MAC Tournament Title on the Line as Zips Battle Western Michigan

Sunday, November 11

Morgantown, W.Va.

1:00 PM

University of Akron

Western Michigan

MAC Tournament Title on the Line as Zips Battle Western Michigan

November 10 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 18 - AKRON VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN GAME NOTES (PDF) (11/11)

Akron (9-6-2) vs. Western Michigan (11-5-3)
Sunday, Nov. 11
Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium (1,650)
Morgantown, W.Va. • 1 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 36-4-3
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: ESPN3
Television: ESPN3

MATCH PREVIEW WITH HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK

WHAT'S AHEAD
The fourth-seeded University of Akron men's soccer team continues its quest for its 15th Mid-American Conference Championship title battling third-seeded Western Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 11, in the championship match of the MAC Championship. Game time in Morgantown W.Va. is set for 1 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app.

ZIPS' MAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains an 35-8-5 mark in 48 matches in Mid-American Conference Championship history, including a 12-0 mark under head coach Jared Embick. The Zips are 23-1-3 in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field in tournament play. Akron is playing in the title tilt for the 19th time with the Zips owning a 14-4-1 record in those contests.

AKRON MAC CHAMPIONSHIP TIDBITS
Senior Morgan Hackworth (Bradenton, Fla.), redshirt junior Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), and junior Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) are Akron's active leaders in MAC Tournament games started (3). Senior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea), freshman Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and Zajac own a team-high two goals in career tournament play, while Kahsay enters action versus Western Michigan as the team's MAC Tournament career scoring leader having recorded six points. Kahsay and Harter also pace the squad in assists with two each.

Zajac has posted a team-best 15 shots, including six on goal, respectively. Zajac, Kahsay, sophomore David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria), freshman Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio), Harter, Ritaccio, Hackworth, freshman Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.), senior Abdi Mohamed (Westerville, Ohio) and freshman Pol Hernandez (Teia, Spain) have recorded 15 (6), 14 (6), 8 (4), 5 (0), 3 (1), 2 (2), 2 (1), 2 (1), 1 (1) and 1 (0) shots (shots on goal), respectively. Senior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) owns six starts and 11 saves in MAC Tournament play.

AKRON-WESTERN MICHIGAN MAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Zips have met Western Michigan 12 times in MAC Championship play with Akron owning a 9-1-2 mark in those encounters, including a 5-0-1 record at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field. The Zips won the last tournament contest between the two schools, 3-1, in the championship game of the 2017 MAC Championship on Nov. 12, 2017, at the WMU Soccer Complex in Kalamazoo, Mich. The two teams are meeting in the title game of the MAC Championship for the fifth time with Akron owning 6-1, 4-0, 4-1 and 3-1 triumphs in 2004, 2010, 2013 and 2017, respectively, with three of the four tilts having been played at home.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan enters play on Sunday, Nov. 11, versus the Zips unbeaten in its last seven matches following a 2-0 victory over Bowling Green on Nov. 9. Senior Cameron Sipple directs the offensive exploits for the Broncos owning team-high marks in goals (6) and points (16), while junior Anthony Bowie leads the team in shots (40) and shots on goal (17). Freshman goalkeeper Lukas Von Lienen has recorded 42 saves and posted a trio of shutouts, while maintaining a 0.87 goals against average this season.

As a team, Western Michigan is ranked eighth in the NCAA in corner kicks (6.61), 44th in total goals (31) and 49th in total points (88) and winning percentage (.658).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Western Michigan are squaring off for 44th time in program history with the Zips owning a 36-4-3 series advantage. The two teams scheduled match earlier this season was cancelled when an on-campus power outage prevented the contest from being play at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field on Nov. 3. A year ago, the Broncos bested Akron in the regular season, 1-0, on Oct. 7, 2017 in Kalamazoo, before the Zips claimed the Mid-American Conference Tournament title with a 3-1 road triumph over the Broncos on Nov. 12, 2017, also in Kalamazoo.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 12, 2017 - KALAMAZOO, MICH.)
A pair of second-half goals from 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, 2017 in Kalamazoo, Mich., to give the Zips their 14th MAC Tournament title and 32nd NCAA Tournament berth.

The Zips outshot the Broncos in the affair, 17-10, including 6-5 on goal. 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.

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 Joao Moutinho.

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 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.

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 junior Skye Harter 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.

Western Michigan had strong scoring chances late in the game as Tommy Clark and Brandon Bye had shots blocked at the 71:56 and 74:11 marks, respectively, while Pepe Martinez' strike in the 74th minute (73:12) was denied by a save from Lundt.

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

The Broncos attacked the net over the game's final 10 minutes with Jay McIntosh and Martinez having their shots blocked at the 84:12 and 84:46 marks, before Lundt corralled a pair of saves off of Zach Bock shots in 86th (85:25) and 88th (87:54) minutes.

