MAC Title a Stake as No. 4 Akron Battles Western Michigan

Sunday, November 12

Kalamazoo, MI

1:00 PM

University of Akron

Western Michigan

Photo by: GS Photo

MAC Title a Stake as No. 4 Akron Battles Western Michigan

November 11 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 20 - AKRON AT WESTERN MICHIGAN GAME NOTES (11/12)

No. 4 Akron (15-3-1) at No. 4 Western Michigan (16-2-1)
Sunday, Nov. 12
WMU Soccer Complex (4,000)
Kalamazoo, Mich. • 1 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 35-4-3
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN

WHAT'S AHEAD
Fourth-rated and second-seeded Akron continues its quest for its 14th Mid-American Conference Championship title and the 32nd NCAA Tournament berth battling top-seeded Western Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 12, in the finals of the MAC Championship. Game time at the WMU Soccer Complex is set for 1 p.m. with the contest slated to be broadcast on ESPN3.

ZIPS' MAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains an 32-8-5 mark in 45 matches in Mid-American Conference Championship history, including 9-0 under head coach Jared Embick. The Zips are playing away from FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field in MAC Tournament action for the first time since 2006.

AKRON MAC CHAMPIONSHIP TIDBITS
Senior Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) is Akron's active leader in MAC Tournament games started (7). Senior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) owns a team-high four goals in career tournament play, while sophomore Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.), Gainford, redshirt junior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea), redshirt sophomore Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), sophomore Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) have recorded two, one, one, one and one tournament goals, respectively, in their Akron careers. Gainford, Hinds, Kahsay and senior Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) have each registered a team-best one tournament assists as a Zip. Holthusen enters action versus Western Michigan as the team's MAC Tournament career scoring leader with eight points on the strength of four goals.

Gainford has recorded a team-best 30 shots, including eight on goal. Holthusen, Kahsay, Hinds, senior Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal), Zajac, senior Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia), freshman David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria), Shultz, senior Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.), Harter, redshirt junior Shane Wiedt (Akron, Ohio), and freshman Joao Moutinho (Lisbon, Portugal) and Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) have recorded 15 (7), 7 (4), 6 (2), 6 (1), 5 (4), 4 (1), 3 (2), 2 (0), 2 (0), 1 (1), 1 (0), 1 (0) and 1 (0) shots (shots on goal), respectively.

Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) owns three starts and five saves in MAC Tournament play.

AKRON-WESTERN MICHIGAN MAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Zips have met Western Michigan 11 times in MAC Championship play with Akron owning a 8-1-2 mark in those encounters, including 5-0-1 at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field. The Zips won the last tournament contest between the two schools, 4-0, in the semifinal game of the 2016 MAC Championship on Nov. 11, 2016, at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. The two teams are meeting in the title game of the MAC Championship for the fourth time with Akron owning 6-1, 4-0 and 4-1 triumphs in 2004, 2010 and 2013, respectively, with each of the three contests having been played at home.

SENIOR NIGHT FOR NINE ZIPS
The Zips honored seniors Pau Belana, Nate Brown (Scarborough, Ontario), Manuel Cordeiro, Niko De Vera, Dener Dos Santos (Joinville, Brazil), Sam Gainford, Stuart Holthusen, Barth-Luther Mouafo (Douala, Cameroon) and Nate Shultz prior to Akron's game versus Northern Illinois on Nov. 4.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan enters action on Sunday, Nov. 12, having won its last seven matches, following a 1-0 victory over West Virginia on Friday, Nov. 10. Senior Brandon Bye lead the Broncos' offensive efforts this season pacing the team in goals (12), points (29), shots (81), shots on goal (42) and game-winners (5), while ranking third in assists (5). Senior goalkeeper Drew Shepherd owns the majority of minutes in goal for the Broncos having recorded 31 saves and owning 12 shutouts on the strength of a 0.57 goals against average.

As a team, Western Michigan is ranked third in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.667) and winning percentage (.861), ninth in total assists (40), 10th in assists per game (2.22), 11th in goals against average (.602), 16th in points per contest (6.00), 17th in total points (108) and shots on goal per game (6.50), 19th in shots per tilt (15.00), 24th in total goals (34), 25th in scoring offense (1.89) and 40th in corner kicks (5.67). Individually, Bye checks in No. 4 in shots (4.53) and shots on goal (2.35) per game, fifth in game-winning goals (5), 12th in total points (29), 13th in points per tilt (1.71) and 14th in goals per game (0.71) and total goals (12), while Shephard is rated second in shutouts (11) and 13th in goals against average (.601).

IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 7, 2017 - KALAMAZOO, MICH.)
The then eighth-rated Akron men's soccer team saw its seven-match unbeaten streak come to an end as Tommy Clark's goal in the 56th minute (55:31) propelled then No. 12 Western Michigan to a 1-0 victory over the Zips in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools on Oct. 7.

The Broncos edged the Zips in shots on the afternoon, 10-9, including 6-5 in shots on goal. Akron received two shots apiece from Manuel Cordeiro, Ezana Kahsay and David Egbo. Western Michigan was paced by a game-high five shots, including four on goal, from Clark.

Ben Lundt recorded five saves in net for the Zips, while his counterpart, Elijah Michaels made five stops en route to collecting the clean sheet for the Broncos.

The two league foes battled through a defensive first half, one in which the Zips posted a 6-4 advantage in shots, including a 4-3 margin in shots on goal.

Stuart Holthusen registered the first shot of the game for Akron placing a strike on frame at the 6:00 mark that was saved by Michaels.

Clark scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 56th minute (55:31) on an unassisted tally.

Kahsay unleashed a strike for Akron at the 73:25 mark that was blocked before having his attempt in the 76th minute (75:53) pulled in by Michaels for a save.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Western Michigan are squaring off for 43rd time in program history with the Zips owning a 35-4-3 series advantage. Earlier this season, the Broncos registered a 1-0 home victory past Akron on Oct. 7, 2016.

THE COACHES
Western Michigan: Chad Wiseman is in his fifth season as head coach of the Western Michigan program, owning a 52-28-14 (.702) record. Overall in nine years as a head coach he owns a 105-53-20 (.646) mark.

Akron: In his fifth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 11th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 76-22-10 mark (.750), including 123-43-18 (.717) 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 76-22-10 (.750) 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 186-35-26 (.806), including a 55-4-3 (.911) 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.

HOLTHUSEN'S GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS AKRON PAST SIUE, 2-1
A golden goal by senior Stuart Holthusen in the 106th minute (105:06) capped a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 double-overtime triumph for the fourth-rated University of Akron men's soccer team past SIU Edwardsville in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Friday, Nov. 10.

Holthusen's team-leading ninth goal of the season and seventh in the Zips' last four games, came courtesy of an assist from redshirt junior Ezana Kahsay, and secured a berth in the title game of the MAC Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m., versus top-seeded Western Michigan.

The victory would not have been possible for Akron without redshirt sophomore Skye Harter netting the equalizer with 17 seconds left in regulation (89:43) to send the tilt into overtime. The goal was the fourth of the year for Harter and arguably the biggest of his Zips' career.

Akron dominated the statistical count in the affair outshooting the Cougars, 22-7, including 7-3 on goal. Directing the Zips' efforts with a game-high five shots was senior Sam Gainford, while Holthusen, sophomore Marcel Zajac and freshman David Egbo each added three shots. SIU Edwardsville was led by three shots from Jorge Gonzalez and two courtesy of Mohamed Awad.

Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt recorded a pair of saves in net for Akron, while his fellow keeper, Kyle Dal Santo, registered five stops for the Cougars.

Neither side was able to get many chances on frame in the opening stanza as the Zips outshot the Cougars in the initial half, 9-2, and 2-1 on goal.

SIU Edwardsville assumed a 1-0 lead in the 56th minute (55:54) when Greg Solawa knocked in the deflection off of a blocked shot by Johan DePicker.

Akron recorded six of the next seven shots in the affair before Gainford served a ball into the box that Egbo headed on frame at the 85:28 mark. The shot missed crossing the goal line by mere inches as Dal Santo recorded the save to deny the scoring opportunity.

Just over four minutes later, senior Nate Shultz crossed a ball near post into the box in the 90th minute (89:43) that Harter was able to drill past Dal Santo for the equalizer to send the contest into overtime.

The Zips registered the lone shot in the first overtime period, a shot by senior Manuel Cordeiro that was blocked at the 98:22 mark.

Each team posted a shot in the second overtime period before Holthusen's golden goal.

