Showdown at SIU Edwardsville Up Next for Zips

Saturday, October 27

Edwardsville, Ill.

8:00 PM

University of Akron

SIU Edwardsville

October 26 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 15 - AKRON AT SIU EDWARDSVILLE GAME NOTES (PDF) (10/27)

Akron (6-6-2, 0-2-1 MAC) at SIU Edwardsville (9-2-4, 1-1-1 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 27
Ralph Korte Stadium (4,000)
Edwardsville, Ill. • 8 p.m. ET

Series History: SIUE leads 12-3-1
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: SIUECougars.com
Television: SIUECougars.com

MATCH PREVIEW WITH HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK

WHAT'S AHEAD
Akron closes out its regular season road campaign this Saturday, Oct. 27, as the Zips travel to Edwardsville, Ill., for an 8 p.m. ET Mid-American Conference tilt against SIU Edwardsville.

SCOUTING SIU EDWARDSVILLE
SIU Edwardsville enters play on Saturday, Oct. 27, versus the Zips after seeing its eight-match unbeaten streak snapped following a 5-1 setback at West Virginia on Oct. 20. Junior Lachlan McLean directs the offensive exploits for the Cougars owning team-high marks in goals (9), assists (5), points (23), shots (57), shots on goal (30) and game-winners (3). Sophomore goalkeeper Noah Heim has recorded 49 saves and posted six shutouts, while maintaining a 1.12 goals against average this season.

As a team, SIU Edwardsville is ranked 21st in the NCAA in winning percentage (.733), 36th in shutout percentage (.400), 45th in shots on goal (6.07) and 49th in total goals (24). Individually, McLean is ninth in shots on goal per game (2.00), 19th in shots per contest (3.80), 28th in total points (23), 32nd in total goals (9), 35th in game-winning goals (3), 37th in points per tilt (1.53) and 41st in goals per contest (0.60).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and SIU Edwardsville are meeting for the 17th time in program history with the Cougars owning a 12-3-1 series advantage. A year ago, Akron bested SIU Edwardsville, 3-1, in the regular season on Oct. 13, 2017 at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. The Zips then registered a 2-1 double-overtime triumph past the Cougars on Nov. 10, 2017 in Kalamazoo, Mich., in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 10, 2017 - KALAMAZOO, MICH.)
A golden goal by 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, 2017.

Holthusen's team-leading ninth goal of the season came courtesy of an assist from senior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea), and secured a berth in the title game of the MAC Tournament, where the Zips bested top-seeded Western Michigan, 3-1.

The victory would not have been possible for Akron without redshirt junior Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio) netting the equalizer with 17 seconds left in regulation (89:43) to send the tilt into overtime.

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 Sam Gainford, while Holthusen, junior Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) and sophomore David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) each added three shots. SIU Edwardsville was led by three shots from Jorge Gonzalez and two courtesy of Mohamed Awad.

Senior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) 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 first shot on goal came in the 31st minute (30:25) by Awad.

The Cougars best scoring opportunity came at the 39:28 mark as Gonzalez' header went just wide of the corner of the net.

Zajac, who came in late in the opening half, garnered Akron's first shot on goal on a header at the 42:26 mark, a strike that was pulled in for a save by Dal Santo.

Just before the intermission, Zajac added another shot on frame in the 45th minute (44:47) for the Zips, resulting in a stop from Dal Santo.

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, 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 COACHES
SIU Edwardsville: Mario Sanchez is in his fourth season as head coach of the SIUE program, owning a 38-21-14 (.616) record. Overall in eight years as a head coach, Sanchez holds a 62-62-23 (.500) mark.

Akron: In his sixth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 12th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 85-29-13 mark (.720), including 132-49-21 (.705) overall, in his 10th 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 2018 campaign marks his sixth year leading the Zips having registered a 85-29-13 (.720) ledger after posting an 18-4-2 record a season ago en route to earning the program's fifth College Cup berth. Akron also posted a perfect 12-0 ledger at FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field in 2017.

During Embick's time at Akron, the Zips have posted the highest winning percentage in the nation with an overall record of 195-42-29 (.788), including a 55-6-4 (.877) mark in Mid-American Conference play, while securing 10 conference tournament titles, 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament and two appearances in the College Cup final.

Due in large part to recruiting efforts of Embick and his staff, Akron identified and secured some of the best prospects in the country – and around the world – with top-five recruiting classes. The Zips' classes of 2015, 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, Akron'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 37 players who have gone on to play professionally either in MLS or overseas since 2007.

Since 2008, Akron leads the country with eight players selected among the top-five selections in the MLS SuperDraft. The Zips also boast the highest total of players chosen among the top-10 draftees over the same span with 12.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS STUNS AKRON, 2-1
A pair of second-half goals, including the game-winning tally by Irvin Dominguez in the 79th minute (78:38) proved too much for the University of Akron men's soccer team to overcome as the Zips dropped a 2-1 decision at Northern Illinois on Oct. 20.

Freshman Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio) accounted for Akron's lone tally in the game scoring his second goal of the season in the 22nd minute (21:08) off an assist from Skye Harter.

Led by a team-best two shots from David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria), the Zips outshot the Huskies on the evening, 7-6, including 4-3 on net. Four different Akron players posted shots on goal, while Nick Markanich paced all players with a game-high three shots.

Biros' goal represented the first shot of the game for Akron. Egbo had a pair of shots sail high in the opening stanza, while Ezana Kahsay's strike at the 40:14 mark was blocked.

