The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Unveils Challenging 2016 Men's Soccer Schedule
May 11 | Men's Soccer
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2016 AKRON MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer team unveiled a challenging 2016 slate, one that will see the Zips face eight opponents from the 2015 NCAA Tournament field, including three that advanced to the Round of 16 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field, fourth-year head coach Jared Embick announced today.
In 2016 the Zips' 10-match season-ticket package features visits to Akron by Georgetown of the Big East Conference, Oregon State from the Pac-12 Conference and Santa Barbara from the Big West Conference. The slate is very fan friendly as seven of Akron's 10 home games will take place on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Akron is set to return six starters, including all Mid-American Conference first-team performers redshirt junior Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), junior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) and senior Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) in 2016 from a squad that captured MAC regular season and tournament titles en route to advancing to the College Cup for the fourth time in program history on the strength of an overall record of 18-3-3 during the 2015 campaign.
The second-rated recruiting class in the country as heralded by TopDrawerSoccer.com will provide depth to an experienced core of returning players in 2016 for the Zips.
"We are excited about this year's schedule," Embick said. "We have been able to set up a schedule that is very challenging for our team, but will allow us the potential to position ourselves the best for the postseason. We have been able to combine some high-quality home matches with a very difficult road schedule. I look forward to seeing the development of our players and team as we navigate through the schedule."
Notable home highlights include August showdowns with Georgetown (Aug. 26) and Seattle (Aug. 28) as part of the four-team Akron Classic. Rounding out the field will be Mid-American Conference foe West Virginia.
The month of September includes home contests versus Oregon State (Sept. 9) and Santa Barbara (Sept. 12) as part of the University of Akron Tournament and a showdown with Virginia Commonwealth (Sept. 27). Butler competes the Zips' tournament field.
The Zips close out their regular season campaign welcoming Buffalo, West Virginia, Grand Canyon and Western Michigan to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field for matches on Oct. 7, Oct. 22, Nov. 2 and Nov. 5, respectively.
Limited Reserved Bleacher Back ($110) and General Admission ($60) season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by logging on to GoZips.com/tickets, calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Discounted General Admission season tickets for Akron Faculty/Staff are also available for $48 and must be purchased in person or on the phone. Additionally, General Admission Family Plans ($200), which include a combination of two adult and two youth tickets or one adult and three youth tickets, are available for the fall at this time.
New and renewal soccer accounts will receive with their purchase one complimentary Akron Soccer scarf, which is exclusive to season ticketholders (one per season ticket) while supplies last.
As another option, all Akron Alumni are eligible to purchase the Alumni All-Sport Season Ticket Package for $175, which includes General Admission season tickets for men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and a reserved seat for football.
As a reminder, season ticket holders from the 2015 campaign have until June 1, 2016 to renew and guarantee their seat(s) for next fall. One of the benefits of being a season-ticket holder is postseason ticketing priority.
The Zips will take the field for the first time on Aug. 15 when Akron visits 2015 NCAA Tournament participant and Horizon League champion Oakland for an exhibition tilt.
The Golden Grizzlies battled Dayton to a 1-1 double-overtime draw in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, but fell in penalty kicks and did not advance.
Akron closes its exhibition slate hosting Michigan in an Aug. 19 showdown at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field. The Wolverines posted an 8-6-4 ledger in 2015, including a 3-3-2 record in the Big Ten Conference.
The Zips open their 62nd season of intercollegiate soccer hosting the Akron Classic, Aug. 26 and Aug. 28. The Zips will square off against Georgetown (Aug. 26) and Seattle (Aug. 28) in tournament action.
Akron opens its campaign against the Hoyas, who earned a No. 3 seed for last year's NCAA Tournament. Georgetown advanced to the third round where it battled Boston College to a 1-1 double-overtime time draw, before falling in penalty kicks, 5-4. A season ago, the Zips registered a 1-0 road triumph over the Hoyas on Sept. 4, 2015.
Akron and Seattle will be meeting for the first time in program history. In 2015, the Redhawks earned a No. 11 national seed and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament where Seattle was bettered by Syracuse, 3-1.
The following weekend the Zips visit California for road tests at San Diego State (Sept. 2) and UCLA (Sept. 5).
Akron and the Aztecs have met just once before with the Zips earning a 2-1 double-overtime triumph over San Diego State on Sept. 15, 2013 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
For only the fourth time in program history, the Zips will square off against UCLA as Akron visits the Bruins on Sept. 5. A year ago, UCLA bested the Zips, 4-2, on Nov. 1, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
UCLA advanced to the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament on the strength of a 2-0 victory past Cal Poly, before dropping a 1-0 second-round decision at Seattle.
