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Western Michigan
Zips Go In Search of MAC Title Hosting Western Michigan
November 04 | Men's Soccer
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MATCH NOTES NO. 18 VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN (PDF)
Akron (9-5-3, 2-1-1 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (9-4-4, 1-0-3 MAC)
Saturday, Nov. 5
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 7:30 p.m.
Live Stats: www.akronstats.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
Radio: www.sportsradio1350.iheart.com
WHAT'S AHEAD
The 2016 Mid-American Conference regular season men's soccer crown will come down to the final night of the regular season as four teams remain alive to claim a share or the outright league title and the right to host next week's MAC Championship, Nov. 11-13. Akron gets the opportunity to garner its 19th regular season crown with a victory over Western Michigan on Senior Night on Saturday, Nov. 5, coupled with a loss or tie from Bowling Green in its contest versus Buffalo. Game time at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field is slated for 7:30 p.m. The tilt will be broadcast live on WARF 1350AM or online at www.sportsradio1350.iheart.com with Steve French and Eran Hami calling the action.
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING UP FOR GRABS ON FINAL WEEKEND
Four schools in Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo and Western Michigan remain in contention to host the upcoming Mid-American Conference Championship, Nov. 11-13. The four teams are separated by two points in the league standings as the Falcons lead the conference with eight points, followed by the Zips and Bulls with seven each, while the Broncos have earned six points.
A victory by Bowling Green over Buffalo secures the outright MAC title for the Falcons. A Bowling Green loss or a tie coupled with an Akron victory past Western Michigan will give the Zips at least a share of the conference crown and the right to host the MAC Championship. All tiebreakers will be broken by the league and announced following the completion of Saturday's games.
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan comes into its encounter with Akron on Saturday, Nov. 5, unbeaten in its last three matches, including a 2-1 victory over West Virginia last Saturday, Oct. 29. Junior Brandon Bye owns team-high marks in goals (8), assists (5), points (21), shots (66), shots on goal (33) and game-winners (2). Senior Diego Lopez has added four goals to the Broncos' offensive exploits. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Drew Shepherd has registered 41 saves and sports a 0.74 goals against average having posted six shutouts. He is not expected to play versus the Zips after receiving a red card in Western Michigan's last contest.
As a team, the Broncos are ranked third in the NCAA in shots per game (16.94), fifth in shots per goal per contest (7.29), 25th in total assists (29), 26th in assists per game (1.71), 35th in goals against average (0.83), 37th in points per tilt (5.00), 38th in total points (85), 42nd in total goals (28), 43rd in winning percentage (0.647) and 45th in scoring offense (1.65).
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday evening's game is the 40th meeting between Akron and Western Michigan. The Zips lead the all-time series, 33-3-3. A year ago, the Broncos and Akron battled to a 1-1 double-overtime draw on Oct. 23, 2015, in Kalamazoo, Mich.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
No. 5 Akron tied Western Michigan, 1-1 (Oct. 23, 2015)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The No. 5 Akron men's soccer team withstood a furious late charge from Western Michigan to collect a 1-1 double-overtime draw.
The Zips were outshot in overtime, 6-0, but were able to extend their then unbeaten streak to eight straight games on the strength of nine saves from goalkeeper Jake Fenlason, including one stop in the waning minutes of the second overtime period.
The Broncos posted a 20-7 advantage in shots in the affair, including a 10-4 margin on goal.
Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) and Sean Sepe led Akron's offensive efforts with a team-high two shots apiece. Carlos Suarez and Sean Conerty directed the Western Michigan attack with six and five shots, respectively.
Drew Shepherd recorded two saves in goal for the Broncos.
Najem gave the Zips an early 1-0 lead at the 22:01 mark serving a ball over Shepherd for his seventh goal of the season.
The lead was short lived as Conerty served a free kick into the box that found the back of the net in the 28th minute (27:40).
Akron was outshot in the initial 45 minutes, 9-1, including 6-1 on goal, but the Zips entered the intermission locked in a 1-1 tie with the Broncos.
A team save in front of the goal by the Broncos prevented Najem from netting his second goal of the afternoon at the 76:26 mark.
Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) nearly gave the Zips the go-ahead goal eight seconds later at the 76:34 mark delivering a strike on goal that Shepherd was able corral for the save.
Fenlason made his ninth and final stop in the 110th minute (109:46) denying a game-winning goal from Suarez.
THE COACHES
Western Michigan: Chad Wiseman is in his fourth season as head coach of the Western Michigan program, owning a 37-24-13 (.588) record. Overall in eight years as a head coach owns a 90-49-19 (.630) mark.
Akron: In his fourth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 10th season overall, is Jared Embick, who has a 57-18-9 mark (.732), including 104-39-19 (.701) 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 57-18-9 (.732) 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 167-31-25 (.805), including a 50-3-3 (.920) 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.
HOLTHUSEN'S GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS ZIPS OVER GRAND CANYON
A golden goal from junior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) at the 104:18 mark of the second overtime lifted the Akron men's soccer team to a 3-2 double-overtime victory past Grand Canyon on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
Holthusen finished the affair registering his team-leading fourth career multi-goal contest on the strength of posting a game-high four shots.
