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Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class Rated No. 10 Nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.com
February 19 | Men's Soccer
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AKRON 2018 MEN'S SOCCER SIGNING CLASS RELEASE | UPDATED SPRING 2018 ROSTER (PDF) | SPRING SCHEDULE RELEASE
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Men's Soccer program received national attention as TopDrawerSoccer.com has tabbed the Zips' 2018 signing class as the No. 10 in the nation in its latest recruiting update.
"We have lost a lot of players this year and needed to bring in a lot of quality players to keep our competition level within the team very high," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented. "My staff has done a tremendous job on the recruiting trail and this ranking validated some of the quality we have coming in."
Donning the Akron uniform this fall will be Dion Akhigbe (Copley, Ohio), Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio), Cristian Gennaro (Biella, Italy), Nick McCausland (Akron, Ohio), Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy), Ivan Nikolic (Toronto, Ontario), Daniel Oliveira (Lisbon, Portugal), Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon Portugal), Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.).
The signing class features a pair of players ranked among the top 150 players nationally in the Boys IMG Academy 150 as rated by TopDrawerSoccer.com in Biros (No. 55) and Ritaccio (No. 63).
College Soccer News rates Tojaga (No. 112) among its list of the top 150 players in the United States.
Additionally, Dennis Cole (Freetown, Sierra Leone/Dunn School/Sacramento State), Leonard Sohn (Richmond Hill, Ontario/Bill Crothers Secondary/Manhattan) and Kotaro Umeda (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield/Louisville) have enrolled at Akron this spring and will participate with the Zips during the spring campaign.
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, 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 36 players who have gone on to play professionally either in MLS or overseas since 2006, including No. 1 overall picks Joao Moutinho in 2018 and Steve Zakuani in 2009, and No. 2 overall picks Darlington Nagbe in 2011 and Darren Mattocks in 2012 - just to name a few.
2018 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class
Dion Akhigbe, winger/forward, Copley, Ohio (Internationals Academy)
Colin Biros, winger/forward, Canton, Ohio (Crew SC Academy)
Cristian Gennaro, attacking midfielder, Biella, Italy
Nick McCausland, defender, Akron, Ohio (Internationals Academy)
Marco Milanese, center back, Isernia, Italy (Isernia)
Ivan Nikolic, forward, Toronto, Ontario (Sigma FC)
Daniel Oliveira, defender, Lisbon, Portugal (Sporting SP)
Diogo Pacheco, winger/forward, Lisbon, Portugal (G.S. Loures/A.C.CACEM)
Carlo Ritaccio, center back, Westbury, N.Y. (BW Gottschee Club)
Sam Tojaga, defensive midfielder, Erie, Pa. (Real Salt Lake)
Purchase 2018 Men's Soccer Season Tickets Click Here
AKRON 2018 MEN'S SOCCER SIGNING CLASS RELEASE | UPDATED SPRING 2018 ROSTER (PDF) | SPRING SCHEDULE RELEASE
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron Men's Soccer program received national attention as TopDrawerSoccer.com has tabbed the Zips' 2018 signing class as the No. 10 in the nation in its latest recruiting update.
"We have lost a lot of players this year and needed to bring in a lot of quality players to keep our competition level within the team very high," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented. "My staff has done a tremendous job on the recruiting trail and this ranking validated some of the quality we have coming in."
Donning the Akron uniform this fall will be Dion Akhigbe (Copley, Ohio), Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio), Cristian Gennaro (Biella, Italy), Nick McCausland (Akron, Ohio), Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy), Ivan Nikolic (Toronto, Ontario), Daniel Oliveira (Lisbon, Portugal), Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon Portugal), Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.).
The signing class features a pair of players ranked among the top 150 players nationally in the Boys IMG Academy 150 as rated by TopDrawerSoccer.com in Biros (No. 55) and Ritaccio (No. 63).
College Soccer News rates Tojaga (No. 112) among its list of the top 150 players in the United States.
Additionally, Dennis Cole (Freetown, Sierra Leone/Dunn School/Sacramento State), Leonard Sohn (Richmond Hill, Ontario/Bill Crothers Secondary/Manhattan) and Kotaro Umeda (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Mayfield/Louisville) have enrolled at Akron this spring and will participate with the Zips during the spring campaign.
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, 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 36 players who have gone on to play professionally either in MLS or overseas since 2006, including No. 1 overall picks Joao Moutinho in 2018 and Steve Zakuani in 2009, and No. 2 overall picks Darlington Nagbe in 2011 and Darren Mattocks in 2012 - just to name a few.
2018 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class
Dion Akhigbe, winger/forward, Copley, Ohio (Internationals Academy)
Colin Biros, winger/forward, Canton, Ohio (Crew SC Academy)
Cristian Gennaro, attacking midfielder, Biella, Italy
Nick McCausland, defender, Akron, Ohio (Internationals Academy)
Marco Milanese, center back, Isernia, Italy (Isernia)
Ivan Nikolic, forward, Toronto, Ontario (Sigma FC)
Daniel Oliveira, defender, Lisbon, Portugal (Sporting SP)
Diogo Pacheco, winger/forward, Lisbon, Portugal (G.S. Loures/A.C.CACEM)
Carlo Ritaccio, center back, Westbury, N.Y. (BW Gottschee Club)
Sam Tojaga, defensive midfielder, Erie, Pa. (Real Salt Lake)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Soccer
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