The University of Akron Athletics
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Akron Seeks to Extend Home Win Streak Battling VCU
September 26 | Men's Soccer
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MATCH NOTES NO. 9 VS. VCU (PDF)
No. 14 Akron (5-3-0) vs. VCU (2-5-1)
Tuesday, Sept. 27
FirstEnergy Field - 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 University of Akron men's soccer team returns to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field this Tuesday, Sept. 27, as the Zips look to continue their dominating run of play at home this season hosting VCU. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast live on WARF 1350AM or online at www.sportsradio1350.iheart.com with Steve French and Eran Hami calling the action.
SCOUTING THE VCU
VCU (2-5-1) enters action on Tuesday, Sept. 27, having alternated wins and losses in its previous five contests prior to earning a 1-1 double-overtime draw at Saint Louis on Saturday, Sept. 24. Redshirt junior Luc Fatton and junior Rafael Santos have led the Rams' offensive production netting a team-high three goals each, while senior Jorge Herranz has contributed a pair of tallies. Junior goalkeeper Pierre Gardan owns the majority of minutes in net for VCU having made 27 saves and maintaining a 2.10 goals against average.
As a team, the Rams are ranked 47th in the NCAA in assists per game (1.63), 48th in total assists (13) and total points (41), 49th in points per contest (5.13) and total goals (14) and 51st in scoring offense (1.75).
SERIES HISTORY
Tuesday's match marks the third regular season meeting between Akron and VCU. The series is tied at one win apiece following Zips' 3-2 double-overtime road triumph past the Rams last season on Aug. 28, 2015. On Sept. 13, 2013, VCU bettered Akron, 1-0, at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
IN OUR LAST MEETING
No. 24 Akron def. VCU, 3-2 (2OT) (Aug. 28, 2015)
RICHMOND, Va. - A golden goal by Anthony Macchione (Camas, Wash.) in the 108th minute (107:09) lifted the 24th-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team to a 3-2 season-opening victory past VCU.
The game-winning tally was set up by Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.), who served a ball into the box which Macchione struck with his head and sent past Rams' goalkeeper Garrett Cyprus.
The Zips registered a 5-1 advantage in shots in overtime, including 2-1 on goal, en route to outshooting VCU on the night, 14-10. Each team posted six shots on goal.
Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) and Sean Sepe sparked Akron each recording a match-high three shots, while Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) and Brad Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio) notched two shots apiece. Jack Bates led the Rams posting three shots.
Jake Fenlason collected four saves for Akron, with all four stops coming in the second half and overtime. Cyprus ended with evening with a trio of saves for VCU.
In the 55th minute (54:48), Gainford connected on a strike from outside the box that found the back of the net to give Akron a 1-0 advantage.
The lead was short lived as Jason McGlothern netted the equalizer for the Rams at the 63:01 mark.
Gainford collected his second goal of the evening in the 78th minute (77:12) connecting on a bicycle kick for the go-ahead tally. He scored off an assist from Sepe.
Dennis Castillo forced overtime scoring at the 87:41 mark for the Rams to knot the score at two.
Shots were even over the final 45 minutes of regulation at seven apiece with VCU bettering the Zips in shots on goal, 5-4.
THE COACHES
VCU: Dave Giffard is in his seventh season as head coach of the VCU program, owning a 58-49-23 (.535) record.
Akron: In his fourth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 10th season overall, is Jared Embick, who has a 53-16-6 mark (.747), including 100-37-16 (.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 53-16-6 (.747) 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 163-29-22 (.813), including a 48-2-2 (.942) 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.
GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS SMU TO 4-3 OVERTIME WIN OVER ZIPS
After enduring a weather delay of more than an hour, the University of Akron men's soccer team saw its three-game winning streak snapped as Emil Cuello's golden goal in the 98th minute (97:29) gave SMU a come-from-behind 4-3 overtime triumph over the Zips on Sept. 19.
Akron finished the affair besting the Mustangs in shots, 12-11, including posting a 9-7 advantage in shots on goal. Adam Najem and freshman Jonathan Lewis (Plantation, Fla.) directed the offensive attack for the Zips as the duo recorded a team-best three shots apiece. Brad Ruhaak and redshirt freshman Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio) added two shots each for Akron. Mauro Cichero sparked the Mustangs with a game-high four shots.
Sophomore goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) made three saves for the Zips, while Michael Nelson and Nick Ruiz combined to pull in six saves for SMU.
The Zips struck first in the match as Najem registered his team-leading third goal of the season at the 18:17 mark off an assist from Lewis. The assist for Lewis was his team-best fourth of the season.
Less than a minute later, the Mustangs were whistled for a foul in the box resulting in a penalty kick for Akron. Stepping to the line and delivering his second goal of the evening was Najem in the 20th minute (19:19).
It marked the third multi-goal game in Najem's career and first since scoring three goals in a 5-0 victory past Cleveland State on Oct. 28, 2014.
The two-goal advantage was short-lived as Garrett McLaughlin cut the Zips' lead to 2-1 with his second goal of the season in the 21st minute (20:26).
Akron was outshot in the initial stanza, 5-4, but the Zips earned a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal in the first half and led at the intermission, 2-1.
Cichero evened the score at two in the 51st minute (50:05) heading in his fourth goal of the season off an assist from Eddie Munjoma.
In the 72nd minute, redshirt junior Tyler Sanda (North Royalton, Ohio) took the ball on the far sideline for the Zips and slide a pass to his left to Lewis, who was able to allude the defender and serve the ball into the six-yard box to senior Goncalo Soares (Lisbon, Portugal). He was able to get his foot on the ball and find the corner of the net for his first goal of the season at the 71:53 mark to give Akron a 3-2 lead.
