Zips Host Western Michigan on Senior Night

Saturday, November 3

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Western Michigan

November 02 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 16 - AKRON VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN GAME NOTES (PDF) (11/3)

Akron (7-6-2, 1-2-1 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (9-5-3, 1-1-2 MAC)
Saturday, Nov. 3
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 36-4-3
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: ESPN+
Television: ESPN+
Radio: Fox Sports Radio 1350AM

MATCH PREVIEW WITH HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron men's soccer team closes out its regular season campaign on Saturday, Nov. 3, as the Zips welcome Western Michigan to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. The 7 p.m. contest will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app with Dave Bacon and Otto Orf calling the action.

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

A two-year member of the Zips, Hackworth has appeared in 33 matches, including 12 starts and owns a pair of goals, while adding eight assists.

Kahsay has played in a team-best 71 games over his Akron career, including 12 starts. He has registered nine goals, while adding 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 55 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 (0.95), shutouts (25) and wins (33).

Mohamed has started 14 of the Zips' 15 contests this season owning an assist, while adding 12 shots, including four on frame and has helped Akron's defense to record six shutouts.

Micaletto joined the Zips' squad this fall after playing his first three seasons at Young Harris College and has started eight of 15 games for Akron in 2018 en route to ranking second on the team in shots (20), fifth in assists (2) and shots on goal (8), while also netting one goal.

MAC CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING UP FOR GRABS ON FINAL WEEKEND
With the final weekend of Mid-American Conference regular season action on tap on Saturday, Nov. 3, the stage has been set for a tightly-contested battle to determine the second through sixth seeds for the upcoming MAC Championship, Nov. 9-11 in Morgantown, W.Va. On the strength of a 4-0 league mark, West Virginia has claimed the No. 1 seed. A victory by Akron over Western Michigan coupled with a win or tie by SIU Edwardsville at Bowling Green will give the Zips the No. 2 seed, and a coveted bye into the semifinal round on Nov. 9. A triumph by the Falcons along with a win by Akron secures the second seed for Bowling Green and the third seed and a MAC Quarterfinal home match on Tuesday, Nov. 6 for the Zips.

With the second through sixth spots in the league stands seperated by only four points, all other scenarioes may come down to conference tiebreakers to determine final tournament seeding. All tiebreakers will be broken by the league and announced following the completion of Saturday's games.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan enters play on Saturday, Nov. 3, versus the Zips unbeaten in its last five matches following a 2-1 victory over Northern Illinois on Oct. 27. Senior Cameron Sipple directs the offensive exploits for the Broncos owning team-high marks in goals (5) and points (13), while junior Anthony Bowie leads the team in shots (36) and shots on goal (16). Freshman goalkeeper Lukas Von Lienen has recorded 38 saves and posted a pair of shutouts, while maintaining a 0.92 goals against average this season.

As a team, Western Michigan is ranked sixth in the NCAA in corner kicks (6.76).

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. 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 (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.

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 63-35-17 (.622) record. Overall in 10 years as a head coach he maintains a 116-60-23 (.641) mark.

Akron: In his sixth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 12th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 86-29-13 mark (.723), including 133-49-21 (.707) 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 86-29-13 (.723) 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 196-42-29 (.788), 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.

EGBO'S GAME-WINNER HIGHLIGHTS ZIPS' 1-0 WIN AT SIU EDWARDSVILLE
The University of Akron men's soccer team garnered a pivotal 1-0 Mid-American Conference road victory besting SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 27, on the strength of sophomore David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) connecting on what proved to be the game-winning tally in the 64th minute (63:47).

Playing in their first true road game against the Cougars since Oct. 14, 1978, the Zips parlayed Egbo's heroics into their first-ever road triumph past SIU Edwardsville.

Junior Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) earned the assist on Egbo's team-leading ninth goal of the season, posting his team-best sixth assist of the year.

The Cougars finished the evening outshooting the Zips, 22-14, while also edging Akron in shots on goal, 6-5.

Zajac directed the Zips with a team-high four shots, including three on goal, while Marco Micaletto contributed three shots in reserve duty. Lachlan McLean led SIU Edwardsville with a game-best seven shots, while three other Cougars added three shots apiece.

Delivering a dominating performance in net for Akron was Ben Lundt, who collected six saves, en route to posting his fifth shutout of the season and the 25th clean sheet of his Zips' career. Noah Heim wrapped up his evening making four stops in goal for the Cougars.

A shot from Jorge Gonzalez at the 11:21 mark nearly found the upper 90 for a SIU Edwardsville goal, but the attempt hit the crossbar and went out of play.

Lundt then made a diving save off a strike by Gonzalez in the 14th minute (13:30) to retain the scoreless contest.

Freshman Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy) delivered a header that went wide for the Zips at the 19:30 mark.

Lundt came up with a diving save to deny a shot by McLean in the 30th minute (29:34), before catching another strike by McLean at the 33:50 mark.

Zajac unleashed a shot from the top of the box in the 38th minute (37:30), one that was pulled in for a save by Heim.

Micaletto garnered his third first-half shot right before halftime, a strike that was denied by a save from Heim.

The two teams entered the intermission locked in a scoreless contest. SIU Edwardsville posted a 10-8 margin in shots in the opening stanza, with each side collecting three shots on goal.

