28. He was named the recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 award for the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, 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.
NAJEM AMONG THE NCAA'S ELITE
One of the most dynamic players in men's collegiate soccer, Adam Najem enters play this Thursday, Nov. 17, versus Villanova as the 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 29 assists in 87 career games. Najem is currently ranked first, first, third, sixth, 10th and 17th, respectively, among active career leaders in assists (29), games played (87), points (95), goals (33), assists per contest (0.33) and points per game (1.09). Across all divisions of men's soccer, Najem is rated ninth in games played and 16th in assists.
NAJEM RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF NATION'S BEST PLAYERS
Adam Najem was recently 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 20 games for Akron this season, owning team-high marks in points (15) and shots (43), while ranking team-high marks in points (15), while ranking second in goals (5), assists (5), shots (45) and shots on goal (16) and third in and game-winners (1).
HINDS NAMED TO PAIR OF NATIONAL TEAMS OF THE WEEK
Nick Hinds was tabbed by College Soccer News to its National Men's Soccer Team of the Week and TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Men's National Team of the week it was announced on Monday, Nov. 14, and Tuesday, Nov. 15, respectively.
Hinds turned in a dominating week helping the Zips to a pair of victories en route to capturing their 13th Mid-American Conference Championship title and 31st NCAA Tournament berth with a 2-1 victory past Buffalo on Nov. 13. He posted a team-high two goals on the week, while adding an assist on six shots.
In Akron's 4-0 semifinal triumph over Western Michigan on Nov. 11, he garnered his fourth assist of the season on Ezana Kahsay's tally in the 60th minute.
He capped his weekend registering his first-ever multi-goal performance scoring a pair of goals on the strength of a career- and game-high five shots in a 2-1 victory over Buffalo.
He netted what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 32nd minute (31:09), off an assist from Sam Gainford.
He then gave the Zips a 2-0 advantage at the 52:32 mark connecting on his third goal of the season.
On the campaign, he owns three goals and four assists for 10 points on 24 shots, including seven on goal. He has played primarily on defense up until the start of the month helping the Zips to earn 10 shutouts this season.
RUHAAK LEADS ZIPS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE FIELD
Brad Ruhaak, a team captain, has led the Zips at both ends of the field this season. A former walk-on, Ruhaak has started the last 62 contests for Akron, and has recorded four goals and three assists from his defender's slot this season. Defensively, he has directed the Zips to 10 shutouts on the campaign and 26 over the last three years.
In conference play this season, he shined leading Akron in goals (3) and game-winners (1), while rating second in points (6) en route to the Zips posting a trio of shutouts.
Ruhaak has started 64 of the 68 games in which he has appeared in as a Zip, registering seven goals and three assists.
HARTER EMERGING FOR ZIPS
Redshirt freshman Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio) has emerged as a scoring threat for Akron this season having netted three goals and adding four assists in 15 contests this season. He enters play against Villanova ranked third on the team in assists (4) and sixth in goals (3). Harter is rated third in the Mid-American Conference in assists (0.27) and eighth in points per game (0.67). In league-only affairs, he paced the MAC in assists per game (0.75).
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 Villanova on Thursday, Nov. 17, first nationally among NCAA Division I freshmen and third among all players having recorded a team-leading 11 assists on the campaign. Lewis ranks first in the Mid-American Conference in assists per game (0.55), fourth in points per game (0.75) and seventh in shots per contest (2.10). In conference-only affairs, he rated second in assists per game (0.60) and fourth in shots per outing (2.80).
ZIPS' DUO EARNS COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS
Akron senior Adam Najem and redshirt junior Tyler Sanda have been selected to the 2016 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District™ Men's Soccer Team.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution. Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games at the position listed on the nomination form (where applicable).
Majoring in marketing management, Najem maintains a 3.75 grade point at Akron, Najem has started all 20 games for the Zips.
Najem was a 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) First-Team Academic and Second-Team All-American. Additionally, he was selected as a 2015 Mid-American Conference Distinguished Scholar and academic All-MAC honoree.