SENIORS LEAD AKRON PAST NORTHERN ILLINOIS, 4-0
On a night when the fifth-rated University of Akron men's soccer team honored its nine seniors, it was fitting that Stuart Holthusen and Sam Gainford combined to score three goals to spark the Zips to a 4-0 triumph past Northern Illinois on Nov. 4, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

The clean sheet marked the fourth consecutive shutout for Akron and 10th overall on the campaign.

Holthusen continued his recent scoring tear registering tallies in the 61st (60:27) and 66th (66:50) minutes, respectively, to record his team-leading seventh career multi-goal effort, including two this season. Even more impressive is the fact that Holthusen has netted six of his team-best eight goals on the campaign in the last three contests.

Gainford collected what proved to be the game-winning tally at the 18:07 mark, while sophomore Reggie Laryea (Toronto, Ontario) added his first goal of the campaign in the 90th minute (89:16).

The Zips outshot the Huskies on the evening, 22-4, including 11-2 on goal. Gainford and Holthusen directed Akron's offensive exploits garnering a game-high four shots apiece, while Nick Hinds, Joao Moutinho, Marcel Zajac and Ezana Kahsay added three, two, two and two shots, respectively. Four different Northern Illinois players recorded a shot.

Earning his fourth straight shutout and eighth on the campaign was goalkeeper Ben Lundt, who made one save, while Konrad Dziedzic pulled in six stops for the Huskies.

After opening the contest bettering the Huskies in shots, 6-1, Gainford collected his sixth goal of the season at the 18:07 mark off an assist from Hinds. The tally proved to be the game-winning goal for Akron.

Neither team was able to punch in a goal the remainder of the half as the Zips entered the intermission leading 1-0, having bested Northern Illinois in shots, 13-2, including 8-1 on net.

In the 61st minute (60:27), Holthusen extended Akron's advantage to 2-0 capitalizing on a pair of assists from Moutinho and freshman David Egbo.

Holthusen earned the brace with his score at the 65:50 mark as his near half-bicycle shot found the back of the net for his team-leading eighth goal of the year. Niko De Vera and junior Morgan Hackworth garnered assists on the score.

Laryea capped the scoring on the night with his first goal of the season and second of his career, in the 90th minute (89:16) off an assist from Kahsay. Laryea's first career goal came last season in a 7-0 victory by the Zips over the Huskies.

ZIPS NO. 10 IN LATEST NCAA RPI REPORT
The NCAA released its sixth RPI report of the season on Monday, Nov. 6, and the Zips checked in at No. 10 nationally.

AKRON NO. 10 IN NCAA TOURNAMENT REVEAL
The University of Akron men's soccer team found itself projected as the No. 10 national seed when the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee announced its top 10 rankings on Oct. 29.

Using the selection criteria and results through games played on Oct. 22, Wake Forest was the top-ranked team in the nation. Following the Demons Deacons in the projections were Indiana, North Carolina, Clemson, Michigan State, Duke, Notre Dame, Western Michigan, Georgetown and the Zips.

The Mid-American Conference was the lone non-Power 5 conference to have multiple teams in the top-10 rankings.

HOLTHUSEN SNARES NATIONAL AND LEAGUE HONORS
Stuart Holthusen continued his incredible run of play adding another week's worth of honors to his resume. He was selected as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, Akron Athletics' Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week and was named to the Men's Soccer National Teams of the Week by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com for the second week in a row.

Additionally, a week ago he was recognized as the United Soccer Coaches D1 National Player of the Week on Oct. 31 as well as by a fan vote on NCAA.com on Nov. 1.

Holthusen has turned in a strong two-week stretch to spark the Zips to a pair of road victories over No. 20 Pittsburgh (3-0) and No. 25 West Virginia (4-0), as well as home wins past Marshall (2-0) and Northern Illinois (4-0), registering six goals, while adding an assist.

FOUR ZIPS EARN MIDSEASON TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM HONORS
A trio of University of Akron men's soccer standouts in senior Sam Gainford and freshmen David Egbo, Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan garnered accolades when TopDrawerSoccer.com unveiled its Midseason National and Freshmen Top 100 lists on Oct. 16.

Gainford checked in at No. 27 on the National Top 100 list, while Moutinho, Strachan and Egbo were tabbed 13th, 31st and 50th, respectively, on the Freshmen Top 100 rankings. Each of the Zips represented the top-rated players in the Mid-American Conference.