Zajac registered a shot from inside the six-yard box at the 56:06 mark, an attempt that was denied by a diving save from Heim.

Lundt came up with a strong save off a shot by Gonzalez in the 62nd minute (61:20), before the Zips got a fortuitous bounce on a shot by McLean that struck the post at the 62:09 mark.

Egbo gave Akron a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute (63:47) finding the back of the net on a ball slotted into the box by Zajac.

Greg Solawa's shot at the 74:12 mark for the Cougars was denied by diving save from Lundt.

Morgan Hackworth had a great look on goal in the 84th minute (83:24), a shot that went just wide of frame.

TC Hull was denied by a save from Lundt at the 87:00 mark.

SIU Edwardsville posted three additional shots to close the evening, each failed to find the mark.

EGBO EARNS NATIONAL HONORS
David Egbo was chosen on Tuesday, Oct. 30, by TopDrawerSoccer.com as honorable-mention selection on its Men's Soccer National Team of the Week. It marked Egbo's fifth time being honored this season.

Egbo connected on what proved to be the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory at SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 27. The tally, Egbo's team- and MAC-leading ninth goal of the season, came in the 64th minute (63:47), and gave the Zips a key road victory and positioned Akron for a potential top-two seed and an opening-round bye at the upcoming MAC Tournament.

On the campaign, Egbo leads Akron in goals (9), points (21), shots (38), shots on goal (14) and game-winners (4).

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Since joining the Mid-American Conference for the 1993 campaign, Akron owns a 22-1-2 ledger in regular season home finales, including a 5-0 mark under head coach Jared Embick.
• In the last five regular season finales for the Zips, Akron has outscored the opposition 17-1, including shutout victories past Buffalo (4-0 in 2014), Bowling Green (4-0 in 2015), Western Michigan (3-0 in 2016) and Northern Illinois (4-0 in 2017).
• Marcel Zajac has recorded a point in three of Akron's last four matches.
• Akron owns a Mid-American Conference-best four victories over opponents ranked in the top-50 of the latest NCAA RPI report, including three on the road. The Zips have bettered No. 26 Creighton (1-0 on Oct. 16), No. 30 Michigan State (2-1 on Oct. 9), No. 43 SIU Edwardsville (1-0 on Oct. 27) and No. 50 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 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 have proven to be a challenge for league opponents defensively as Akron paces the MAC in conference-only matches in goals against average (0.94), goals allowed (1.00) and shutouts (0.50).
• Ben Lundt directs the MAC in league-only tilts in goals against average (0.62) and shutouts (0.67).
• Akron played its first contest at SIU Edwardsville since Oct. 14, 1978 when the two teams collided on Oct. 27 with the 1-0 victory serving as the Zips first-ever road victory past the Cougars.
• 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 4-1-1 mark in their last six road matches on the strength of three goals apiece from Diogo Pacheco and David Egbo. Akron has averaged 12.8 shots per contest in those matches, while limiting its opponents to 9.5 shots per tilt. The Zips have also posted a 50-19 margin in corner kicks and a 77-57 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.
• Marcel Zajac, Skye Harter, David Egbo and Morgan Hackworth have contributed six, five, three and three assists, respectively, to the Zips' total of 29.
• As a team, the Zips are rated 12th in the NCAA in corner kicks (6.33), 24th in assists per game (1.93), 33rd in total assists (29), 34th in points per contest (5.40), 39th in shutout percentage (.400), 40th in scoring offense (1.73) and 46th in total points (81).
• Individually, David Egbo is ranked 20th in the NCAA in game-winning goals (4), 28th in goals per contest (0.64), 33rd in points per game (1.50) and 38th in total goals (9).
• The shutout for Ben Lundt in a 1-0 victory at SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 27 was the 25th of his Akron career to move him into fourth place on the all-time career list for the Zips.
• David Egbo is Akron's active career leader in goals (9) and game-winning goals (4). Ezana Kahsay paces the squad in shots (82), games played (71) and game-winning goals (4), while Marcel Zajac leads the team in shots on goal (31), Skye Harter directs the squad in assists (15) and points (31). Ben Lundt has started a team-high 55 games.
• The Zips own a 86-28-13 mark over the last six seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 86 wins are ranked second in all of Division I.

SEVEN FORMER ZIPS IN MLS CUP PLAYOFFS
Seven former Akron men's soccer standouts are among those competing for the MLS Cup when playoff action commenced on Wednesday, Oct. 31.

In the knockout round stage, Jonathan Lewis' New York City FC bested Adam Najem's Philadelphia Union, 3-1, while Wil Trapp and the Columbus Crew SC battled Darren Mattocks and D.C. United to a 2-2 draw before advancing on penalty kicks in the Eastern Conference. In the Western Conference, Zarek Valentin and the Portland Timbers bested FC Dallas, 2-1, while Joao Moutinho and Los Angeles FC were edged by Real Salt Lake, 3-2.

In the aggregate home-and-home stage, New York City FC will face Atlanta United, while Columbus Crew SC will battle the New York Red Bulls and the Portland Timbers will face Seattle.

UP NEXT
Akron will open Mid-American Conference Tournament play on either Tuesday, Nov. 6, or Friday, Nov. 9, at a site and versus an opponent to be determined following the conclusion on Saturday's league matches.