Akron Looks to Extend Winning Streak at VCU

Wednesday, September 26

Richmond, Va.

7:00 PM

University of Akron

VCU

September 25 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 8 - AKRON AT VCU GAME NOTES (PDF) (9/26)

Akron (3-3-1) at VCU (4-3-0)
Wednesday, Sept. 26
SportsBackers Stadium (3,000)
Richmond, Va. • 7 p.m.

Series History: Series tied 1-1-1
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: ESPN+
Television: ESPN+

MATCH PREVIEW WITH HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron men's soccer team concludes its two-match road swing on Wednesday, Sept. 26, as the Zips travel to Richmond, Va., for a showdown with VCU. The contest with the Rams will begin at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN+.

AKRON VERSUS THE ATLANTIC-10 CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Atlantic 10 Conference for the 38th time in program history.
• A year ago, Akron battled Saint Louis to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on the road on Sept. 16, 2017.
• In all, the Zips are 22-11-4 (.649) versus teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference.

SCOUTING VCU
VCU comes into action this Wednesday, Sept. 26, on the heels of a 4-0 victory over No. 20 Old Dominion on Sept. 19. Sophomore Jared Greene directs the offensive exploits for the Rams owning team-high marks in goals (3) and points (7), while junior Fortia Munts paces the squad in shots (13) and shots on goal (6). Junior goalkeeper Mario Sequeira has played the majority of minutes in net for VCU recording 20 saves and holding four total shutouts on the strength of a 1.34 goals against average.

As a team, the Rams are 15th in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.571). Individually, junior Siad Haji is 30th in game-winning goals (2) and 57th in total assists (3).

The contest will be a reunion of sorts for VCU head coach Dave Giffard, who served as an assistant coach at Akron under head coach Caleb Porter from 2006-10, as well as Reinaldo Brenes, who is a graduate assistant coach for the Rams after playing for the Zips from 2010-13.

SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting VCU for the fourth time in program history with the series all square at 1-1-1. The Zips and Rams battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw in their last meeting on Sept. 27, 2016 in Akron, Ohio. In the last encounter between the two programs in Richmond, Va., the Zips opened their 2015 campaign with a 3-2 double-overtime triumph past VCU on Aug. 287, 2015.

THE COACHES
VCU: Dave Giffard is in his ninth season as head coach of the VCU program, owning a 80-63-26 (.550) record. From 2006-10 he served as an assistant coach at Akron under head coach Caleb Porter.

Akron: In his sixth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 12th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 82-26-12 mark (.733), including 129-46-20 (.713) 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 82-26-12 (.733) 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 192-39-28 (.795), including a 55-4-3 (.911) 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

EGBO NETS GAME-WINNER IN 1-0 VICTORY AT GRAND CANYON
A goal in the fifth minute (4:50) from sophomore David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) proved to be all the offense the University of Akron men's soccer team needed as the Zips locked down defensively en route to earning a 1-0 victory at Grand Canyon on Sept. 20 in Phoenix, Ariz.

Egbo delivered what proved to be a game-winning strike from the top of the box into the corner of the net for his team-leading seventh goal of the season off an assist from senior Morgan Hackworth (Bradenton, Fla.) at the 4:50 mark.

The Zips finished the evening registering an 8-3 advantage in shots, including a 3-0 margin on goal. Senior Abdi Mohamed (Westerville, Ohio) and junior Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario) paced Akron's offensive attack with a game-high two shots apiece, while three different Lopes recorded a shot for Grand Canyon.

Senior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) earned his third clean sheet of the season and 23rd of his Zips' career without having to make a save to collect the victory. George Tasouris posted a pair of stops in net for the Lopes.

After Egbo's goal, senior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea) nearly extended the Zips' lead to 2-0 at the 23:27 mark as his shot went wide of the net after Egbo played the ball over the Lopes' defender to Kahsay.

Akron finished the opening stanza outshooting Grand Canyon, 3-2, including 2-0 on net.

Zajac added a shot on goal at the 80:05 mark, one that was saved by Tasouris. Less than 30 seconds later at the 80:33 mark, Zajac unleashed another shot, one which hit the crossbar before being cleared by the Lopes' defense.

Egbo had his second goal of the evening waved off in the 81st minute (80:56) as the Zips were whistled for an offsides call.

EGBO GARNERS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK HONORS
David Egbo was chosen on Tuesday, Sept. 25, by TopDrawerSoccer.com as honorable-mention selection on its Men's Soccer National Team of the Week. He previously garnered recognition on Sept. 4 and Sept. 18, respectively.

Egbo scored the game-winning tally in a 1-0 victory at Grand Canyon on Sept. 20 as he tallied his team-leading seventh goal of the season in the fifth minute (4:50).

On the season, Egbo leads Akron in goals (7), assists (3), points (17), shots (17), shots on goal (10) and game-winners (2).

