No. 24 Akron Set to Host No. 1 Michigan State

Wednesday, September 27

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Michigan State

Tickets

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

September 26 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 7 - AKRON VS. MICHIGAN STATE GAME NOTES (9/27)

No. 24 Akron (3-2-1) vs. No. 1 Michigan State (7-0-1)
Wednesday, Sept. 27
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 26-13-2
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN
Radio: WARF 1350 AM

WHAT'S AHEAD
Fresh off the heels of a dominating 5-0 victory over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sunday, Sept. 24, the University of Akron men's soccer team faces its stiffest challenge of the campaign welcoming top-rated Michigan State to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field on Wednesday, Sept. 27. The 7 p.m. match will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app with David Bacon and Otto Orf calling the action. Additionally, WARF 1350 AM radio will have the broadcast with Steve French and former Zips' assistant coach and current Ashland head men's soccer coach Oliver Slawson on the call.

AKRON VERSUS THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Big Ten Conference for the first time this season and 183rd time overall.
• Akron owns a 99-66-17 (.591) all-time record versus the current 14 members of the Big Ten Conference.
• The Zips have gone 17-3-4 against the league since 2012.
• A year ago, Akron dropped a 2-1decision at Michigan State, Oct. 11, and a 1-0 setback in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Indiana, Nov. 20, while earning a 2-2 double-overtime tie at Penn State, Oct. 18, and a 2-0 victory at Ohio State, Oct. 26.
• In all, Akron is 34-8-7 (.765) versus teams from the Big Ten since 2007. During that time, the Zips have out-scored the competition, 93-39.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State (7-0-1) enters action on Wednesday, Sept. 27, unbeaten in its first eight matches of the season after battling top-rated Maryland to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Sept. 22. The Spartans have capitalized on a stout defense that has surrendered only one goal on the campaign, en route to posting six shutouts. Junior DeJuan Jones directs Michigan State's offensive exploits this season leading the team in goals (4), points (10), shots on goal (10) and game-winners (3). Senior goalkeeper Jimmy Hague has registered 26 saves this season and owns a 0.12 goals against average with seven shutouts.

As a team, the Spartans are leading the NCAA in save (.963) and shutout percentage (.880), while ranking second in goals against average (0.12) and winning percentage (.938) and 31st in corners per game (6.13). Individually, Hague paces the country in shutouts (7) and save percentage (.963), while Jones is ranked fourth in game-winners (3).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Michigan State are squaring off on Wednesday, Sept. 27, for the 42nd time in program history with the Zips owning a 26-13-2 series advantage, including a 14-6-1 mark at home. A year ago, the 14th-rated Spartans registered a 2-1 victory past Akron on Oct. 11, 2016, in East Lansing, Mich.

THE COACHES
Michigan State: Damon Rensing is in his ninth season as head coach of the Michigan State program, owning a 97-58-32 (.604) record.

Akron: In his fifth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 11th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 64-21-10 mark (.726), including 111-42-18 (.702) 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 64-21-10 (.726) 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 174-34-26 (.799), including a 51-3-3 (.921) mark in Mid-American Conference play, while securing nine conference tournament titles, 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in an NCAA final.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A 2000 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan, Embick was named an All-American by the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in 1998 and 1999 as a player. He was also an NAIA honorable mention All-America honoree in 1999 and was twice named to the All-Mid-Central Conference squad.

ZIPS TURN IN DOMINATING 5-0 WIN OVER NO. 21 UMASS LOWELL
A pair of goals from senior Sam Gainford (Liverpool, England) sparked the University of Akron men's soccer team to a dominating 5-0 victory over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sunday, Sept. 24, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Gainford's first multi-goal effort of the season and third of his career enabled the Zips to extend their unbeaten streak to four.

Temperatures approached 90 degrees at kickoff and Akron controlled the pace of the attack from the start spending much of the first half hour of play on the River Hawks' side of the pitch.

The Zips' offensive attack paid dividends at the 32:50 mark when Gainford connected on what proved to be the game-winning goal to give Akron a 1-0 lead. Freshman David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria), who came on as a defensive replacement in the 31st minute (30:18), pushed the ball in the box where Gainford gained control and delivered a ball to corner of the net to beat UMass Lowell goalkeeper Austin Kroll for the goal. The assist was the first career point for Egbo.

Egbo added another first to his playing resume in the 40th minute (39:29) when he found the back of the net for his initial collegiate goal off a spectacular header to extend Akron's advantage to 2-0. Freshman João Moutinho (Lisbon, Portugal) played in a ball from the corner of the box to a leaping Egbo, who headed into the net.

The Zips outshot the River Hawks in the opening half, 6-0, including 2-0 on goal.

