No. 3 Akron Set to Open NCAA Tournament Play Versus No. 22 Seattle

Sunday, November 19

Akron, Ohio

1:00 PM

University of Akron

Seattle

Tickets

Photo by: GS Photo

No. 3 Akron Set to Open NCAA Tournament Play Versus No. 22 Seattle

November 17 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 21 - AKRON VS. SEATTLE GAME NOTES (11/19)

No. 3 Akron (16-3-1) vs. No. 22 Seattle (15-3-4)
Sunday, Nov. 19
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 1 p.m.

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

WHAT'S AHEAD
Third-rated and fifth-seeded Akron continues its quest to capture its second-ever NCAA Championship on Sunday, Nov. 19, as the Zips host No. 22 Seattle in the second round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. The 1 p.m. contest will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app with Dave Bacon and Otto Orf calling the action.

ZIPS' NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Akron maintains an 26-25-8 mark in 59 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 5-2-2 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 17-5-8 ledger.

Senior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) is Akron's active leader in NCAA Tournament games played (7) and started (6). Holthusen owns a team-high three goals in career tournament play and the lone assist by an active Zip, while sophomore Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.) has recorded two tournament goals. Holthusen enters action versus No. 22 Seattle as the team's NCAA Tournament career scoring leader with seven points on the strength of three goals and one assist.

Holthusen has recorded a team-best 19 shots, including eight on goal. Holthusen, senior Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England), Hinds, redshirt junior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea), seniors Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) and Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal) and redshirt junior Shane Wiedt (Akron, Ohio), have recorded 19, 15, 10, four, three, one and one shot, respectively.

Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) registered a shutout in his first-ever NCAA Tournament game versus Villanova in 2016 and has started a pair of tournament contests for Akron allowing one goal, while pulling in three saves.

AKRON VERSUS THE WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Western Athletic Conference for the sixth time in program history and second time this season.
• Akron opened the 2017 campaign with a 1-0 setback at then No. 16 Utah Valley on Aug. 25.
• A year ago, Akron registered a 1-0 triumph past No. 9 Seattle on Aug. 28, at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• In all, Akron is 4-1-0 (.800) versus teams from the Western Athletic Conference.

SENIOR NIGHT FOR NINE ZIPS
The Zips honored seniors Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia), Nate Brown (Scarborough, Ontario), Manuel Cordeiro, Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.), 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 SEATTLE
Seattle enters action on Sunday, Nov. 19, unbeaten in its last five matches, following a 3-2 overtime victory over Washington on Thursday, Nov. 16. Junior Sergio Rivas leads the Redhawks' offensive efforts this season pacing the team in goals (8), points (22) and game-winners (3), while ranking second in assists (6), shots (69) and shots on goal (31). Redshirt junior goalkeeper Josh Adachi has recorded 38 saves and owns 10 shutouts on the strength of a 0.82 goals against average.

As a team, Seattle is leading the NCAA in shots per game (19.23) and shots on goal per contest (8.14), while ranking sixth in corner kicks (6.91), 13th in winning percentage (.773), 15th in total goals (39), 19th in total points (111), 26th in total assists (33), shutout percentage (.455) and goals against average (.821), 34th in scoring offense (1.77) and 36th in points per contest (5.05). Individually, senior Alex Roldan checks in at third, fifth, 23rd and 50th, respectively, in shots per game (4.45), shots on goal per contest (2.18), assists (8) and game-winners (3), while Rivas is 44th in shots per game (3.14) and 50th in game-winning goals (3) and Adachi is ranked first in minutes played (2083:40), sixth in shutouts and 30th in goals against average (.821).

IN OUR LAST MEETING (AUG. 28, 2016 - AKRON, OHIO)
A game-winning goal in the 88th minute (87:49) from Tyler Sanda lifted the top-rated University of Akron men's soccer team to a dramatic 1-0 triumph past No. 9 Seattle in the finale of the Akron Classic on Aug. 28, 2016, at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.

The game-winner was set-up by a beautiful offensive attack from Adam Najem, who served a cross into the box to Sanda, who drilled a ball from 10 yards out that bested Seattle goalkeeper RJ Noll.

Sparked by a 15-7 advantage in second-half shots, the Zips outshot the Redhawks on the evening, 22-15, despite being bettered on shots on goal, 8-6.