Battling injuries throughout the campaign, Gainford has appeared in 13 matches for Akron recording team-high marks in shots on goal (18), while ranking second in goals (6), points (16), shots (36) and game-winners (3).

Egbo has played in 13 games for the Zips and owns a goal and a quartet of assists on 19 shots.

Moutinho has started each of the Zips' 19 contests this season and has responded with three goals and five assists on the strength of 17 shots on goal.

Strachan has helped anchor an Akron defensive unit that has posted 10 shutouts, while offensively adding a pair of assists, both on game-winners, on four shots.

AKRON HONORS MEMORY OF BILLY BERGER
The Akron men's soccer program honored the memory of former Zips' student manager (2008-12) Billy Berger, who passed away in May at the age of 27, prior to Akron's game with SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 13.

Berger was a beloved member of the Zips' championship team of 2010 and most recently served for four seasons as the director of men's soccer operations for SIU Edwardsville.

ZIPS EARN NSCAA COLLEGIATE TEAM ACADEMIC RECOGNITION
Akron was one of 195 schools nationwide to have its men's and women's soccer teams recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as 2016-17 Collegiate Team Academic Award winners.

The Zips were also one of only two schools in the Mid-American Conference to have both of their respective soccer programs honored.

Under fifth-year head coach Jared Embick was recognized for the 10th consecutive year and 11th time overall after registering a cumulative 3.09 grade point average for the 2016-17 academic year.

LEAGUE-BEST EIGHT ZIPS EARN ALL-MAC HONORS
Led by seniors Manuel Cordeiro, Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen, along with sophomore Nick Hinds and freshman Joao Moutinho, 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 as announced by the league on Thursday, Nov. 9.

Seniors Pau Belana, Niko De Vera and Nate Shultz were tabbed second-team honorees.

MOUTINHO NAMED MAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Freshman Joao Moutinho was selected as the 2017 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year in a vote of the league coaches released on Thursday, Nov. 9.

Moutinho became the 13th Zip to garner league Player of the Year accolades and second straight after Jonathan Lewis, the No. 3 pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, was named the conference's best newcomer in 2016.

A first-team All-MAC performer this season, Moutinho has started all 19 matches for the Zips, and has been a key playmaker for Akron totaling three goals and a team-best five assists. He has also contributed 17 shots on goal as part of 35 overall shots, totals that rank second and third on the squad.

A starter at the center-back position, Moutinho has helped anchor a Zips' defensive unit that has posted 10 shutouts this season.

ZIPS MAKING A STATEMENT AFTER SLOW START
After beginning the season with a pair of identical 1-0 road setbacks to then nationally-ranked Utah Valley and Denver, the Zips have responded with an 15-1-1 record since a 2-0 victory past No. 10 Washington on Sept. 1.

In that 17-game span, Akron is averaging 15.2 shots and 2.41 goals per tilt, while limiting the opposition to 0.41 tallies and 7.4 shots per outing.

Zips' goalkeepers have posted a 0.40 goals against average and earned 10 shutouts, while Akron's defensive efforts have limited opponents to only 52 shots on goals (versus 115 for the Zips).

AKRON FINDS SUCCESS AGAINST THE NATION'S TOP-RATED CONFERENCE
Akron has found success this season playing against the top-rated conference in America - the Atlantic Coast Conference, as the Zips own a 3-0 mark against the league. Akron boasts victories past Syracuse (1-0 on Oct. 3), Notre Dame (2-0 on Oct. 17) and Pittsburgh (3-0 on Oct. 24).

