The University of Akron Athletics
Zips' Men's Soccer Begins Preparations for 2017 Campaign
August 11 | Men's Soccer
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2017 AKRON MEN'S SOCCER SEASON PREVIEW
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AKRON, Ohio - The No. 16th ranked University of Akron men's soccer team opened its preseason preparations for the 2017 campaign on Wednesday, Aug. 9, as the squad went through the Zips' first training session of the season under fifth-year head coach Jared Embick.
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The squad welcomed 11 newcomers to the fold as the Zips went through a 90-minute training session on the Shrank Practice Field.
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Akron is set to return seven starters, including all Mid-American Conference performers in seniors Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia), Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) and Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand), junior Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) and sophomore Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.) in 2017 from a squad that captured MAC regular season and tournament titles en route to advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 31st time in program history on the strength of an overall record of 13-6-3 during the 2016 campaign.
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The Zips return an offensive unit that accounted for nearly 59 percent (.585) of the overall scoring output for Akron in 2016. Additionally, the returners netted nearly 67 percent (.667) of the Zips' goals and 42 percent (.422) squad's assists a season ago.
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Six of the Zips' 2017 opponents were rated in the preseason top-25, No. 3 Denver, No. 8 Syracuse, No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 11 Washington, No. 18 UMass-Lowell and No. 22 Michigan State.
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Tenth-rated Notre Dame will visit FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Oct. 17, while also coming to Akron this fall will be No. 11 Washington (Sept. 1), No. 18 UMass-Lowell (Sept. 24) and No. 22 Michigan State (Sept. 27).
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Bolstering Akron's efforts this fall will be a core of nine seniors in Belana, Nate Brown (Scarborough, Ontario), Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal), Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.), Dener Dos Santos (Joinville, Brazil), Gainford, Holthusen, Barth-Luther Mouafo (Douala, Cameroon) and Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio).
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Experience will also be key for the Zips as 14 players appeared in 10 or more games for the Zips in 2016.
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Limited Reserved Bleacher Back ($110) and General Admission ($60) season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by logging on to GoZips.com/tickets, calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Discounted general admission season tickets for Akron faculty/staff are also available for $48 and must be purchased in person or on the phone. Additionally, general admission family plans ($200), which include a combination of two adult and two youth tickets or one adult and three youth tickets, are available for the fall at this time.
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Individual single-game tickets for all of Akron's home matches are now on sale.
As another option, all Akron Alumni are eligible to purchase the Alumni all-sport season-ticket package for $175, which includes general admission season tickets for men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and a reserved seat for football.
Group experiences that include discounted tickets are on sale now for a minimum of 15 people. These include line-up buddies when the players are announced and chances to be ball boys during the game.
The Zips will take the field for the first time on Aug. 16 when Akron hosts Penn State for a 1 p.m. exhibition tilt at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
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2017 AKRON MEN'S SOCCER SEASON PREVIEW
Â
AKRON, Ohio - The No. 16th ranked University of Akron men's soccer team opened its preseason preparations for the 2017 campaign on Wednesday, Aug. 9, as the squad went through the Zips' first training session of the season under fifth-year head coach Jared Embick.
Â
The squad welcomed 11 newcomers to the fold as the Zips went through a 90-minute training session on the Shrank Practice Field.
Â
Akron is set to return seven starters, including all Mid-American Conference performers in seniors Pau Belana (Barcelona, Catalonia), Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) and Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand), junior Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) and sophomore Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.) in 2017 from a squad that captured MAC regular season and tournament titles en route to advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 31st time in program history on the strength of an overall record of 13-6-3 during the 2016 campaign.
Â
The Zips return an offensive unit that accounted for nearly 59 percent (.585) of the overall scoring output for Akron in 2016. Additionally, the returners netted nearly 67 percent (.667) of the Zips' goals and 42 percent (.422) squad's assists a season ago.
Â
Six of the Zips' 2017 opponents were rated in the preseason top-25, No. 3 Denver, No. 8 Syracuse, No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 11 Washington, No. 18 UMass-Lowell and No. 22 Michigan State.
Â
Tenth-rated Notre Dame will visit FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on Oct. 17, while also coming to Akron this fall will be No. 11 Washington (Sept. 1), No. 18 UMass-Lowell (Sept. 24) and No. 22 Michigan State (Sept. 27).
Â
Bolstering Akron's efforts this fall will be a core of nine seniors in Belana, Nate Brown (Scarborough, Ontario), Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal), Niko De Vera (Camas, Wash.), Dener Dos Santos (Joinville, Brazil), Gainford, Holthusen, Barth-Luther Mouafo (Douala, Cameroon) and Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio).
Â
Experience will also be key for the Zips as 14 players appeared in 10 or more games for the Zips in 2016.
Â
Limited Reserved Bleacher Back ($110) and General Admission ($60) season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by logging on to GoZips.com/tickets, calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Discounted general admission season tickets for Akron faculty/staff are also available for $48 and must be purchased in person or on the phone. Additionally, general admission family plans ($200), which include a combination of two adult and two youth tickets or one adult and three youth tickets, are available for the fall at this time.
Â
Individual single-game tickets for all of Akron's home matches are now on sale.
As another option, all Akron Alumni are eligible to purchase the Alumni all-sport season-ticket package for $175, which includes general admission season tickets for men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and a reserved seat for football.
Group experiences that include discounted tickets are on sale now for a minimum of 15 people. These include line-up buddies when the players are announced and chances to be ball boys during the game.
The Zips will take the field for the first time on Aug. 16 when Akron hosts Penn State for a 1 p.m. exhibition tilt at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field.
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Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
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/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
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