No. 8 Akron Set for Showdown at Syracuse

Tuesday, October 3

Syracuse, N.Y.

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Syracuse

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

October 02 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 9 - AKRON AT SYRACUSE GAME NOTES (10/3)

No. 8 Akron (5-2-1) at No. 19 Syracuse (5-4-2)
Tuesday, Oct. 3
SU Soccer Stadium (1,500)
Syracuse, N.Y. • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 1-0
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron men's soccer team opens a key road swing on Tuesday, Oct. 3, as the Zips seek to extend their unbeaten streak to seven traveling to Syracuse, N.Y., for a showdown with No. 19 Syracuse. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Extra and the ESPN3/Watch ESPN app.

AKRON VERSUS THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference for the first time this season and 63rd time overall.
• Akron owns a 34-23-5 (.589) all-time record versus the current 12 members of the ACC.
• In their last encounter with a school from the ACC, the Zips dropped a 2-1 decision versus No. 8 Wake Forest on Sept. 22, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.

SCOUTING SYRACUSE
Syracuse enters its showdown with Akron on the heels of a 2-1 setback at Pittsburgh on Friday, Sept. 29. The Orange have dropped four of their last five matches after opening the campaign with a 4-0-2 mark. Junior Jonathan Hagman directs Syracuse's offensive exploits this season leading the team in goals (5), points (10), shots (23), shots on goal (11) and game-winners (1). Junior goalkeeper Hendrick Hilpert has registered 26 saves this season and owns a 1.34 goals against average with one shutout.

As a team, the Orange are 28th in the NCAA in total goals (18), 26th in corner kicks (69) and 45th in total points (49). Individually, Hagman is 53rd in total goals (5), Hugo Delhommelle is ninth in total assists (6) and 35th in assists per game (.545), while Hilpert is rated 16th in minutes played (1,003:44).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Syracuse are squaring off for only the second time in program history. The Zips posted a 2-1 decision over the Orange on Sept. 5, 1987.

THE COACHES
Syracuse: Ian McIntyre is in his seventh season as head coach of the Syracuse program, owning a 78-52-19 (.587) record and maintains an overall coaching mark of 185-116-51 (.598) in 18 years as a head coach.

Akron: In his fifth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 11th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 66-21-10 mark (.732), including 113-42-18 (.705) 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 2017 campaign marks his fifth year leading the Zips having registered a 66-21-10 (.732) ledger after posting an 13-6-3 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 176-34-26 (.801), including a 51-3-3 (.921) mark in Mid-American Conference play, while securing nine conference tournament titles, 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in an NCAA final.

The Zips came into the 2016 campaign on the heels of the program's fourth appearance in the College Cup in 2015 and boasted seven returning starters and the second-rated recruiting class in the country as heralded by TopDrawerSoccer.com.

The Zips began the season as the preseason No. 1 according to Soccer America before ascending to the consensus No. 1 team after the opening weekend of play. Akron went on to post its 16th consecutive double-digit victory campaign and concluded the year with a 13-6-3 ledger, including a 3-1-1 mark in the MAC. The Zips earned the MAC regular season and tournament titles en route to collecting the program's 31st NCAA Tournament.

The Zips became one of just five Division I programs to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past 10 seasons with their 31st overall selection.

Akron was led by the play of Adam Najem, who garnered third-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America accolades, respectively, en route to directing the Zips to rank third in the NCAA in goals (45), points (135) and shots per game (16.95), fourth in points per contest (6.14), fifth in assists (45), sixth in assists per game (2.05) and scoring offense (2.05) and eighth in shots on goal per tilt (6.91).

The Zips also found success in the classroom as Akron boasted a team 3.09 grade-point average, while Najem was tabbed a first-team NSCAA Academic All-American for the second straight season.

Led by Pau Belana, Najem and Brad Ruhaak, who were selected as first-team All-MAC men's soccer selections, eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades a year ago. Additionally, Sam Gainford, Nick Hinds, Stuart Holthusen, Jonathan Lewis and Ben Lundt were recognized as second-team selections.