Majoring in biology, Sanda maintains a 3.95 GPA and Akron and has appeared in 11 games, including four starts this fall owning two goals and an assist on nine shots.
In 2015, Sanda named the NCAA Elite 90 Award winner for men's soccer and was tabbed a MAC Distinguished Scholar and academic All-MAC honoree.
Najem and Sanda now move to the national ballot for consideration for CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades. The national teams will be unveiled on Nov. 22.
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 19 contests for the Zips as a rookie, including 17 starts, helping anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted 10 shutouts. Offensively, he has three goals and four assists on 24 shots.
Lewis has played in all 20 matches for the Zips this fall, including 18 starts, and has been a key offensive playmaker for Akron owning a team-high 11 assists, while netting a pair of goals. He has also contributed 42 shots, including a team-best 20 on frame.
Having played in 14 tilts, including seven starts, Zajac has recorded three goals on 23 shots, including 10 on goal.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• The Zips have played some of their best soccer at home this season as Akron enters its game versus Villanova on Thursday, Nov. 17, with 14 players having contributed points. Leading the way with 11, 10, eight and seven points, respectively, is Jonathan Lewis (one goal and nine assists), Stuart Holthusen (five goals), Ezana Kahsay (three goals and two assists), Brad Ruhaak (three goals and one assist) and Adam Najem (two goals and three assists).
• The Zips own a 34-6-4 ledger all-time at home in the month of November in regular season contests.
• Akron registered 22 shots in a 2-2 double-overtime draw at Bowling Green on Oct. 29, the third-best single-game mark this season for the Zips.
• Since 2007, Akron maintain a league record of 51-3-3 (.921) mark in the Mid-American Conference. Furthermore, the Zips have won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships and eight of the last nine MAC Tournament titles.
• Since MAC play began for Akron during the 1993 campaign, the Zips have won 13 straight regular season league games in the month of November. Overall, including tournament play, Akron is 28-0-2 mark in the month versus conference opponents since 2007.
• Akron has seen eight newcomers, including five true freshmen, earn playing time through 20 games this season. Of that group, Jonathan Lewis and Nick Hinds have started 18 and 17 contests, respectively, and have combined to record 15 of the Zips' 43 assists on the campaign.
• Adam Najem owns 207 career shots, the fourth-highest total in program history. He is eight shots behind Allen Eller for third place.
• Adam Najem has moved into the top-10 in career games played at Akron appearing in his 87th contest versus Buffalo on Nov. 13, good for fifth place.
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Stuart Holthusen has paced the Akron attack registering five goals, while in total six Zips have scored goals over that span. As a team, Akron is averaging 2.80 goals per game en route to a 4-0-1 ledger.
•The Zips will be looking to continue their domination of the MAC over the last decade as Akron owns a 14-0-2 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 have made the most of the initial and final 15 minutes of their games this season as Akron has recorded 17 of its 43 goals in this span. Three of the Zips' nine tallies in the final 15 minutes have been game-winners.
• The Zips had their 12-match home unbeaten streak snapped following Akron's 3-1 setback versus West Virginia, Oct. 22. The loss snapped the Zips' run dating back to the 2015 campaign.
• Akron's run of not allowing a home goal in 2016 came to an end at 561 minutes in the opening minute versus West Virginia, Oct. 22. Dating back to the 2015 campaign, the Zips had not surrendered a home tally in nearly 580 minutes (578:17).
• Akron has now held opponents scoreless in eight of its 11 home contests this season at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• 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 11 games this season, the Zips own nine 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 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 35-4-3 record in its last 42 home matches.
• 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 19 regular-season and 13 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 12 times after doing so in 2016.
• In 24 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 177 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 18 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.
• 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 9-1-1 mark and have posted shutouts in all but three of those contests. Akron is averaging 18.6 shots per tilt at home, while limiting the opposition to 10.4 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 ninth nationally in attendance in 2016 averaging 2,178 in 11 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 10 shutouts on the strength of 56 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 (29), points (95), shots (207) and shots on goal (93).