Gainford pushed Akron's lead to 3-0 in the 52nd minute (51:32) intercepting a defensive pass inside the six-yard box and striking a ball that found the corner of the net for his team-best fourth goal of the season.

The Zips were whistled for a foul in the box at the 55:37 mark that resulted in a penalty shot for UMass Lowell. Ivan Blaskic stepped to the ball and delivered a strike that was thwarted by a diving save from junior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) to retain the shutout.

Delivering a laser which found the back of the net from just outside the 18-yard box to give the Zips a 4-0 lead at the 56:53 mark was sophomore Nick Hinds (Plantation, Fla.).

Senior Manuel Cordeiro (Porto, Portugal) added a key defensive play in the 58th minute (57:30) when he cleared a ball off the goal line for a team save off a shot from Richard Mulo.

Redshirt freshman Jackson Crawford (Massillon, Ohio) capped the scoring for Akron at the 87:38 mark garnering his first career goal. Earning his first career assist as a Zip was redshirt junior Joe Korb (Willowick, Ohio).

Akron, who saw 22 players earning playing time, concluded the afternoon with a 15-4 margin in shots, including 5-3 on goal. Gainford posted a team-best four shots, while Cordeiro and redshirt junior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea) each added two shots of their own. Lundt collected a pair of saves for Akron to notch the Zips' third clean sheet of the season.

AKRON BATTLES SAINT LOUIS TO 0-0 DOUBLE-OT DRAW
On a hot and humid night the 20th-rated Zips ground out a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Saint Louis on Sept. 16.

The Zips were outshot on the evening, 15-11, including 7-4 on goal. Sam Gainford garnered a game-high four shots for Akron, while fellow senior Stuart Holthusen (Auckland, New Zealand) added a three-shot performance for the Zips. Anthony Brown directed the Billikens with three shots.

Registering a season-high seven saves en route to earning his second clean sheet of the season for Akron was goalkeeper Ben Lundt.

The tilt proved to be a defensive battle to begin the affair, as the first shot of the evening didn't occur until the 15th minute (14:56) when Lundt pulled in the save on a shot by Brown.

The Zips were outshot in the initial stanza, 5-2, including 3-1 on goal.

Akron came out in the second half and picked up its offensive attack outshooting Saint Louis over the final 45 minutes, 7-5.

Lundt retained the shutout with saves at the 76:01 and 84:57 marks, respectively.

Holthusen's header attempt in the 89th minute (88:18) went just wide of target as the game went into overtime.

Brown nearly won the game for Saint Louis at the 95:41 mark as his header attempt from 10 yards out narrowly missed finding the corner of the net for the game-winner.

The Billikens kept the ball in the Zips' defensive third for extended periods in the first overtime period and the efforts resulted in a 5-1 advantage in shots.

Akron nearly won the game in the 110th minute (109:50) as only the Saint Louis defender clearing the ball off the line for a team save prevented Manuel Cordeiro from netting the golden goal. The attempt marked the only shot in the period for either team.

GAINFORD NAMED MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sam Gainford was recognized as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Gainford registered his first multi-goal game of the season and third of his career to spark the Zips to a 5-0 victory over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sept. 24.

Gainford recorded his team-leading third and fourth goals of the season in the 33rd (32:50) and 52nd (51:32) minutes, respectively, en route to posting a game-high four shots for Akron.

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' game-winning tally at the 32:50 mark.