Sam Gainford recorded a game-high five shots for Akron, while the Zips also benefited from four shots in reserve duty courtesy of Sanda. Najem, Ezana Kahsay and Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) added three, three and two shots, respectively, for Akron. Sergio Rivas directed the Redhawks with a game-best five shots.

Ben Lundt registered a then career-best eight saves for Akron en route to collecting his second clean sheet of the season. Noll posted five saves for Seattle.

Seattle came out the aggressors early in the affair as the Redhawks bettered the Zips in shots in the initial stanza, 8-7, including a 5-1 margin in shots on goal. Zajac accounted for Akron's lone shot on frame in the opening 45 minutes, a strike that was saved by Noll for a save at the 4:31 mark.

The game-winning goal was set-up by Najem intercepting the offensive attack by Seattle and driving up the midfield before serving the ball into Sanda for the goal.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Seattle are squaring off for second time in program history with the Zips owning a 1-0-0 series advantage. A year ago, Akron registered a 1-0 home victory at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field past the then No. 9 Redhawks on Aug. 28, 2016.

THE COACHES
Seattle: Pete Fewing is in his 24th season as head coach of the Seattle program, owning a 289-165-41 (.625) record

Akron: In his fifth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 11th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 77-22-10 mark (.752), including 124-43-18 (.719) 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 77-22-10 (.752) 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 187-35-26 (.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.

ZIPS EARN MAC TITLE WITH 4-1 WIN OVER WESTERN MICHIGAN
A pair of second-half goals from senior Sam Gainford and Manuel Cordeiro spurred the fourth-rated University of Akron men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over top-seeded and No. 4 Western Michigan in the title game of the Mid-American Conference Championship on Nov. 12, to give the Zips their 14th MAC Tournament title and 32nd NCAA Tournament berth.

Akron earned its sixth consecutive league tournament title with the triumph and will be making its 11th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Zips outshot the Broncos in the affair, 17-10, including 6-5 on goal. Senior Stuart Holthusen, who was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, led all players with a game-high five shots. Three different Western Michigan players recorded a pair of shots.

Junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt made three stops in net for the Zips, while Drew Shepherd pulled in three stops for the Broncos.

Also named to the All-Tournament team for Akron was Cordeiro, Holthusen and freshman Joao Moutinho (Lisbon, Portugal).

Holthusen gave the Zips their best scoring opportunity in the 37th minute (36:23) as his header was deflected up by Shepherd and cleared off the line by defender Jake Rufe.

The ball was then cleared out of the box where senior Niko De Vera served a ball into the box where Holthusen struck the ball and found the back of the net for his team-leading 10th goal of the year at the 36:30 mark.

The Zips were on the verge of taking a 1-0 lead into the intermission before a header shot by Ben Thornton in the 45th minute (44:47) was cleared off the line for a team by De Vera. The deflection was punched in by Thornton two seconds later at the 44:49 for the equalizer and his fourth goal of the season.

Akron outshot the Broncos in the opening stanza, 10-2, including 3-1 on frame.

The Zips registered the first three shots of the second half, including a shot by Holthusen at the 54:42 mark that was saved by Shepherd.

Less than 30 seconds later (55:04), a corner kick from redshirt sophomore Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio) sent a ball into the box that Gainford got a foot on and converted into his seventh tally of the season at the 55:10 mark to give the Zips a 2-1 advantage.

Cordeiro capped the scoring in the affair with a goal in the 78th minute (77:24) off assists from sophomore Nick Hinds and Gainford.

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 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.

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 (Mississauga, Ontario) and freshman David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) 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.

ZIPS NO. 5 IN LATEST NCAA RPI REPORT
The NCAA released its seventh RPI report of the season on Monday, Nov. 13, and the Zips checked in at No. 5 nationally.

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 on Nov. 6.

Additionally, 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 (Lakewood, Ohio) 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 14 matches for Akron leading the team in game-winners (4), while ranking second on the team in goals (6), assist (5), points (19), shots (37), shots on goal (19).

Egbo has played in 14 games for the Zips and owns a goal and a quartet of assists on 19 shots.

Moutinho has started each of the Zips' 20 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 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 Nov. 9.