Najem was honored as the MAC Player of the Year, while Lewis was selected as the MAC Freshman of the Year.

In January, 2017, Lewis became the 12th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection third overall in the MLS SuperDraft by New York City FC. Additionally, Danilo Radjen was selected in the fourth round (No. 36) by the Houston Dynamo.

Due in large part to Embick's recruiting efforts, Akron has identified and secured some of the best prospects in the country – and around the world – with top-five recruiting classes. The Zips' classes of 2012 and 2009 were ranked No. 1 in the country, while the classes of 2016, 2011 and 2010 each received a No. 2 designation.

More importantly, UA's recruits have flourished in the Zips' system, which features a style of play that is attractive and attack-oriented, yet effective on both sides of the ball. In total, Embick recruited or helped develop 31 players who have gone on to play professionally either in MLS or overseas since 2007.

Prior to joining the Zips, Embick spent four seasons (2003-06) as the head men's soccer coach at Missouri Baptist University where he led the Spartans to a record of 47-21-8 and the program's first NAIA regional tournament berth in 2003. In all, Embick spent six seasons at MBU, including two seasons as a graduate assistant (2000-01) and one season as an assistant coach (2002).

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 ZIPS TO 2-1 DOUBLE-OT VICTORY PAST SAINT MARY'S
A golden goal in the 104th minute (103:05) from freshman Faisal Ghaffur (Mississauga, Ontario) propelled the 24th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team to the 700th victory in program history with a 2-1 double-overtime triumph past Saint Mary's on Sept. 30, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

Entering the contest as a second-half substitution at the 80:31 mark, Ghaffur collected not only the game-winning tally for the Zips in double overtime, but also netted his first collegiate goal off an assist from sophomore Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.).

The Zips outshot Saint Mary's in overtime, 2-1, and for the game, 18-11. Akron also registered a 6-3 margin in shots on goal.

Freshman João Moutinho (Lisbon, Portugal) directed the Zips' offensive attack collecting a game-high five shots, including two on frame, while senior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) added four shots. Jake Rudel and Jakub Svehlik each tallied a team-high two shots for the Gaels.

The Gaels nearly got on the board in the 11th minute (10:12) as only freshman Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) clearing the ball off the goal line for a team save prevented a goal.

Akron went on to outshot the Gaels in the opening stanza, 7-4, while the two sides combined to register three shots on goal in the first half, including two for Akron. The shots on goal for the Zips came at the 6:48 and 11:07 marks off the foot of Moutinho.

Holthusen broke the stalemate in the 56th minute (55:20) notching his second goal of the season to give Akron a 1-0 advantage. Redshirt junior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea) made the play happen dribbling the ball through the top of the box to a driving Holthusen, who unfurled a laser past Saint Mary's goalkeeper Remi Prieur from 15 yards out.

A corner kick by Stephen Dougherty set up a goal from Svehlik at the 69:02 mark. Dougherty's shot from the corner was punched out for a clearance by junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany). Svehlik was on the spot to drive the rebound past Lundt for the equalizer.

Both sides had opportunities down the stretch in regulation, but neither team was able to capitalize with a game winner. The Zips bettered Saint Mary's in second-half shots, 8-6.

Lundt posted a save on Ever De La Torre's shot at the 94:53 mark of the first overtime period, while Prieur pulled in Holthusen's strike in the 98th minute (97:30). Lundt finished the evening making one save for the Zips, while Prieur pulled in two stops for the Gaels.

SHULTZ PROPELS AKRON TO 4-1 WIN OVER NO. 1 MICHIGAN STATE
Senior Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) picked an opportune time for his first career multi-goal affair as his two goals propelled the 24th-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team to a 4-1 victory over No. 1 Michigan State on Sept. 27, at FirstEnergy Stadium Cub Cadet Field.