• Ben Lundt, Adam Najem, Danilo Radjen 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 78 games in which he has played in.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 32 of the squad's last 50 matches, including on 13 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 23-6-5 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 Nov. 13, with an overall record of 170-31-25. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 161-39-30 (.765), Creighton, 141-42-26 (.737), North Carolina, 141-44-33 (.722) and Connecticut, 134-43-39 (.711). Akron has made 10 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-16), 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 31 times, including each of the past 10 seasons and 15 of the past 16.
PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Since 2007, the Zips have recorded an 103-8-13 (.883) ledger in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. Akron owns four unbeaten campaigns during that span, including posting home marks of 12-0-1, 13-0-0, 12-0-1 and 10-0-2 during the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 seasons, respectively.
HOLTHUSEN GARNERS NATIONAL HONORS
Stuart Holthusen continued to garner recognition for his play as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) named him as their National Player of the Week on Nov. 8.
Holthusen also earned recognition by the Mid-American Conference as its Men's Soccer Athlete of the Week on Nov. 7, as well as by College Soccer News, who named him its National Player of the Week.
Holthusen turned in a dominating week for the Zips posted his fourth and fifth career multi-goal efforts en route to registering team-high marks in goals (4), points (8), shots (10), shots on goal (8) and game-winners (2) to lead Akron to a 2-0 mark.
Holthusen netted the golden goal at the 104:18 mark in the Zips' 3-2 double-overtime victory past Grand Canyon on Nov. 2. Earlier in the affair, he propelled Akron into a 2-1 lead in the 61st minute (60:17) with his third goal of the season. Holthusen finished the contest registering a game-high four shots.
A two-goal performance from Holthusen led the Zips to their 12th straight Mid-American Conference regular season championship and 19th title in program history on the strength of a 3-0 victory past Western Michigan on Nov. 5.
Holthusen scored what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 18th minute (17:27) corralling a header from Adam Najem and splitting the Broncos' defense and finding the corner of the net for his fifth goal of the year.
Holthusen extended Akron's margin to 2-0 in the 63rd minute (62:08) registering his team-leading sixth goal of the season. He finished the tilt recording a game-high six shots.
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 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.
Gainford sparked the Zips to a 7-0 road victory at Northern Illinois on 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.
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.
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 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.
KAHSAY EARNS NATIONAL AND LEAGUE ACCOLADES
Ezana Kahsay 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 (Toronto, Ontario), 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.
PAIR OF FORMER ZIP STANDOUTS STILL IN HUNT FOR RUN AT MLS CUP
The final day of the MLS regular season on Oct. 23 was termed as Decision Day, as all 20 teams squared 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) had all qualified for the playoffs, while several former Zips' teams still remained in contention; 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).
After all matches were complete, Colorado, the No. 2 seed in the West earned a first-round bye, while in the East, No. 5 Montreal bested No. 4 D.C. United, 4-2, on Thursday, Oct. 27. In the Western Conference, No. 4 Seattle registered a 1-0 decision past fifth-seeded Sporting KC on Thursday, Oct. 27.
In the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Oct. 30, Evan Bush registered three saves en route to collecting the clean sheet in a 1-0 triumph past the New York Red Bulls in the first of the aggregate home-and-home series. In the final leg on Nov. 6, Bush again made three stops in a 2-1 victory sending Montreal into the conference finals starting on Nov. 22. In the semifinals of the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Galaxy bested Colorado, 1-0, on Oct. 30, before Rapids edged the Galaxy, 1-0, on Nov. 6. Colorado advanced to the conference finals on penalty kicks, 3-1. The Rapids will face Seattle starting on Nov. 22
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.
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. The United States opened play dropping a 2-1 decision versus Mexico on Friday, Nov. 11 in Columbus, Ohio, before suffering a 4-0 setback against Costa Rica on Tuesday, Nov. 15, in San Jose, Costa Rica.
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
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 (Akron, Ohio) 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
If the Zips advance past Villanova in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, Akron will travel to Bloomington, Ind., for a showdown with seventh-seeded Indiana on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m.
