Zips Open Men's Soccer Campaign Hosting No. 9 Butler

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MATCH NO. 1 - AKRON VS. BUTLER GAME NOTES (PDF) (8/24)

Akron (0-0-0) vs. Butler (0-0-0)
Friday, Aug. 24
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: First Meeting
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
Television: ESPN3/Watch ESPN

WHAT'S AHEAD
The second-rated University of Akron men's soccer team will open its 2018 campaign on Friday, Aug. 24, as the Zips welcome No. 9 Butler to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field for a 7 p.m. tilt. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app.

AKRON VERSUS THE BIG EAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Big East Conference for first time this season and the 33rd time in program history.
• In its last meeting with a school from the Big East Conference, Akron registered a 2-0 triumph past Villanova in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 17, 2016, at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.
• In all, Akron is 20-3-9 (.766) versus teams from the Big East Conference (Creighton - 2-0-2; Georgetown - 2-0-1; Marquette - 8-1-4; Seton Hall - 1-0-0; St. John's - 0-2-2; Villanova - 1-0-0; Xavier - 6-0-0).

SCOUTING BUTLER
Butler returns seven starters from a season ago where the Bulldogs posted a 14-5-2 mark en route to winning the BIG EAST regular season title and advancing to the NCAA Round of 16. That performance matched the Bulldogs' best postseason finish (Round of 16) in program history. Junior Brandon Guhl, who was named to the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, as well as being selected to TopDrawerSoccer.com Men's Preseason Best XI Team (Third Team), is the Bulldogs' leading returning scorer registering team-high marks in goals (13), points (31), shots on goal (24) and game-winners (5), while ranking third in assists (5) and shots (37).

As a team, Butler was 19th in the NCAA save percentage (.811), 20th in winning percentage (.714), 30th in total assists (33), 34th in saves per game (4.71), 35th in shutout percentage (.429), 44th in total points (95) and 50th in total goals (31). Individually, Guhl was rated seventh in game-winning goals (5), 10th in total point (31), 12th in total goals (13) and 25th in goals (0.62) and points (1.48) per game.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Butler are squaring off for the first time in program history.

THE COACHES
Butler: Paul Snape is in his eighth season as head coach of the Butler program, owning a 66-45-22 (.579) record.

Akron: In his sixth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 12th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 79-23-11 mark (.748), including 126-43-19 (.721) overall, in his 10th year as a head coach.

UP NEXT
Akron continues its three-match season-opening homestand hosting No. 23 North Carolina State on Monday, Aug. 27 at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field. Match time is set for 7 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The University of Akron Athletics

Zips Open Men's Soccer Campaign Hosting No. 9 Butler

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