The Spartans came into their showdown with the Zips having surrendered only one goal on the campaign and it was Shultz' first tally of the season in the 16th minute (15:55) that ended Michigan State's run of three consecutive shutouts.

Nick Hinds delivered a ball in from the corner of the box to just outside the six-yard box which Shultz leveled into the back of the net for a 1-0 Zips' lead.

Akron continued to penetrate the Spartan's defensive third in the half as the Zips went on to post an 8-1 advantage in first-half shots, including 5-0 margin in shots on goal.

Freshman David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) nearly extended Akron's lead to 2-0 at the 41:51 mark as only Jimmy Fiscus clearing the ball off the goal line for a team save prevented Egbo's second goal of the season.

Capitalizing on the momentum, Shultz earned his second tally of the evening in the 45th minute (44:28) off a pair of key inside-out passes for assists from redshirt sophomore Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio) and Stuart Holthusen to push Akron's lead at halftime to 2-0.

Hinds continued his strong play in the second half as finessed his away around the Michigan State defenders at the 70:04 mark and blasted a ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the season to give the Zips a 3-0 advantage.

Akron's bid for a third straight shutout was thwarted in the 81st minute (80:58) when Ryan Scott played a ball of his body and into the back of the net off an assist from Hunter Barone.

João Moutinho capped the Zips' scoring efforts on the evening registering his first career goal at the 84:50 mark to account for the final 4-1 margin. Egbo soared around the backline and played a ball into the box that senior Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.) flicked off to Egbo, who rocketed a ball past Michigan State goalkeeper Jimmy Hague for the goal.

The Zips finished the affair garnering a 14-6 advantage in shots, including a 7-3 difference in shots on goal. Moutinho collected a team- and career-high five shots.

Ben Lundt made one save for the Zips, while Hague pulled in four stops for Michigan State.

ZIPS NO. 24 IN INITIAL NCAA RPI REPORT
The NCAA released its first RPI report of the season on Monday, Oct. 2, and the Zips checked in at No. 24 nationally.

SHULTZ NAMED TO NATIONAL TEAMS OF THE WEEK
University of Akron men's soccer senior Nate Shultz garnered recognition for his play this past week for the Zips as College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com named him to their National Teams of the Week on Monday, Oct. 2.

Shultz helped Akron extend its unbeaten streak to six on the strength of registering a pair of goals to lead the Zips to victories over Michigan State and Saint Mary's on Sept. 27 and Sept. 30, respectively.

In the Zips' 4-1 victory over No. 1 Michigan State on Sept. 27, Shultz recorded the first multi-goal effort of his career with two goals on his only shots of the game to spark Akron to the win.

The Spartans came into their showdown with the Zips having surrendered only one goal on the campaign and it was Shultz' first tally of the season, a game-winner, in the 16th minute (15:55) that ended Michigan State's run of three consecutive shutouts.

Shultz earned his second tally of the evening in the 45th minute (44:28) off a pair of key inside-out passes for assists from Skye Harter and Stuart Holthusen to push Akron's lead at halftime to 2-0.

Defensively, he helped limit Michigan State and Saint Mary's to a combined six shots on goal.

SHULTZ NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Nate Shultz was named the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week award winner for the week of Sept. 25-Oct. 1, Akron Athletics announced on Oct. 2.

GAINFORD NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) was selected as the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Month, Akron Athletics announced on Oct. 2.

Gainford helped sparked the Zips to a 5-0-1 mark in the month of September on the strength of team-high marks in goals (4), points (9), shots (14), shots on goal (7) and game-winners (1).

Akron registered victories over a trio of ranked opponents defeating No. 10 Washington (2-0, Sept. 1), No. 21 UMass Lowell (5-0, Sept. 24) and No. 1 Michigan State (4-1, Sept. 27).