The Zips outshot the Lopes on the afternoon, 20-12, including 5-1 in overtime. Holthusen and freshman Jonathan Lewis (Plantation, Fla.) each recorded four shots for Akron, while adding two apiece were freshman Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.), redshirt junior Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), Adam Najem and redshirt sophomore Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea). Grand Canyon was directed by three shots from Niki Jackson.
Sophomore goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) posted two saves for the Zips, while Kendyl Day netted four stops for the Lopes.
The game-winning tally for Gainford was set-up of a pair of skilled passes inside the box from Kahsay and the final feed from Lewis, who recorded his team-leading seventh assist of the year.
In the opening half, junior Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.) played a ball in from the corner of the box eluding the Lopes' defender and serving it into Lewis inside the six-yard box. Lewis was able to chest to ball past Day for his second goal of the season to give Akron a 1-0 lead at the 7:37 mark.
The Lopes netted the equalizer in the 32nd minute (31:53) when Jackson connected on his 16th goal of the year. The scoring play was set up by Charles Keating corralling a deflection off a cross and sliding a pass into Jackson at the top of the six-yard box for the goal.
Akron outshot Grand Canyon in the opening stanza, 9-3, including 3-1 on goal.
Lundt denied a shot from Jackson at the 55:26 mark before Holthusen propelled the Zips into a 2-1 lead in the 61st minute (60:17) with his third goal of the season. Redshirt junior Robby Dambrot (Akron, Ohio) served a ball in from the flank to a charging Holthusen who raced 1v1 versus Day before unleashing a goal from 15 yards out.
Lundt denied another shot on goal from Damian German at the 64:39 mark before Jamie Olabarria tied the affair at two with initial goal of the year in the 67th minute (66:24). Earning assists on the score was Aidan McGlothan and Khadim Seye.
The Lopes outshot the Zips in the second half, 8-6, including 3-2 on frame, as the squads went into overtime tied at two.
Holthusen delivered a shot on goal at the 98:00 mark which was saved by Day before the rebound popped out to Lewis, who knocked a ball that appeared destined to find the corner of the net for the golden goal if not for a team save by Grand Canyon.
AKRON FIGHTS BOWLING GREEN TO A 2-2 DOUBLE-OT DRAW
Akron entered its showdown with league-leading Bowling Green on Oct. 29, with an opportunity to move a step closer towards potentially clinching home-field advantage in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Championship, unfortunately for the Zips they were unable to capitalize as they battled the Falcons to a 2-2 double-overtime draw.
The Zips registered a decided advantage in shots in the affair besting Bowling Green, 22-11, including 8-5 on frame. Adam Najem posted a game-high five shots for Akron, while Sam Gainford and freshmen Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario), Nick Hinds and Jonathan Lewis added four, four, three and three shots, respectively.
Joe Sullivan paced the Falcons' attack with a team-high three shots.
Goalkeeper Ben Lundt made three saves for the Zips, while Anthony Mwembia pulled in five stops for Bowling Green.
Tate Robertson provided the Falcons an early 1-0 lead netting his first goal of the season at the 6:43 mark.
Zajac evened the affair at one in the 19th minute (18:16) connecting on his second goal of the year off an assist from Gainford.
Pat Flynn regained the lead for Bowling Green scoring his fifth goal of the year just over two minutes later at the 20:32 mark. Chris Brennan and Robertson assisted on the tally.
The Falcons were then whistled for a foul in the box in the 25th minute (24:05) resulting in a penalty kick for the Zips. Stepping to the line and delivering his third goal on the campaign was Gainford.
Hinds followed with a shot on goal at the 31:06 mark which was stopped for a save by Mwembia.
A header shot from Niko De Vera at the 76:02 mark nearly gave the Zips a 3-2 lead if not for a team save from the Falcons.
ZIPS TO HONOR FIVE ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips will honor seniors Adam Najem, Danilo Radjen (Broadview Heights, Ohio), Goncalo Soares (Lisbon, Portugal), Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) and redshirt junior Tyler Sanda (North Royalton, Ohio) prior to Akron's game versus Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 5.
A three-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference performer and 2015 second-team All-American, Najem, a team captain, has started all 17 games for the Zips this season owning team-high marks in goals (5), points (3), shots (43) , while ranking second in shots on goal (15) and game-winners (1) and third in assists (3). During his decorated Akron career he has appeared in 84 career tilts, including making 82 starts and has recorded 33 goals, while adding 25 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 17 shutouts during that span.
Joining the Akron squad prior to the 2015 campaign, Soares has played in 35 contests for the Zips, including 18 starts. He has garnered a trio of goals, while adding three assists on 27 shots, of which 10 fell on frame.
A team captain, Ruhaak was a 2015 first-team All-MAC honoree and has played in 65 games as a Zip, including 61 starts. He has registered seven goals and three assists on 48 shots, while helping anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted 24 shutouts over the last three years, including eight this fall. This season he has posted career-high totals in goals (4), assists (3), points (11), shots (20), 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 contest, 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 Saturday, Nov. 5, versus Western Michigan 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 27 assists in 84 career games. Najem is currently ranked second, second, third, sixth, 11th and 15th, respectively, among active career leaders in assists (27), games played (84), points (93), goals (33), assists per contest (0.32) and points per game (1.11). Across all divisions of men's soccer, Najem is rated 13th in games played.