THE COACHES
Western Michigan: Chad Wiseman is in his sixth season as head coach of the Western Michigan program, owning a 65-35-17 (.628) record. Overall in 10 years as a head coach he maintains a 118-60-23 (.644) mark.

Akron: In his sixth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 12th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 88-29-13 mark (.727), including 135-49-21 (.710) 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 88-29-13 (.727) 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 198-42-29 (.790), including a 56-6-4 (.879) 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.

RITACCIO LIFTS ZIPS PAST NO. 12 WEST VIRGINIA, 3-1
University of Akron freshman Carlo Ritaccio picked an opportune time to collect his first two collegiate goals as his scoring efforts lifted the fourth-seeded Zips to a 3-1 victory over 12th-ranked and top-seeded West Virginia in the semifinal round of the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Tournament on Nov. 9, at Dick Dlesk Stadium.

The Zips statistically dominated the Mountaineers on the evening registering a 20-6 margin in shots, including 7-4 on frame, while also posting an 11-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Marcel Zajac directed Akron's offensive exploits with a game-high four shots, while Ezana Kahsay and David Egbo added three shots apiece. Tsubasa Takada led West Virginia with a team-high three shots, while the Zips held Joey Piatczyc, the 2018 MAC Player of the Year, without a shot on the evening.

Ben Lundt recorded three saves in net for Akron, while Steven Tekesky pulled in three stops for the Mountaineers.

West Virginia assumed a 1-0 lead just 11 seconds into the match as a defensive miscue allowed Andres Muriel Albino to connect on his sixth goal of the season.

The advantage was short-lived as Ritaccio collected his first career goal delivering a ball past Tekesky at the 1:43 mark to square the affair at one. Skye Harter struck a corner kick into the box which was flicked by Abdi Mohamed to Ritaccio for the goal.

Egbo struck a ball on net at the 18:05 mark that was saved by Tekesky, a strike that was part of five consecutive shots by the Zips, including Harter narrowly missing finding the corner of the net on a shot at the 22:34 mark.

Lundt made a near-post save off a shot by a Takada in the 26th minute (25:31) to deny a West Virginia scoring chance.

Colin Biros unleashed a shot on goal from outside the box at the 32:05 mark that hit the crossbar before bouncing back to freshman Marco Milanese, who got a head on the ball off the deflection.

Kahsay delivered a shot at the 33:34 mark that went high before placing a ball on frame at the 34:33 mark that Tekesky thwarted with a save.

Kahsay headed home his fourth goal of the season off an assist from Biros in the 43rd minute (42:09) to give Akron a 2-1 lead, one they didn't relinquish. The tally proved to be the game-winning goal in the match.

The Zips maintained a 2-1 lead at the intermission on the strength of a 16-3 shot advantage, including 5-2 on goal.

The Mountaineers nearly squared the contest at two in the 57th minute (56.19) as Ryan Kellogg's strike sliced just wide of goal.

West Virginia needed a defensive clearance off the goal line at the 58:59 mark to prevent Mohamed from netting his first goal of the season.

Ritaccio garnered his first-ever multi-goal game in his Zips' career connecting on his second goal of the evening in the 66th minute (65:34). Playing a ball in from the top of the box to a streaking Zajac was Milanese, who then delivered a cross to the far post for Ritaccio, who buried the ball into the corner of the net to extend Akron's margin to 3-1.

Lundt sealed the victory for Akron making saves off of shots from Takada in the 81st (80:56) and 88th minutes (87:02), respectively.

SIX ZIPS GARNER ALL-MAC ACCOLADES
Led by Skye Harter and David Egbo, who were selected as First-Team All-Mid-American Conference men's soccer selections, six Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades as announced by the league on Nov. 8.

Ben Lundt, Carlo Ritaccio and Sam Tojaga and Marcel Zajac were tabbed second-team honorees.

All six Akron players collected All-MAC accolades for the first time in their respective careers.

Pulling in All-MAC honors for the first time was Harter, who has started 13 of the 17 games in which he has appeared this season, registering a goal and six assists on 13 shots, including five on frame. His six assists rank second on the team and sixth in the conference this season.

Earning first-team honors for the initial time was Egbo, who has started 14 of the 16 games in which he has appeared for Akron this season, owning team-high marks in goals (9), points (21), shots (43), shots on goal (16) and game-winners (4), while rating third in assists (3). He paces the MAC in goals per game (0.56), while ranking second in points per contest (1.31) and game-winning goals (0.25) and third in shots per tilt (2.69).