ZIPS TIDBITS
• The Zips recorded the 700th victory in program history with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Saint Mary's on Sept. 30.
• Akron's triumph over No. 1 Michigan State marked highest-rated team the Zips have defeated at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field since then top-rated Akron handed No. 2 Tulsa a 4-0 setback on Sept. 24, 2010.
• After missing the first two games of the season due to injury, Sam Gainford has directed Akron to a 5-0-1 mark in it last six contests en route to collecting team-high marks in goals (4), points (9), shots (14), shots on goal (7) and game-winners (1).
• The Zips have made the most of the final 15 minutes of each half this season as the team has scored eight of their 16 goals in that span. Akron has posted five tallies in the last 15 minutes of the first half and three over the final 15 of regulation.
• For the fourth time in their respective Akron careers, Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen tallied goals in the same game for the Zips. In those contests, Akron owns a 4-0 record, including a 1-0 mark this season. The first time the duo achieved this feat was in a 2-0 victory at No. 25 UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 25, 2015.
• Led by a team-best 19 shots from Stuart Holthusen, 20 different Zips have recorded a shot this season.
• The Zips have played some of their best soccer at home this season as 13 players have contributed points for Akron. Leading the way with six, six, five, four and four points, respectively, is Sam Gainford (three goals), Nick Hinds (two goals and two assists), Stuart Holthusen (two goals and one assist), David Egbo (one goal and two assists) and Nate Shultz (two goals). Additionally, 20 Akron players own at least one shot, led by João Moutinho with a team-high 10 shots at home on the campaign.
• Fourteen different Zips have recorded at least one point this season.
• Sam Gainford enters play versus Syracuse with 182 career shots, 21 shy of equaling Michael Apple (1995-98) for fifth place on the all-time career list at Akron.
• Ben Lundt surpassed 2,500 career minutes in goal versus Saint Louis on Sept. 16 and now owns the seventh-best career goals against average (0.963) in program history.
• The Zips have outshot the opposition in the opening half of play this season by a count of 46-18.
• Akron owns a decided 29-10 advantage in second-half corner kicks on the campaign.
• Ben Lundt earned the weekly Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week honors for the 2017-18 academic year, Akron Athletics announced on Sept. 18.
• Sam Gainford was recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 26.
• A pair of freshmen in João Moutinho and Daniel Strachan have cracked the starting line-up for the Zips this season and have started eight and seven games on Akron's defensive line this year.
• Akron's shutouts at Utah Valley and Denver marked only the second and third time since the start of the 2015 campaign in which the Zips have been shutout in a setback during the regular season.
• Daniel Strachan garnered the initial start of his collegiate career for the Zips against No. 3 Denver on Aug. 28.
• Three Zips' newcomers in senior Nate Brown (Scarborough, Ontario), junior Morgan Hackworth (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and freshman João Moutinho garnered the starting assignment in their Akron debuts versus Utah Valley on Aug. 25.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 15-3-3.
• João Moutinho was tabbed as one of eight Impact Freshmen to Know in 2017 by Travis Clark of TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Morgan Hackworth was recognized as one of 11 Division I transfers to watch by Travis Clark of TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Stuart Holthusen is Akron's active career leader in goals (21), points (54) game-winning goals (8) and ranks second in assists (12) and shots (116) and third in games played (62). Sam Gainford paces the squad in assists (13) , games played (68) and started (59), shots (182) and shots on goal (75) and in points (51). Nate Shultz is second in games played (67) and started (44).
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 38 of the squad's last 60 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 11 of its last 16 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• Akron owns a 40-4-3 record in its last 47 home matches.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 13-9-1 mark against ranked opponents after a 2-0 victory past Washington on Sept. 1, a 5-0 triumph over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sept. 24 and a 4-1 win versus No. 1 Michigan State on Sept. 27.
• The Zips are ranked 15th nationally in attendance in 2017 averaging 1,894 for four home games. In 2016, Akron rated 10th nationally in attendance averaging 2,147 fans per contest.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 51-3-3 (.921) mark in the Mid-American Conference. Furthermore, the Zips have won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships and eight of the last nine MAC Tournament titles.
• The Zips made the most of the initial and final 15 minutes of their games last season as Akron recorded 17 of its 45 goals in this span. Three of the Zips' nine tallies in the final 15 minutes were game-winners.
• The Zips registered a trio of wins over ranked opponents last season following victories past No. 7 Georgetown (Aug. 26, No. 9 Seattle (Aug. 28) and No. 5 UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 12).
• In all, Akron leads all league members with 19 regular-season and 13 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 12 times after doing so in 2016.
• In 24 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 177 All-MAC honorees, including a conference-record nine first-team selections in 2010.
• Ben Lundt recorded 11 shutouts on the strength of 59 saves a season ago.
• Akron's 1-0 victory over No. 9 Seattle on Aug. 28, 2016, represented the 50th career win for Zips' head coach Jared Embick at Akron.
• By virtue of its back-to-back shutouts to open the 2016 campaign, Akron opened a season with consecutive shutouts for the sixth time in the last nine years.
• 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 28-9-6 record.
• Sam Gainford, Nick Costa (North Royalton, Ohio) and Ben Lundt have been named as team captains for the 2017 campaign.
• In all, the Zips have produced 23 Academic All-American honors in its history, dating back to the 1998 season.
• Akron has long been associated with academic excellence. Over the last three seasons, the Zips have posted team GPA's of 3.09 (2016), 3.20 (2015) and 3.37 (2014). Akron 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.
• Jonathan Lewis became the 12th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection third overall in the MLS SuperDraft by New York City FC in January.