A CELEBRATION OF AKRON SOCCER
The University of Akron will welcome back legendary Zips' head men's soccer coach Caleb Porter, a 2018 Varsity 'A' Sports Hall of Fame inductee, alongside current head coach Jared Embick, for a special evening celebrating the success of Akron men's soccer on Thursday, Oct. 4.

The event held at InfoCision Stadium promises to be an evening of stories and laughter that fans of Akron men's soccer will not want to miss. Steve Zakuani, who starred for the Zips during the 2007 and 2008 campaign and was the top pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft as well as 2008 All-America honoree and Hermann Trophy finalist and 2009, will serve as host for the special night.

A VIP meet-and-greet will kick off the event from 6-7 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The evening will officially begin with opening remarks at 7:15 p.m. followed by the serving of dinner at 7:20 p.m.

The highlight of the evening will be a gathering of two of the most successful coaches in program history with Embick and Porter taking the stage at 8 p.m. A fireside chat hosted by Zakuani over the next hour will take the coaches down memory lane to discuss their memories of the past, present and future success of Akron men's soccer.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• David Egbo's eight-point effort in a 10-0 triumph past Canisius (Sept. 15) marked the most points in a match for a Zip since Ørjan Bjånesø tallied three goals and added a pair of assists in a 7-1 win against St. Bonaventure on Oct. 20, 2000.
• Five different Zips registered goals in Akron's 10-0 victory over Canisius on Sept. 15, including a trio of multi-goal efforts from David Egbo (3), Ezana Kahsay (3) and Diogo Pacheco (2).
• Making his return from injury, Marcel Zajac had a career game against Cansius netting a goal and three assists in the Zips' victory on Sept. 15.
• Three different Akron players recorded their first collegiate points donning a Zips' uniform as Diogo Pacheco tallied two goals, while Pol Hernandez and Leonard Sohn each posted an assist against Canisius.
• Akron's 10 goals, 12 assists and 32 points in its 10-0 victory over Canisius represent NCAA single-game highs across Division I this season.
• As a team, the Zips are rated ninth in the NCAA in assists per game (2.43), 10th in points per contest (6.71), 14th in scoring offense (2.14), 17th in total assists (17), 20th in total points (47), 24th in total goals (15) and 41st in shutout percentage (.429).
• Individually, David Egbo is ranked fifth in the NCAA in points per game (2.43), sixth in goals per contest (1.00), seventh in total points (17), ninth in total goals (7) and 30th in game-winning goals (2).
• The shutout for Ben Lundt in a 1-0 win at Grand Canyon on Sept. 20 was the 23rd of his Akron career to move him into a tie for sixth place on the all-time career list for the Zips with Sean Burke (1983-86).
• Akron will get plenty of opportunities to add to its NCAA resume in the Zips' coming matches as the squad will face five teams ranked in the top-30 of the initial NCAA RPI report released on Sept. 24. Akron will square off against No. 9 Notre Dame (Oct. 23), No. 12 Syracuse (Oct. 1), No. 13 Northern Illinois (Oct. 20), No. 15 Creighton (Oct. 16) and No. 27 Michigan State (Oct. 6).
• The Zips are currently on a run of having held their opponents scoreless for nearly 260 minutes (258.03) dating back to a 12th-minute tally by Washington on Sept. 9.
• Akron's win over Canisius marked the Zips' largest margin of victory in a match since downing Cleveland State, 12-2 during the 2005 campaign.
• Sixteen different Zips have registered shots this season, including nine newcomers.
• Ezana Kahsay is Akron's active career leader in goals (9), shots (69), games played (63) and game-winning goals (4), while Skye Harter paces the squad in assists (11) and points (25). Marcel Zajac leads the Zips in shots on goal (23), while Ben Lundt has started a team-high 49 games.
• Four Akron freshmen in Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio), Marco Milanese, Carlo Ritaccio and Sam Tojaga earned the starting assignment in their collegiate debuts versus Butler on Aug. 24. Overall, seven Zips' newcomers started against the Bulldogs, with seniors Marco Micaletto and Abdi Mohamed along with junior Leonard Sohn also getting the starting nod.
• Seven different Akron freshmen have earned the starting nod this season for the Zips. Marco Milanese has started each of Akron's first seven matches on the campaign, while Colin Biros, Carlo Ritaccio, Sam Tojaga, Pol Hernandez and Daniel Oliveira (Lisbon, Portugal) have started six, five, four, four and one game, respectively.
• In Akron's three wins this season the Zips have outscored their opponents 12-0. Akron has outshot the opposition 38-21, including 21-5 on goal. Ten different Zips have contributed points in the contests with David Egbo leading the way registering five goals and two assists. Ben Lundt owns three shutouts in those matches.
• The Zips own a 82-26-12 mark over the last six seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 82 wins are ranked second in all of Division I.

UP NEXT
Akron welcomes Syracuse to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field for a 7 p.m. showdown on Monday, Oct. 1.