Moutinho became the 13th Zip to garner league Freshman 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 20 matches for the Zips, and has been a key playmaker for Akron totaling three goals and five assists. He has also contributed 17 shots on goal as part of 36 overall shots, totals that rank 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 16-1-1 record since a 2-0 victory past No. 10 Washington on Sept. 1.

In that 18-game span, Akron is averaging 15.3 shots and 2.44 goals per tilt, while limiting the opposition to 0.44 tallies and 7.6 shots per outing. Zips' goalkeepers have posted a 0.43 goals against average and earned 10 shutouts, while Akron's defensive efforts have limited opponents to only 57 shots on goals (versus 121 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, Old Dominion, 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. He needs one win for 125 in his overall head coaching career.
• 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 16th, 22nd, 43rd and 43rd, respectively, among active D1 players in career points (71), goals (29), goals per game (0.39) and points per tilt (0.96), while Sam Gainford is rated 32nd in assists (18), 36th in points (62), 42nd in games played (77) and 47th in goals (22). Nate Shultz is 22nd in games played (79).
• Ben Lundt is rated 21st, 25th and 47th among active D1 players in career goals against average (.871), solo shutouts (19) and minutes played (3,926). 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 10-match winning streak the Zips are averaging 2.70 goals per contest and have limited the opposition to only four goals (0.40). In the same span, Akron has outshot its opponents, 173-68, including 77-25 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 (12-0), Dartmouth (7-0) and Pacific (6-0).
• Akron has surrendered one goal or fewer in each of its 20 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 18 of 20 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 7-1-1 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 21 of their 44 goals in that span. Akron has posted nine tallies in the last 15 minutes of the first half and 12 over the final 15 of regulation.
• For the sixth time in their respective Akron careers, Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen tallied goals in the same game for the Zips against Western Michigan on Nov. 12. In those contests, Akron owns a 6-0 record, including a 3-0 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 46 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 Seattle with 205 career shots, four shy of equaling Adam Najem (2013-16) for fourth place on the all-time career list at Akron.
• Ben Lundt surpassed 3,500 career minutes in goal versus Western Michigan on Nov. 12 and now owns the fifth-best career goals against average (0.839) in program history.
• The Zips have outshot the opposition in the opening half of play this season by a count of 130-56.
• Akron owns a 86-34 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 20 and 19 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 (29), points (72) and game-winning goals (11) and ranks second in assists (14), shots (143) and third in games played (74). Sam Gainford paces the squad in assists (17), games started (65), shots (205) and shots on goal (87) and is second in points (61) and games played (77). Nate Shultz is first in games played (79) and second in contests started (56).
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 48 of the squad's last 72 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 17-10-1 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, a 4-0 decision past No. 25 West Virginia on Oct. 27 and a 3-1 win over No. 4 Western Michigan on Nov. 12.
• 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 nine of the last 10 MAC Tournament titles.
• In all, Akron leads all league members with 19 regular-season and 14 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 12 times.
• 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 31-10-6 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.

MOUTINHO NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Joao Moutinho was selected as the Summa Health Student-Athlete of the Month for October, Akron Athletics announced on Nov. 6.

Moutinho proved to be an instrumental piece in the Zips' success in October as the Zips posted a 7-1 record, including four victories over ranked opponents, three of which came on the road.

Offensively, Moutinho registered a pair of goals, while adding a pair of assists, and collected team high marks in shots (19) and shots on goal (10). On the defensive end, Moutinho led the efforts of the Zips, who posted five shutouts on the month.

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. 16) in the nation (.806), with an overall record of 187-35-26. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 171-45-34 (.752), North Carolina, 158-47-35 (.731), Creighton, 165-56-23 (.723) and Wake Forest, 146-48-33 (.716). Akron has made 11 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-17), earning a first-round bye in eight 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 32 times, including each of the past 11 seasons and 16 of the past 17.

DEFENSIVE ZIPS
The Zips have displayed strong defensive efforts in their first 20 games this season as Akron has limited 10 top-25 opponents to only 30 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, No. 25 West Virginia to one on Oct. 27 and No. 4 Western Michigan to five on Nov. 12.

On the season, the Zips have outshot the opposition, 293-147 and have posted a 136-63 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 will send Akron into a third-round showdown with the winner of the No. 10 Notre Dame/Wisconsin match on Saturday, Nov. 25, a 4 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.