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

ZIPS TIDBITS
• The Zips are two wins away from recording their 700th victory in program history.
• After missing the first two games of the season due to injury, Sam Gainford has directed Akron to a 3-0-1 mark in it last four contests en route to collecting team-high marks in goals (4), points (9), shots (14), shots on goal (7) and game-winners (1).
• For the fourth time in their respective Akron careers, Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen tallied goals in the same game for the Zips. In those contests, Akron owns a 4-0 record, including a 1-0 mark this season. The first time the duo achieved this feat was in a 2-0 victory at No. 25 UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 25, 2015.
• Led by a team-best 14 shots from Sam Gainford and Stuart Holthusen, 17 different Zips have recorded a shot this season.
• The Zips have played some of their best soccer at home this season as eight players have contributed points for Akron. Leading the way with six, three, two, two and two points, respectively, is Sam Gainford (three goals), David Egbo (one goal and one assist), Stuart Holthusen (one goal), Jackson Crawford (one goal) and Nick Hinds (one goal). Additionally, 15 Akron players own at least one shot, led by Gainford with a team-high seven shots at home on the campaign.
• Nine different Zips have recorded at least one point this season.
• Sam Gainford enters play versus UMass Lowell with 182 career shots, 21 shy of equaling Michael Apple (1995-98) for fifth place on the all-time career list at Akron.
• Ben Lundt surpassed 2,500 career minutes in goal versus Saint Louis on Sept. 16 and now owns the seventh-best career goals against average (0.965) in program history.
• The Zips have outshot the opposition in the opening half of play this season by a count of 31-13.
• Akron owns a decided 21-8 advantage in second-half corner kicks on the campaign.
• A pair of freshmen in João Moutinho and Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) have cracked the starting line-up for the Zips this season and have started six and five games on Akron's defensive line this year.
• Akron's shutouts at Utah Valley and Denver marked only the second and third time since the start of the 2015 campaign in which the Zips have been shutout in a setback during the regular season.
• Daniel Strachan garnered the initial start of his collegiate career for the Zips against No. 3 Denver on Aug. 28.
• Three Zips' newcomers in senior Nate Brown (Scarborough, Ontario), junior Morgan Hackworth (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and freshman João Moutinho garnered the starting assignment in their Akron debuts versus Utah Valley on Aug. 25. Additionally, freshmen David Egbo and Daniel Strachan also saw action against Utah Valley.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 15-3-3.
• João Moutinho was tabbed as one of eight Impact Freshmen to Know in 2017 by Travis Clark of TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Morgan Hackworth was recognized as one of 11 Division I transfers to watch by Travis Clark of TopDrawerSoccer.com.
• Stuart Holthusen is Akron's active career leader in goals (20), points (51) game-winning goals (8) and ranks second in assists (11) and shots (111) and third in games played (60). Sam Gainford paces the squad in assists (13) , games played (67) and started (58), shots (182) and shots on goal (75) and in points (51). Nate Shultz (Mayfield, Ohio) is second in games played (65) and started (42).
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 36 of the squad's last 58 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 11 of its last 14 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• Akron owns a 38-4-3 record in its last 45 home matches.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 12-9-1 mark against ranked opponents after a 2-0 victory past Washington on Sept. 1 and a 5-0 triumph over No. 21 UMass Lowell on Sept. 24.
• The Zips are ranked 16th nationally in attendance in 2017 averaging 1,654 for two home games. In 2016, Akron rated 10th nationally in attendance averaging 2,147 fans per contest.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 51-3-3 (.921) mark in the Mid-American Conference. Furthermore, the Zips have won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships and eight of the last nine MAC Tournament titles.
• The Zips made the most of the initial and final 15 minutes of their games last season as Akron recorded 17 of its 45 goals in this span. Three of the Zips' nine tallies in the final 15 minutes were game-winners.
• The Zips registered a trio of wins over ranked opponents last season following victories past No. 7 Georgetown (Aug. 26, No. 9 Seattle (Aug. 28) and No. 5 UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 12).
• In all, Akron leads all league members with 19 regular-season and 13 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 12 times after doing so in 2016.
• In 24 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 177 All-MAC honorees, including a conference-record nine first-team selections in 2010.
• Ben Lundt recorded 11 shutouts on the strength of 59 saves a season ago.
• Akron's 1-0 victory over No. 9 Seattle on Aug. 28, 2016, represented the 50th career win for Zips' head coach Jared Embick at Akron.
• By virtue of its back-to-back shutouts to open the 2016 campaign, Akron opened a season with consecutive shutouts for the sixth time in the last nine years.
• Akron advanced to the College Cup for the fourth time (1986, 2009, 2010 and 2015) in program history in 2015.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 26-9-6 record.
• Sam Gainford, Nick Costa (North Royalton, Ohio) and Ben Lundt have been named as team captains for the 2017 campaign.
• In all, the Zips have produced 23 Academic All-American honors in its history, dating back to the 1998 season.
• Akron has long been associated with academic excellence. Over the last three seasons, the Zips have posted team GPA's of 3.09 (2016), 3.20 (2015) and 3.37 (2014). Akron finished second in Division I in 2011-12 with a cumulative mark of 3.44. The remarkable feat follows years that saw the Zips post GPAs of 3.43 in 2010-11 and 3.33 in 2009-10.
• Jonathan Lewis became the 12th Zip to have his name called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft with his selection third overall in the MLS SuperDraft by New York City FC in January.

LUNDT NAMED SUMMA HEALTH ZIPS' STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
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.

Lundt helped lift the Zips to a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Saint Louis on Sept. 16 in the Zips' lone contest this past week.

Lundt registered a season-best seven saves, including four in the second half and overtime to collect his second clean sheet of the season.

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

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

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

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

SEPTEMBER DOMINANCE
The Zips have begun to find their stride this month as Akron owns a trio of victories in September having bettered No. 10 Washington (2-0, Sept. 1), UC Santa Barbara (3-1, Sept. 9.) and No. 21 UMass Lowell (5-0, Sept. 24).