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.

EGBO HONORED BY TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
Akron freshman David Egbo garnered recognition for his play in the Zips' 5-0 victory over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sept. 24, as TopDrawerSoccer.com named him to its National Team of the Week on Sept. 26.

Egbo turned in a career game against nationally-ranked UMass Lowell registering a goal and an assist.

A defensive substitution in the 31st minute, Egbo immediately made a contribution recording his first career assist on Sam Gainford's game-winning tally at the 32:50 mark.

Less than seven minutes later in the 40th minute (39:32), Egbo connected on his first career goal off an assist from João Moutinho to give the Zips a 2-0 lead. His goal came on his only shot of the contest.

ZAJAC PICKS UP NATIONAL HONORS
Akron sophomore Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) was named by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com to their National Teams of the Week, it was announced on Sept. 11.

Zajac helped spark the Zips to a 3-1 victory at UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 9, with his first collegiate multi-goal contest.

Zajac got the scoring started in the affair connecting on his initial goal of the season at the 6:15 mark off an assist from freshman João Moutinho to give Akron a 1-0 lead.

Zajac extended the Zips' advantage to 2-0 in the 40th minute (39:52) hammering a cross in the box by Sam Gainford for his second goal of the match.

SEPTEMBER DOMINANCE
The Zips found their stride in the month of September as Akron registered five victories in month, bettering No. 10 Washington (2-0, Sept. 1), UC Santa Barbara (3-1, Sept. 9.), No. 21 UMass Lowell (5-0, Sept. 24), No. 1 Michigan State (4-1, Sept. 27) and Saint Mary's (2-1, Sept. 30).

For the month, the Zips were led by four goals and one assist from Sam Gainford, while Nick Hinds added two goals and a pair of assists. Akron outshot the opposition, 83-49, including 34-22 on frame. Ben Lundt was stellar in goal for the Zips owning a 0.47 goal against average on the strength of 17 saves and a trio of shutouts.

Over the last 15 seasons (2003-present), Akron boasts a 81-17-12 (.791) ledger in the month of September, including a 5-0-1 mark this fall.

GAINFORD HONORED BY TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM
University of Akron men's senior Sam Gainford was recognized as one of the game's best when TopDrawerSoccer.com unveiled its Men's Preseason Best XI squads on Aug. 21.

Gainford was honored as a third-team honoree as a forward.