Fourteen different schools have posted non-conference triumphs over the conference in 2017, with only the Zips (3-0) and William and Mary (2-0) owning more than one triumph. Joining Akron and the Tribe on that list with one win apiece is Cornell, Georgia State, Indiana, James Madison, New Hampshire, Ohio State, Omaha, Pacific, Radford, Rhode Island, UNC Wilmington and Xavier.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Akron is 2-1-0 against teams ranked in the top 10 of the NCAA RPI report.
• The Zips' 4-0 victory past Northern Illinois on Nov. 4 marked the 75th career win for head coach Jared Embick at Akron.
• The clean sheet for Ben Lundt against Northern Illinois on Nov. 4 was the 18th of his career moving him into eighth place on the all-time list at Akron.
• Stuart Holthusen is ranked 19th, 22nd, 45th and 46th, respectively, among active D1 players in career points (69), goals (28), goals per game (0.38) and points per tilt (0.95), while Sam Gainford is rated 35th in assists (17) and 41st in points (59).
• Ben Lundt is rated 19th, 23rd and 50th among active D1 players in career goals against average (.868), solo shutouts (19) and minutes played (3,836). Those numbers include his efforts as a freshman at Lenoir-Rhyne.
• Stuart Holthusen's hat trick against West Virginia marked the first three-goal effort for a Zip since Adam Najem recorded a hat trick on Oct. 28, 2014 versus Cleveland State.
• During Akron's current nine-match winning streak the Zips are averaging 2.67 goals per contest and have limited the opposition to only three goals (0.33). In the same span, Akron has outshot its opponents, 156-58, including 71-20 on goal.
• The Zips are one of four teams in Division I that maintain an undefeated home mark this season. Akron owns a 10-0 record at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. The Zips are joined on this list by SMU (11-0), Dartmouth (7-0) and Pacific (5-0).
• Akron has surrendered one goal or fewer in each of its 19 games this season. All three of the Zips' setbacks have been by identical 1-0 scores.
• The Zips have held the lead in their 10 home matches for nearly 542 (541:51) of a possible 913:31 minutes or more than 59 percent (.593) of the time.
• Akron has equaled or bettered the opposition in shots in a game in its last 22 matches at home.
• The Zips have outshot the opposition in 17 of 19 contests this season, both overall and on goal.
• Akron's contest against Cleveland State marked the 100th game in the Zips' head coaching career of Jared Embick.
• The Zips have hosted a trio of top-10 opponents at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field this season. Akron has made the most of it opportunities dealing then No. 10 Washington a 2-0 setback on Sept. 1, before downing then No. 1 Michigan State, 4-1, on Sept. 27 and No. 8 Notre Dame, 2-0, on Oct. 17.
• In the past 15 seasons, the Zips have responded with a perfect 8-0-0 mark in their ensuing contest following a league loss.
• Akron is 6-1-1 against teams ranked in the top 50 of the NCAA RPI report, including a 4-1 victory past No. 1 Michigan State.
• 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 the 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 directed Akron to a 6-0-1 mark in it next seven contests before a 1-0 setback at Western Michigan (Oct. 8) en route to collecting team-high marks in goals (4), points (9), 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 18 of their 41 goals in that span. Akron has posted eight tallies in the last 15 minutes of the first half and 11 over the final 15 of regulation.
• For the fifth time in their respective Akron careers, Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen tallied goals in the same game for the Zips against Northern Illinois on Nov. 4. In those contests, Akron owns a 5-0 record, including a 2-0 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 41 shots from Stuart Holthusen, 22 different Zips have recorded a shot this season.
• The Zips have played some of their best soccer at home this season as 19 players have contributed points for Akron. Leading the way with 13 points is Sam Gainford (five goals and three assists), while owning 12, 11, nine and eight points, respectively, is Stuart Holthusen (five goals and two assists), Nick Hinds (four goals and three assists), Joao Moutinho (three goals and three assists) and Skye Harter (two goals and four assists). Additionally, 22 Akron players own at least one shot, led by Moutinho with a team-high 30 shots at home on the campaign.
• Akron has allowed only four goals at home this season, while outshooting the opposition, 170-65, including 73-24 on goal.
• Nineteen different Zips have recorded at least one point this season.
• Sam Gainford enters play versus Western Michigan with 204 career shots, five shy of equaling Adam Najem (2013-16) for fourth place on the all-time career list at Akron.
• Ben Lundt surpassed 3,000 career minutes in goal versus Pittsburgh on Oct. 24 and now owns the fifth-best career goals against average (0.835) in program history.
• The Zips have outshot the opposition in the opening half of play this season by a count of 120-53.
• Akron owns a 84-31 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 Joao Moutinho and Daniel Strachan have cracked the starting line-up for the Zips this season and have started 19 and 18 games, respectively.
• 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, junior Morgan Hackworth and freshman Joao 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 16-3-3.
• Joao 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 (28), points (70) and game-winning goals (11) and ranks second in assists (14), shots (138) and third in games played (73). Sam Gainford paces the squad in assists (16), games started (64), shots (204) and shots on goal (86) and is second in points (58) and games played (76). Nate Shultz is first in games played (78) and second in contests started (55).
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 47 of the squad's last 71 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 15 of its last 22 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• Akron owns a 46-4-3 record in its last 53 home matches.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 16-10-1 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, a 4-1 win versus No. 1 Michigan State on Sept. 27, a 2-0 decision against Notre Dame on Oct. 17, a 2-0 victory over No. 20 Pittsburgh on Oct. 24 and a 4-0 decision past No. 25 West Virginia on Oct. 27.
• The Zips are ranked 15th nationally in attendance in 2017 averaging 1,801 for 10 home games. In 2016, Akron rated 10th nationally in attendance averaging 2,147 fans per contest.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 55-4-3 (.911) mark in the Mid-American Conference. Furthermore, the Zips won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships (2006-16) and eight of the last nine MAC Tournament titles.
• 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 25 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 185 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.
• 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 30-10-6 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.