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 17 games for the Zips this season owning team-high marks in goals (5), points (3) and shots (43), while ranking in shots on goal (15) and second game-winners (1) and third in assists (3).
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 59 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 eight shutouts on the campaign and 24 over the last three years.
In conference play this season, he has shined leading Akron in goals (3) and game-winners (1), while rating second in points (6) en route to the Zips posting a pair of shutouts.
Ruhaak has started 61 of the 65 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 12 contests this season. He enters play against Western Michigan ranked second on the team in assists (4) and fourth in goals (3). Harter is rated third in the Mid-American Conference in assists (0.33) and points per game (0.83) and eighth in goals per contest (0.25). In league-only affairs, he paces the MAC in assists per game (1.00) and is ranked third in points per tilt (1.00).
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 Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 5, second nationally among NCAA Division I freshmen having recorded a team-leading seven assists on the campaign. Only Connor McGlynn (Sienna) has recorded more assists as a freshman this season nationally. Lewis ranks second in the Mid-American Conference in assists per game (0.41), sixth in shots per contest (2.00) and ninth in points per game (0.65). In conference-only affairs, he is rated fourth in shots per outing (3.00) and eighth in assists per game (0.25).
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. He has started all 17 games for the Zips and owns team-high marks in goals (5), points (13), shots (43) and shots on goal (15). Najem is the active leader in DI men's play with 25+ career goals and assists and earlier this season was tabbed to the 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
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 16 contests for the Zips as a rookie, including 14 starts, helping anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted eight shutouts. Offensively, he has added a goal and a trio of assists on 16 shots.
Lewis has played in all 17 matches for the Zips this fall, including 15 starts, and has been a key offensive playmaker for Akron owning a team-high seven assists, while netting a pair of goals. He has also contributed 34 shots, including a team-best 16 on frame.
Having played in 13 tilts, including six starts, Zajac has recorded two goals on 21 shots, including nine on goal.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• The Zips have played some of their best soccer at home this season as Akron enters its game versus Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 5, with 13 players having contributed points. Leading the way with seven, seven, and six points, respectively, is Brad Ruhaak (three goals and one assist), Jonathan Lewis (one goal and five assists) and Adam Najem (two goals and two assists).
• The Zips own a 33-6-4 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 second-best single-game mark this season for the Zips.
• Since 2007, Akron maintain a league record of 50-3-3 (.920) 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.
• Since MAC play began for Akron during the 1993 campaign, the Zips have won 12 straight regular season league games in the month of November. Overall, including tournament play, Akron enters its showdown with Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 5, with a 25-0-2 mark in the month since 2007.
• Akron has seen eight newcomers, including five true freshmen, earn playing time through 17 games this season. Of that group, Jonathan Lewis and Nick Hinds have started 15 and 14 contests, respectively, and have combined to record 10 of the Zips' 34 assists on the campaign.
• Adam Najem owns 205 career shots, the fourth-highest total in program history. He is 10 shots behind Allen Eller for third place.
• Adam Najem moved into the top-10 in career games played at Akron appearing in his 84th contest versus Grand Canyon on Nov. 2. He is tied with former teammate Andrew Souders (2012-15) for ninth place.
• Over the Zips' last five contests, Stuart Holthusen has paced the Akron attack registering four goals, while in total six Zips have scored over that span. As a team, Akron is averaging 2.00 goals per game en route to a 2-1-2 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 16 of its 34 goals in this span. Three of the Zips' eight 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 six of its eight 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 eight games this season, the Zips own six 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 32-4-3 record in its last 39 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 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.
• 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 6-1-1 mark and have posted shutouts in all but two of those contests. Akron is averaging 18.5 shots per tilt at home, while limiting the opposition to 11.1 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 2,415 in eight 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 eight shutouts on the strength of 52 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 (205) and shots on goal (92).
• 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 75 games in which he has played in.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 29 of the squad's last 47 matches, including on 10 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 20-6-5 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 (.805) through games of Nov. 4, with an overall record of 167-31-25. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 158-39-30 (.762), Creighton, 140-41-26 (.739), North Carolina, 141-43-33 (.726) and Connecticut, 134-42-38 (.715). 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 100-8-13 (.880) 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.
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 this past week.
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.
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 62-9-7 (.840) ledger in the month, including a 32-4-3 (.859) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
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 (Porto, Portugal), 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 Sunday, 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. The two teams will next battle on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m. ET. In the semifinals of the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Galaxy bested Colorado, 1-0, on Oct. 30. The winner of the semifinal will be decided on Sunday, Nov. 6, starting at 2 p.m. ET.
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 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
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
The Zips open play at the Mid-American Conference Championship on Friday, Nov. 11. Opponent, location and time will be determined following the completion of regular season play on Saturday, Nov. 5.
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