GAINFORD NAMED TO HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Sam Gainford added another accolade to his growing resume with his selection on Aug. 8, to the 2017 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List.

Gainford is one of 31 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 Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, at the trophy presentation banquet at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

EMBICK GARNERS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Akron head coach Jared Embick received high praise for his efforts leading the Zips as TopDrawerSoccer.com named him as the top-rated coach in the country.

TopDrawerSoccer.com described Embick as having now fully emerged from the shadow Caleb Porter once cast over the Akron program and taken it in a direction wholly his own. Anyone who watched the Zips storm into the College Cup in 2015 with a beautifully possession-oriented style usually rejected by the college game's speed could see the genius at work here. He's as tactically clued in as any coach yet to reach 40 in American history.

GAINFORD AND HINDS GARNER MEN'S NATIONAL TOP 100 HONORS
Sam Gainford and Nick Hinds were honored as members of the initial Men's National Top 100 list compiled by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Gainford was tabbed as the No. 24 player in the country, while Hinds came in at No. 96.

A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage (through games of Oct. 1) in the nation (.801), with an overall record of 176-34-26. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 168-39-33 (.769), North Carolina, 154-45-34 (.734), Creighton, 162-53-21 (.731) and Connecticut, 138-45-41 (.708). Akron has made 10 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-16), earning a first-round bye in seven seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in seven of the last 10 years. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 31 times, including each of the past 10 seasons and 15 of the past 16.

DEFENSIVE ZIPS
The Zips have displayed strong defensive efforts in their first eight games this season as Akron has limited a quartet of top-25 opponents to only 16 shots on goal.

In the Zips' 1-0 setback at No. 3 Denver, the Pioneers' lone shot on goal came on a first-half penalty kick en route to Akron registering a 10-5 advantage in overall shots.

Against No. 10 Washington on Sept. 1, the Zips held the Huskies to only two shots on goal in a 2-0 victory, before limiting No. 21 UMass Lowell and No. 1 Michigan State to three shots on frame in 5-0 and 4-1 wins on Sept. 24 and Sept. 27, respectively.

On the season, the Zips have outshot the opposition, 101-60 and have posted a 49-25 margin in corner kicks.

ZIPS' 1986 SQUAD TO BE HONORED
The 1986 Zips' men's soccer team, which became Akron's first College Cup team, will be honored as part of the 43rd Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies on Oct. 7.

Setting their preseason goals on a national championship, the Zips secured two road wins over nationally ranked teams [Fresno State, 2-1; Penn State, 1-0] and Akron's first win over Indiana since 1975, 1-0, to prove they were going in the right direction.

Under the direction of head coach Steve Parker, Akron closed its regular season with six wins, including a 1-0 victory over No. 1 ranked Evansville on Lee Jackson Field. That victory earned the Zips a sixth spot, their highest national ranking ever up to that time.

Akron earned its 15th NCAA Tournament bid in its then 32-year history. After receiving a bye in the first round, Akron traveled to Evansville again where it claimed a 2-1 win in overtime.

The Zips hosted the NCAA quarterfinal match against Penn State, and came away with another 2-1 overtime victory.

Akron had to make a return trip to Fresno State for the national semifinals and downed the Bulldogs, 1-0.

Akron's only remaining hurdle to a national championship was a highly regarded Duke squad, which prevailed by the narrowest of margins, 1-0. Akron finished with a 17-4-3 record as the national runner-up, and Parker was accorded National Coach of the Year.

ALFRED TO BE INDUCTED INTO VARSITY "A" SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Eugene Alfred '73 – A four-year letterwinner in soccer will be honored as part of the 43rd Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies on Oct. 7.

A native of Ibadan, Nigeria, Alfred earned second-team All-Ohio and All-Midwest Honorable Mention honors as a freshman in 1969 during an 8-4 campaign.