The Mustangs had an answer in the 80th minute (79:39) when Cuello netted the equalizer to square the tilt at three.
AKRON EDGES TULSA, 2-1
An 88th minute (87:18) goal from redshirt sophomore Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea) propelled the ninth-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team to a 2-1 triumph past Tulsa on Sept. 16.
The goal was the second on the campaign for Kahsay and came as he delivered a one-timer from five yards out off a cross from Brad Ruhaak.
The Zips outshot the Golden Hurricane in the affair, 13-10, including 8-6 on goal.
Freshman Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) directed Akron's offensive attack with a game-high three shots, while Adam Najem, redshirt junior Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal) and Kahsay added two shots apiece. Tulsa benefited from three shots each from Rollie Rocha and Jacob Gooden.
Ben Lundt pulled in five saves for the Zips, while his Tulsa counterpart, Jake McGuire netted six stops for the Golden Hurricane.
The Zips accounted for two of the first three overall shots over the final 45 minutes before redshirt sophomore Shane Wiedt (Akron, Ohio) gave Akron a 1-0 advantage at the 64:19 mark. Skye Harter delivered a free kick to within 15 yards of the box that Wiedt fired past McGuire for his first collegiate goal.
Akron was whistled for a foul in the box that resulted in a successful penalty kick from Ray Saari at the 84:29 mark to square the game at one.
The contest remained deadlocked until Kahsay recorded his second goal of the season in the 88th minute (87:18).
NAJEM AMONG THE NCAA'S ELITE
One of the most dynamic players in men's collegiate soccer, Adam Najem enters play this Tuesday, Sept. 27, versus VCU as the only 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 32 goals and 25 assists in 75 career games. Najem is currently ranked second, second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, among active career leaders in games played (75), assists (25), points (89), goals (32), assists per contest (0.33) and points per game (1.19). Across all divisions of men's soccer, Najem is rated sixth in games played and 15th in assists.
ZIPS TIDBITS
• The Zips registered the fourth clean sheet of the season on their home pitch with a 2-0 win over UC Santa Barbara, Sept. 12, to extend Akron's winning streak at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field to 10 straight dating back to the 2015 campaign. The triumph also marked the third win of the season for Akron over a ranked opponent through eight 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.
• The Zips have made the most of the initial and final 15 minutes of their games this season as Akron has recorded seven of its 12 goals in this span. Three of the Zips' five tallies in the final 15 minutes have been game-winners.
• Akron has seen six newcomers, including five freshmen, earn playing time through eight games this season. Of that group, Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.) and Jonathan Lewis have each started six contests and have combined to record four of the Zips' nine assists on the campaign.
• Adam Najem owns 183 career shots, the fifth-highest total in program history. He is 21 shots behind Michael Apple for fourth place.
• 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 nine players this year, while 17 players have recorded a shot. Of those 17 players, all but two 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 4-0 mark and have posted shutouts in each of those contests. Akron is averaging 17.8 shots per tilt at home, while limiting the opposition to 10.5 shots a game.
• The Zips are 3-2 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 30-3-2 record in its last 35 home matches.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 10-5-1 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 12th nationally in attendance in 2016 averaging 2,740 in four 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 four shutouts on the strength of 26 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 (32), assists (25), points (89), shots (183) and shots on goal (87).
• Ben Lundt, Adam Najem, Danilo Radjen (Broadview Heights, Ohio) and Victor Souto (Sao Paulo, Brazil) 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 66 games in which he has played in.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 23 of the squad's last 38 matches, including on four occasions this season.
• Akron advanced to the College Cup for the fourth time (1986, 2009, 2010 and 2015) in program history in 2015.
• The Zips posted a 7-1-2 mark away from FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field last season.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 17-4-2 record.
• Sam Gainford, Richie Laryea and Adam Najem played a major role in the offensive exploits of the Zips last season as the trio has played a scoring role in 43 of Akron's 55 goals.
• Najem and Brad Ruhaak have been named as team captains for the 2016 campaign.
• Since 2007, Akron owns a league record of 48-2-2 (.942) mark in the MAC. Furthermore, the Zips have won 10 consecutive MAC regular season championships and seven of the last eight MAC Tournament titles.
• 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.
• 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 (.813) as of games of Sept. 16, with an overall record of 163-29-22. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 149-39-30 (.752), Creighton, 137-37-25 (.751), North Carolina, 137-42-30 (.727) and Connecticut, 130-39-38 (.720). 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 98-7-12 (.889) 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.
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, of which both came on goal.
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
Sophomore 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.
Embick collected his 50th career coaching victory at Akron with a 1-0 triumph past No. 9 Seattle on Aug. 28. He enters the Zips' contest versus Oregon State on Friday, Sept. 9, needing three wins for 100 in his coaching career.
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.
SOCCER AMERICA SELECTS AKRON AS PRESEASON NO. 1
The University of Akron men's soccer team made its 2016 debut on Aug. 26, as the newly minted top-rated team in the country after Soccer America released its preseason Top 25 poll. Stanford, UCLA, Maryland and North Carolina follow the Zips in the top five of the poll, respectively.
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 recently 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.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
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.
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 United States Men's National Team 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
ZIPS LIVE RADIO SHOW
Every Thursday throughout the season from 7-8 p.m. ET, Akron head coaches can be heard on the weekly radio program Zips Live, presented by Lee Hyder and Associates. The show airs locally on 1350 AM (WARF) and originates from the Spaghetti Warehouse (510 S. Main Street). A free audio stream is available on www.SportsRadio1350.com.
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.
• Akron men's soccer has produced 22 Academic All-Americans since 1998.
• 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
Akron opens Mid-American Conference play hosting Buffalo in a 7:30 p.m. tilt at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field on Oct. 7.
