The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Tabbed to Capture MAC Men's Soccer Regular and Postseason Championships
August 23 | Men's Soccer
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2016 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL RELEASE
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer team has been tabbed to capture the Mid-American Conference regular and postseason titles in a preseason poll of six conference coaches, the league office announced Tuesday, Aug. 23.
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.
The Zips return seven starters, including all Mid-American Conference first-team performers redshirt junior Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), junior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) and seniors Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) and 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.
Ranked second in the country in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and College Soccer News preseason polls, Akron begins league on Friday, Oct. 7 hosting Buffalo at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field before hitting the road to face Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 15.
The Zips then host West Virginia on Saturday, Oct. 22, before closing out the road portion of their conference slate battling Bowling Green on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Akron concludes its regular season campaign hosting Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 5, for Senior Night.
The MAC Tournament this year will be held on the weekend of Nov. 11-13 as four of the six teams in the conference will once again qualify for the bracket. Both semifinal matches will take place on Friday, Nov. 11, with the championship match slated for Sunday, Nov. 13, all at the home of the No. 1 seed.
The Zips, also selected third nationally in the TopDrawerSoccer.com preseason poll, are making final preparations for their season opener on Friday, Aug. 26, as Akron welcomes No. 7 Georgetown to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field for a 7:30 p.m. tilt.
The Zips will also host No. 9 Seattle on Sunday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Akron Classic.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Akron — 29 total points (5 first-place votes)
2. Western Michigan — 17 (1)
3. West Virginia – 16
4. Buffalo – 15
5. Bowling Green – 11
6. Northern Illinois – 2
2016 MAC Tournament Champion: Akron – 6 votes
Limited (less than 85) 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. Family plan's this year includes complimentary Kids Club membership for the children.
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 well as one complimentary DeAndre Yedlin bobblehead (one per account).
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.
Group tickets are currently on sale for $8/ticket. Groups start with a minimum of 15 people and they include once in a lifetime experiences such as high five tunnels and soccer buddies.
Another option is the All-Access 10-pack available for $100 that allows fans 10-undated vouchers which can be redeemed in any combination for any of our ticketed sports( football, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, and volleyball) during the 2016-17 athletics season.
Single-game tickets are on sale now. They can purchased over the phone at 1-888-99-AKRON (25766), GoZips.com/tickets, and in person at the Chima Athletics ticket office (SW corner of InfoCision Stadium).