As a sophomore halfback, Alfred performed well enough to be selected first team on both the All-Ohio and All-Midwest squads and then was accorded 1970 All-America Honorable Mention accolades as he helped Akron earn an NCAA I Tournament berth while compiling an 8-5-1 record.

In 1971, he helped Akron capture its 10th Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association title and another postseason NCAA I Tournament berth with a 9-3-3 record.

As a senior in 1972, the Zips put together a 9-3-2 campaign and their third straight NCAA Tournament bid.

PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Since 2007, the Zips have recorded a 108-8-13 (.888) 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.

LEAGUE-BEST EIGHT ZIPS EARN ALL-MAC HONORS
Led by Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia) and Adam Najem and Brad Ruhaak, who were selected as first-team All-Mid-American Conference men's soccer selections, a league-best eight Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades in 2016.

Sam Gainford, Nick Hinds, Stuart Holthusen, Jonathan Lewis and Ben Lundt were tabbed second-team honorees.

NAJEM SELECTED AS MAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Adam Najem was selected as the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year in a vote of the league coaches.

Najem became the 12th Zip to garner league Player of the Year accolades and first since Aodhan Quinn was named the conference's best player in 2013.

Najem joined an exclusive club as only the third Akron player to earn first-team All-MAC honors in each of his four campaigns as a Zip. He joined Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2007-10) and Matt Tutich (2005-08) as the only other Akron standouts to be so recognized. Additionally, he was the seventh Zip to be tabbed as a four-time All-MAC (first- or second-team honoree) recipient joining Ampaipitakwong, Tutich, Orjan Bjanese (1998-2001), Kyle Milligan (1998-2001), Cameron Knowles (2001-04) and Ossie Michalsen (2005-08).

LEWIS NAMED MAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Lewis was selected as the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year in a vote of the league coaches.

Lewis' selection marked the 12th time a Zip has taken home the top newcomer award in the conference and first since Dillon Serna was honored in 2012.

ZIPS PRIMED FOR BIG THINGS IN 2017
The Zips entered the 2017 campaign looking to build upon a 13-6-3 mark last season, including a 3-1-1 ledger in the Mid-American Conference, and a return to the College Cup in search of winning the program's second national championship.

Akron is seeking to integrate 11 newcomers this season in Marc Alexander (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Nate Brown, David Egbo, Faisal Ghaffur, Morgan Hackworth, Christian Lue Young (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), João Moutinho, Codie Lynd (Belleville, Ill.), Braden Petno (Hudson, Ohio), Daniel Strachan and Declan Watters (Dublin, Ireland) 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 fifth-year head coach Jared Embick, were picked to repeat as conference champions in the MAC Coaches Preseason poll with five first-place votes. Following Zips (35 points) in the rankings were West Virginia (21 points) and league newcomer SIU Edwardsville (21 points). The Mountaineers garnered the lone remaining first-place tally.

Rounding out the rest of the poll was 2017 MAC Tournament participants Bowling Green (20 points) and Western Michigan (20 points), along with Northern Illinois (nine points). Also voted on by the coaches was the predicted 2017 MAC Tournament Champion where Akron was selected to repeat as league tournament winner.

NAJEM EARNS 2016 ALL-AMERICA HONORS
University of Akron men's soccer standouts Adam Najem garnered All-America accolades when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) unveiled its 2016 All-American teams last season. Najem earned All-America status for the second time in his respective Akron career. Najem was tabbed as second- and third-team honoree in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The NSCAA All-America citations were the 55th and 56th 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 for the second consecutive year when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) unveiled its 2016 Scholar All-American team last season.

Najem became the third Zip to garner First-Team NSCAA Scholar All-America accolades twice joining Chad Barson (2011, 2012) and Kofi Sarkodie (2009, 2010).

The NSCAA Scholar All-America citation is the 10th in the Zips' storied men's soccer history, while also marking the 23rd overall academic All-America honor in program history.

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?
• Twelve 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 traveling to No. 9 Western Michigan for a 1 p.m. tilt on Saturday, Oct. 7.