For the month, the Zips have been led by four goals and one assist from Sam Gainford, while Marcel Zajac has added two goals. Akron has outshot the opposition, 51-32, including 21-16 on frame. Ben Lundt has been stellar in goal for the Zips owning a 0.24 goal against average on the strength of 14 saves and a trio of shutouts.

Over the last 15 seasons (2003-present), Akron boasts a 79-17-12 (.787) ledger in the month of September, including a -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.

A year ago, Gainford registered four goals and three assists on the strength on team-high marks in shots (58) and shots on goal (21) en route to earning second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors.

Gainford ranked third in the MAC in shots (58) and shots per game (3.05), eighth in goals (4) and points (11) and 10th in goals per game (0.21), while leading the MAC in league-only games in goals (0.60) and points (1.60) per contest and rating second in game-winning goals (0.20) and third in assists (0.40) and shots (3.40) per tilt. Additionally, he rated 48th in the NCAA in 2016 in shots per game (3.05).

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 Sept. 25) in the nation (.799), with an overall record of 174-34-26. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 167-39-32 (.769), Creighton, 161-52-21 (.733), North Carolina, 152-45-34 (.732) and Connecticut, 136-45-41 (.705). 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 six games this season as Akron has limited a trio of top-25 opponents to only 13 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 to three shots on frame in a 5-0 win on Sept. 24.

On the season, the Zips have outshot the opposition, 69-43 and have posted a 28-22 margin in corner kicks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Since 2007, the Zips have recorded a 106-8-13 (.886) ledger in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. Akron owns four unbeaten campaigns during that span, including posting home marks of 12-0-1, 13-0-0, 12-0-1 and 10-0-2 during the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012 seasons, respectively.

AKRON IN SEASON OPENERS
Now in its 63rd season of intercollegiate soccer in 2017, the Akron men's soccer team have posted a record of 39-18-6 overall in season openers since the Zips first took the field against Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 8, 1955. Over the last 10 campaigns, Akron owns a 8-2-0 mark in season openers.

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

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

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

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

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

LEWIS NAMED MAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Lewis was selected as the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year in a vote of the league coaches.
Lewis' selection marked the 12th time a Zip has taken home the top newcomer award in the conference and first since Dillon Serna was honored in 2012.

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

Akron is seeking to integrate 11 newcomers this season in Marc Alexander (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Nate Brown, David Egbo, Faisal Ghaffur (Mississauga, Ontario), Morgan Hackworth, Christian Lue Young (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), João Moutinho, Codie Lynd (Belleville, Ill.), Braden Petno (Hudson, Ohio), Daniel Strachan and Declan Watters (Dublin, Ireland) onto a roster that boasts seven returning starters from a year ago.

AKRON TABBED TO CAPTURE MAC REGULAR AND POSTSEASON TITLES
Akron was tabbed to capture the Mid-American Conference regular and postseason titles in a preseason poll of six conference coaches.

The Zips under fifth-year head coach Jared Embick, were picked to repeat as conference champions in the MAC Coaches Preseason poll with five first-place votes. Following Zips (35 points) in the rankings were West Virginia (21 points) and league newcomer SIU Edwardsville (21 points). The Mountaineers garnered the lone remaining first-place tally.

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

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

NAJEM SELECTED AS FIRST-TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN
Adam Najem was selected as a First-Team Scholar All-America award winner for the second consecutive year when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) unveiled its 2016 Scholar All-American team last season.

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

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

WHAT IS A ZIP?
• One of the unique nicknames in collegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron.
• Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth "Red" Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams.
• Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers.
• The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for Zippers, a $6 pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company.
• The evolution of Zippy, UA's mascot, began 40 years ago when the student council decided the University needed a mascot.
• "Zippy" the kangaroo was officially declared the school's mascot on May 1, 1953. The first known printed reference to the mascot as "Zippy" was a 1965 Zip football press brochure. The Buchtelite's first use of the name "Zippy" came Sept. 24, 1965, in an identification of a photo of the cheerleaders listing "Mascot - 'Zippy' - Charles Huettner."
• In 2007, Zippy was named the Capital One National Mascot of the Year.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Twelve Zips have had their names called during the first round of the MLS SuperDraft, including a league record five selections in the first eight picks in 2011 following the Zips' national championship season.
• Akron broke a second MLS record that day as seven Akron players were chosen in the first two rounds, the most from a single team in draft history.
• Zippy is just one of five female-gendered college mascots in Division I athletics. Do you know the other four? (YoUDee, the Delaware Blue Hen; Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State; Lucy Lobo of New Mexico; and Wilma Wildcat of Arizona).

UP NEXT
Akron closes out a three-game homestand hosting Saint Mary's (Calif.) at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field on Saturday, Sept. 30, in a 7 p.m. tilt.