A three-year starter in goal for the Zips, Lundt has started each of the 15 matches he has appeared in for Akron and owns 40 saves and five shutouts. In league-only affairs, he led the conference in shutouts (0.67) and goals against average (0.62), while rating second in saves per game (4.33). Overall, he ranks first in the MAC in shutouts (0.33).

After missing the first five games of the season due to injury, Zajac has been a dominating force for the Zips starting eight of the 12 matches in which he has appeared en route to collecting a team-high seven assists and adding three goals. He ranks second on the team in shots (24) and shots on goal (12). He is rated second in the league in assists per game (0.58) and sixth in points per contest (1.08), while finishing ninth in league-only affairs in assists (0.25) and shots per game (2.25).

Ritaccio, has started all 15 matches in which he has appeared for the Zips at his center back position, and has helped anchor a Zips' defensive unit that has posted six shutouts this season, while contributing a pair of goals.

Tojaga has started 14 of the 17 games in which he has played this season and owns an assist on nine shots, including three on goal.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• For the second consecutive campaign and seventh time overall Akron will be on the road vying for the MAC Tournament title when the Zips battle Western Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 11. A year ago, the fifth-rated Zips bested the top-seeded and No. 4 Broncos, 3-1, at the WMU Soccer Complex.
• In two MAC Tournament games this season,the Zips have outshot SIU Edwardsville and West Virginia by a combined 35-10 margin, including 11-5 on goal.
• Since the 2007 campaign when head coach Jared Embick arrived at Akron, the Zips owns a 10-0-0 mark in the MAC title game.
• Akron and Western Michigan have met in four of the last five league tournaments, with the Zips outscoring the Broncos in those matches, 13-3.
• Marcel Zajac has recorded a point in five of Akron's last six matches.
• Akron owns a Mid-American Conference-best four victories over opponents ranked in the top-50 of the latest NCAA RPI report. The Zips have bettered No. 14 West Virginia (3-1 on Nov. 9), No. 30 Creighton (1-0 on Oct. 16), No. 33 Michigan State (2-1 on Oct. 9) and No. 42 Pittsburgh (1-0 on Sept. 1).
• Akron also had a pair of scheduled matches versus No. 6 Notre Dame (Oct. 23) and No. 24 Connecticut (Sept. 15) canceled due to Hurricane Florence.
• The Zips also hold 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.
• The Zips registered back-to-back-to-back victories over ranked opponents Creighton, Michigan State and West Virginia after opening the year going 0-3-1 versus ranked teams.
• The Zips own a 5-1-1 mark in their last seven road matches on the strength of three goals apiece from Diogo Pacheco and David Egbo. Akron has averaged 13.9 shots per contest in those matches, while limiting its opponents to 9.0 shots per tilt. The Zips have also posted a 61-22 margin in corner kicks and a 797-63 edge in total shots.
• Marcel Zajac, Skye Harter, David Egbo, Ezana Kahsay and Morgan Hackworth have contributed seven, six, three, three and three assists, respectively, to the Zips' total of 31.
• As a team, the Zips are rated fifth in the NCAA in corner kicks (7.24), 23rd in assists per game (2.12), 28th in total assists (36), 31st in points per contest (5.76), 39th in scoring offense (1.82), 44th in total points (98), 47th in shutout percentage (.353) and 49th in total goals (31).
• Individually, David Egbo is ranked 22nd in the NCAA in game-winning goals (4), 33rd in goals per contest (0.56), 42nd in total goals (9) and 47th in points per game (1.24).
• David Egbo, Ezana Kahsay and Marcel Zajac are Akron's active career leaders in goals (10). Kahsay paces the squad in shots (87), games played (73) and game-winning goals (5), while Zajac also leads the team in shots on goal (33), Skye Harter directs the squad in assists (16) and points (32). Ben Lundt has started a team-high 57 games.
• In Akron's nine wins this season the Zips have outscored their opponents 25-6. Akron has outshot the opposition 128-82, including 53-27 on goal. Fifteen different Zips have contributed points in the contests with David Egbo leading the way registering seven goals and two assists. Ben Lundt owns four shutouts in those matches.
• The Zips own a 88-28-13 mark over the last six seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 88 wins are ranked second in all of Division I.
• Akron is averaging 11.9 shots per contest in seven games against ranked opponents this season. David Egbo paces the squad with a trio of goals on the strength of a team-high 13 shots.
• Ben Lundt ranks among the active career leaders in Division I rating sixth in career shutouts (26), seventh in minutes played (5,703.29), 26th in goals against average (.961) and 34th in saves (166). He is also 18th across all divisions in career shutouts. Additionally, Marco Micaletto is ranked 36th in career points (58) and 43rd in goals (22).

UP NEXT
A victory by the Zips over Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Tournament final on Sunday, Nov. 11, would advance Akron to the NCAA Tournament for the 33rd time in program history.