Akron lead at the intermission, 1-0, on the strength of outshooting Northern Illinois, 5-1, including 2-0 on frame.

Markanich leveled the tilt at one in the 49th minute (48:57) connecting on his team-leading eighth goal of the season off an assist from Kevin Rodriguez.

Senior Abdi Mohamed (Westerville, Ohio) recorded the Zips' initial shot of the second half at the 76:36 mark, a strike that was saved by Dziedzic.

Just over two minutes later at the 78:38 mark, Dominguez netted what proved to be the game-winning tally to give Northern Illinois its first victory over Akron since the 2006 campaign.

Sophomore Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) got off the Zips' final shot of the evening, a strike that was pulled in for a save by Dziedzic.

ZIPS TO HONOR SIX ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips will honor seniors Morgan Hackworth, Ezana Kahsay, Joe Korb (Willowick, Ohio), Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany), Marco Micaletto (Reading, England) and Abdi Mohamed prior to Akron's game versus Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 3.

A two-year member of the Zips, Hackworth has appeared in 32 matches, including 11 starts and owns a pair of goals, while adding eight assists.

Kahsay has played in a team-best 70 games over his Akron career, including 11 starts. He has registered nine goals, while addding seven assists on the strength of a team-high 82 shots, including 26 on goal.

Korb joined the Zips prior to the 2016 season and has appeared in 21 matches, including 11 starts and has posted three career assists.

Lundt has started all 54 contests he has appeared in for Akron since joining the squad for the 2016 campaign. He ranks among the top-10 career lists for the Zips in goals against average (0.96), shutouts (24) and wins (32).

Mohamed has started 12 of the Zips' 13 contests this season owning an assist, while adding 10 shots, including three on frame and has helped Akron's defense to record five shutouts.

Micaletto joined the Zips' squad this fall after playing his first three seasons at Young Harris College and has started eight of 14 games for Akron in 2018 en route to ranking fourth on the team in shots (17), fifth in assists (2) and shots on goal (6) and sixth in goals (1).

HONORING THE 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 of 2017 at the age of 27, prior to Akron's game with SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 13, 2017.

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 TIDBITS
• Akron owns a Mid-American Conference-best three victories over opponents ranked in the top-50 of the latest NCAA RPI report. The Zips have bettered No. 32 Michigan State (2-1 on Oct. 9), No. 37 Creighton (1-0 on Oct. 16) and No. 43 VCU (4-3 on Sept. 26).
• Akron also had a pair of scheduled matches versus No. 5 Notre Dame (Oct. 23) and No. 16 Connecticut (Sept. 15) canceled due to Hurricane Florence.
• The Zips also holds a league-best two victories over top-10 opponents this season bettering No. 8 Michigan State and No. 8 Creighton by scores of 2-1 and 1-0, respectively, on Oct. 9 and Oct. 16.
• Akron will be playing its first contest at SIU Edwardsville since Oct. 14, 1978 when the two teams collide on Saturday, Oct. 27.
• The Zips are also eying their first-ever road victory past SIU Edwardsville.
• The Zips registered back-to-back victories over ranked opponents Creighton and Michigan State after opening the year going 0-3-1 versus ranked teams.
• The Zips own a 3-1-1 mark in their last five road matches on the strength of three and two goals, respectively, from Diogo Pacheco and David Egbo. Akron has averaged 12.6 shots per contest in those matches, while limiting its opponents to 7.0 shots per tilt. The Zips have also posted a 41-11 margin in corner kicks and a 63-35 edge in total shots.
• Akron's 0-0 draw at Bowling Green marked only the third regular season scoreless league contest for the Zips since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1993. The last time this occurred for Akron was on Oct. 13, 2007 versus Northern Illinois.
• The Zips' contest versus West Virginia represented the 125th match for head coach Jared Embick at Akron and his 200th game overall in his head coaching career.
• Akron's 2-1 overtime setback against West Virginia marked the first home regular season overtime decision not to go in the Zips' favor since Oct. 30, 1992 versus Evansville. During that same span Akron owns a 19-1-20 mark in overtime contests at home. The lone blemish was a 1-0 double-overtime setback against South Florida in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
• Twenty-four players have seen action for Akron this season, including 13 newcomers.
• As a team, the Zips are rated 16th in the NCAA in corner kicks (6.14), 22nd in assists per game (2.00), 25th in total assists (28), 28th in points per contest (5.57), 35th in scoring offense (1.79), 37th in total points (78) and 44th in total goals (25).
• Individually, David Egbo is ranked 35th in the NCAA in game-winning goals (3), 39th in goals per contest (0.62), 45th in points per game (1.46) and in total goals (8).
• Akron will have another opportunity to add to its NCAA resume in the Zips' coming matches as the squad will face SIU Edwardsville (Oct. 27), who is ranked in the top-40 at No. 38 in the NCAA RPI report released on Oct. 21.
• David Egbo, Ezana Kahsay and Marcel Zajac are Akron's active career leader in goals (9). Kahsay also paces the squad in shots (82), games played (70) and game-winning goals (4), while Zajac leads the team in shots on goal (28) and Skye Harter directs the squad in assists (15) and points (31). Ben Lundt has started a team-high 54 games.

UP NEXT
Akron hosts Western Michigan on Senior Night as the Zips welcome the Broncos to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field for a 7 p.m. tilt on Nov. 3.