GAINFORD EARNS MORE ACCLAIM FOR HIS PLAY
Sam Gainford was recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Co-Player of the Week, the league announced on Oct. 24.

TopDrawerSoccer.com also named Gainford to its Men's National Team of the Week.

Battling his way back from injury, Gainford entered the Zips' showdown with Notre Dame in the 30th minute on Oct. 17 and immediately lifted Akron scoring his fifth goal of the season on a penalty kick at the 34:59 mark, a tally which proved to be the game-winner.

Re-entering the contest in the 75th minute, Gainford earned the assist after Nick Hinds knocked in the deflection off of his saved penalty shot for a goal at the 87:38 mark.

In a 2-1 overtime victory over Bowling Green on Oct. 21, Gainford garnered an assist on Hinds' goal in the 78th minute (77:37). In overtime, he collected his fourth assist on Ezana Kahsay's golden goal at the 90:26 mark.

OWNING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The recent successes of the Akron men's soccer program over the past 11 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 69-10-7 (.843) ledger in the month, including a 36-4-3 (.872) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.

HARTER EARNS NATIONAL HONORS
Skye Harter earned recognition for his play this past week as College Soccer News tabbed him to its National Team of the Week on Oct. 16.

Harter turned in a strong week for the Zips registering a goal and three assists en route to sparking Akron to a pair of victories.

In the Zips' 2-0 win over Cleveland State on Oct. 10, Harter got the scoring started for Akron just 52 seconds into the match corralling a defensive miscue by the Vikings in the box and delivering his first goal of the season, a game-winner, to give the Zips a 1-0 advantage.

In Akron's 3-1 league triumph past SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 13, Harter earned assists on each of the Zips' three goals in the victory.

SHULTZ GARNERS NATIONAL ACCOLADES
University of Akron senior Nate Shultz capped his award-winning week with his selection on Oct. 3, as the United Soccer Coaches Division I National Player of the Week, as well as being named NCAA.com National Player of the Week on Oct. 4.

On Oct. 2, College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.com named Shultz to their National Teams of the Week. Additionally, Akron Athletics honored him as the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Week.

He was also recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Oct. 3.

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 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).

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 Joao 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 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 Joao 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 Nov. 10) in the nation (.806), with an overall record of 186-35-26. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 171-45-33 (.753), North Carolina, 158-47-35 (.731), Creighton, 165-56-23 (.723) and Wake Forest, 146-48-32 (.717). 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 19 games this season as Akron has limited nine top-25 opponents to only 25 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. Akron held No. 8 Notre Dame to four shots on frame on Oct. 17, No. 20 Pittsburgh to three on Oct. 24 and No. 25 West Virginia to one on Oct. 27.

On the season, the Zips have outshot the opposition, 276-137 and have posted a 131-59 margin in corner kicks.

ZIPS' 1986 SQUAD HONORED
The 1986 Zips' men's soccer team, which became Akron's first College Cup team, was 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 INDUCTED INTO VARSITY "A" SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Eugene Alfred '73 – A four-year letterwinner in soccer was 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 113-8-13 (.892) 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, 10-0-2 and 10-0-0 during the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2017 seasons, respectively.

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 (Mississauga, Ontario), Morgan Hackworth, Christian Lue Young (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Joao 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
A victory by the Zips over Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Tournament final on Sunday, Nov. 12, would advance Akron to the NCAA Tournament for the 32nd time in program history.