The Zips return home to host their second tournament of the season welcoming Butler, Oregon State and Santa Barbara to Akron for the University of Akron Tournament.
The Zips square off against Oregon State for the first time in program history on Sept. 9 following the conclusion of the tournament opener between Butler and Santa Barbara. Akron then concludes tournament play tangling with the Gauchos on Sept. 12.
Owning 12 all-time tournament appearances, the Gauchos captured the 2006 College Cup and are returning to Akron after the Zips registered a 2-0 victory at Santa Barbara on Sept. 25, 2015.
A tough two-game road swing follows with Akron traveling to battle Tulsa and SMU on Sept. 16 and Sept. 19, respectively.
The Zips will encounter the Golden Hurricane for the seventh time with Akron owning a 6-0-0 series advantage, including a 3-0 triumph at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Sept. 20, 2014.
A rematch of the third-round 2015 NCAA Tournament matchup between Akron and SMU, won by the Zips, 2-1, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Nov. 29, 2015, awaits on Sept. 19. Akron owns a 3-1-0 all-time series lead and will be visiting SMU for the first time since registering a 3-2 win over the Mustangs in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
Akron closes out the month playing VCU for the third time in program history. The Zips opened their 2015 campaign earning a 3-2 double-overtime road victory over the Rams on Aug. 28, 2015.
The Zips open up defense of their 2015 MAC regular season crown on Oct. 7 when Akron hosts Buffalo in its league opener.
A three-game road trip follows with the Zips visiting Michigan State (Oct. 11), Northern Illinois (Oct. 15) and Penn State (Oct. 18). A year ago, Akron registered 4-1, 4-0 and 1-0 victories, respectively, past the Spartans, Huskies and Nittany Lions.
West Virginia comes to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Oct. 22 before Akron closes out its regular-season road slate with tests at Ohio State (Oct. 26) and Bowling Green (Oct. 29).
For the 13th consecutive year the Zips and Buckeyes will square off in an all-time series that dates back to the program's first season in 1955. The two teams battled to a 3-3 double-overtime draw on Sept. 16, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
The Zips open the month of November hosting Grand Canyon on Nov. 2 before welcoming Western Michigan to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field for Senior Night on Nov. 5.
The league's regular-season champion will host the 2016 MAC Tournament Nov. 11-13, while the NCAA College Cup, which will be played at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, is scheduled for Dec. 9-11.
In all, Akron, which will compete in 18 regular-season matches, is scheduled to play five games against the MAC, three versus the Big Ten, two apiece against the American Athletic Conference, Pac-12 and Western Athletic Conference and one each versus the Atlantic-10, Big East, Big West, and Mountain West conferences.
All Zips home games will start at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of a 7 p.m. tilt versus VCU on Sept. 27.
Additionally, for the eighth consecutive season, select Zips men's soccer matches will be carried on the Akron IMG Sports Network, 1350 AM (WARF). The complete broadcast schedule will be announced at a later time.
2016 AKRON MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 15 | at Oakland (EXHIBITION) | 7 P.M. |
| Aug. 19 | MICHIGAN (EXHIBITION) | 7:30 P.M. |
| Aug. 26 | GEORGETOWN ^ | 7:30 P.M. |
| Aug. 28 | SEATTLE ^ | 7:30 P.M. |
| Sept. 2 | at San Diego State | 10 P.M. ET |
| Sept. 5 | at UCLA | 8 P.M. ET |
| Sept. 9 | OREGON STATE $ | 7:30 P.M. |
| Sept. 12 | SANTA BARBARA $ | 7:30 P.M. |
| Sept. 16 | at Tulsa | 8 P.M. ET |
| Sept. 19 | at SMU | 9 P.M. ET |
| Sept. 27 | VCU | 7 P.M. |
| Oct. 7 | BUFFALO * | 7:30 P.M. |
| Oct. 11 | at Michigan State | 2 P.M. |
| Oct. 15 | at Northern Illinois * | 8 P.M. ET |
| Oct. 18 | at Penn State | 7 P.M. |
| Oct. 22 | WEST VIRGINIA * | 7:30 P.M. |
| Oct. 26 | at Ohio State | 7 P.M. |
| Oct. 29 | at Bowling Green * | 7 P.M. |
| Nov. 2 | GRAND CANYON | TBA |
| Nov. 5 | WESTERN MICHIGAN * | 7:30 P.M. |
| Nov. 11-13 | MAC Championship (Highest Seed Hosts) | TBA |
| Dec. 9-11 | NCAA College Cup (Houston, Texas) | TBA |
* Indicates Mid-American Conference game
^ Indicates Akron Classic (Akron, Ohio)
$ Indicates University of Akron Tournament (Akron, Ohio)
All dates and times subject to change
Homes matches in BOLD CAPS
