Akron Opens October Hosting Syracuse

Monday, October 1

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Syracuse

September 30 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 9 - AKRON VS. SYRACUSE GAME NOTES (PDF) (10/1)

Akron (4-3-1) vs. Syracuse (3-4-1)
Monday, Oct. 1
FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 2-0-0
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 will look to extend its winning streak to four as the Zips welcome Syracuse to FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field for a 7 p.m. tilt on Monday, Oct. 1. The contest with the Orange will be broadcast on ESPN+ while also airing on ESPN 1350AM.

AKRON VERSUS THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference for the third time this season and 69th time overall.
• Akron owns a 38-24-6 (.603) all-time record versus the current 12 members of the ACC.
• In their last encounter with a school from the ACC, the Zips registered a 1-0 home victory past Pittsburgh on Sept. 1 after suffering a 2-0 home setback versus No. 17 North Carolina State on Aug. 27.

SCOUTING SYRACUSE
Syracuse enters play on Monday, Oct. 1, winless in its last three contests and four of five overall after suffering a 1-0 overtime setback at Virginia Tech on Friday, Sept. 28. Sophomore Tajon Buchanan directs the offensive exploits for the Orange owning team-high marks in goals (3) and points (8), while freshman Ryan Raposo paces the squad in assists (4), shots (17), shots on goal (9) and game-winners (2). Senior goalkeeper Hendrik Hilpert has recorded 28 saves and one shutout, while maintaining a 1.54 goals against average.

As a team, Syracuse is ranked 26th in the NCAA in assists per game (2.00), 38th in points per contest (5.43), 40th in total assists (14) and 44th in shots on goal (6.00). Individually, Raposo is 22nd in assists per game (0.57), 25th in total assists (4) and 33rd in game-winning goals (2).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Syracuse are squaring off for only the third time in program history. A year ago, the Zips posted a 1-0 triumph past the Orange on Oct. 3, 2017 in Syracuse, N.Y. In the only other encounter between the schools, Akron earned a 2-1 decision over Syracuse on Sept. 5, 1987.

THE COACHES
Syracuse: Ian McIntyre is in his eighth season as head coach of the Syracuse program, owning a 84-60-22 (.572) record and maintains an overall coaching mark of 189-124-54 (.589) in 19 years as a head coach.

Akron: In his sixth year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 12th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 83-26-12 mark (.736), including 130-46-20 (.714) 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 83-26-12 (.736) 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 193-39-28 (.796), 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.

PACHECO'S HAT TRICK PROPELS AKRON TO 4-3 WIN IN OVERTIME AT VCU
University of Akron men's soccer redshirt sophomore Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal) netted a golden goal in the 94th minute (93:55) to propel the Zips to a come-from-behind 4-3 overtime triumph past VCU on the strength of his first career hat trick on Sept. 26.

Pacheco garnered the game-winning tally off a pair of assists from senior Morgan Hackworth (Bradenton, Fla.) and junior Marcel Zajac (Mississauga, Ontario). Hackworth headed a ball in the box wide to Zajac, who redirected the ball back into the box to Pacheco, who found the corner of the net to extend the Zips' winning streak to three with the overtime victory.

The Zips posted a 15-9 advantage in shots on the evening, including a 6-4 margin in shots on goal. Sophomore David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) and senior Ezana Kahsay (Asmeras, Eritrea) each recorded a game-high four shots for Akron, while Pacheco scored a goal on each of his three shots. Jared Greene led the Rams with a team-high two shots.

The Zips dominated the attack in the opening stanza outshooting the Rams by an 8-3 margin, while garnering an 8-1 margin in corner kicks.

Despite the advantage, VCU cracked the scoring column first in the affair when Greene connected on his fourth goal of the season off an assist from Simon Fitch at the 26:43 mark.

Freshman Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy) leveled the score at one in the 40th minute (39:49) striking a header into the back of the net off a corner kick from freshman Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio). The tally marked the first collegiate goal and assist for Milanese and Biros, respectively.

The lead was short-lived as Travis Cooke found the back of the net at the 40:49 mark to send the Rams into the intermission holding a 2-1 lead.

After an hour and 40-minute lightning delay, play resumed in the second half at approximately 9:40 p.m.

Pacheco netted the equalizer knocking in his third goal of the season on a ball served into the box off a corner kick from redshirt junior Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio) at the 67:15 mark.

A mere 10 seconds later at the 67:25 mark, Pacheco struck again giving the Zips a 3-2 lead with his second goal of the evening. Freshman Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) knocked a ball to Pacheco off a collision with the VCU defender to account for Pacheco's second multi-goal game of the season.

The Zips continued to play strong defensively before Peter Pearson redirected a defensive deflection off of a free kick into the back of the net in the 89th minute (88:31) to square the contest at three.

Akron capped the comeback with Pacheco's game-winner at the 93:55 mark on the Zips' lone shot in overtime.

Senior goalkeeper Ben Lundt (Berlin, Germany) made one stop for Akron, while Mario Sequeira collected two saves for the Rams.

MAKING A STATEMENT
Only three games into his Akron career, Diogo Pachecho has made his presence known offensively on the pitch for the Zips having registered five goals, including a golden goal in a 4-3 overtime victory at VCU. He enters play against Syracuse ranking second on the team in goals (5) and points (10) and third in shots on goal (5). In his collegiate debut against Canisius on Sept. 15, he tallied a pair of goals before notching his first career hat trick in a come-from-behind 4-3 win at VCU on Sept. 26.

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
• The three-goal explosion by Diogo Pacheco at VCU on Sept. 26 marked the third hat trick for an Akron player this season joining David Egbo and Ezana Kahsay, who matched the feat versus Canisius on Sept. 15.
• In three games since returning from injury, Marcel Zajac has provided the Zips with a huge lift offensively contributing a goal and team-high four assists, while adding four shots, including a pair on goal.
• Twenty-four players have seen action for Akron this season, including 13 newcomers.
• Marcel Zajac, David Egbo and Morgan Hackworth have contributed four, three and three assists to the Zips' league-high total of 22.
• 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 freshman Pol Hernandez (Teia, Spain) and junior Leonard Sohn (Richmond Hill, Ontario) 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 sixth in the NCAA in assists per game (2.75), eighth in points per contest (7.50), ninth in scoring offense (2.38) and total assists (22) and 14th in total points (60) and total goals (19).
• Individually, David Egbo is ranked ninth in the NCAA in total points (17), 11th in points per game (2.13), 13th in goals per contest (0.88) and total goals (7) and 33rd 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 has held its last two home opponents off the scoreboard posting 1-0 and 10-0 victories over Pittsburgh (Sept. 1) and Canisius (Sept. 15), respectively. Dating back to the Zips' 2-0 setback versus North Carolina State (Aug. 27), Akron has held opponents scoreless on their home field for more than 230 minutes (233.09).
• Ezana Kahsay is Akron's active career leader in goals (9), shots (73), shots on goal (24), games played (64) and game-winning goals (4), while Skye Harter paces the squad in assists (12) and points (26). Ben Lundt has started a team-high 49 games.
• Four Akron freshmen in Colin Biros, Marco Milanese, Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) 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 (Reading, England) 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 eight matches on the campaign, while Colin Biros, Carlo Ritaccio, Sam Tojaga, Pol Hernandez and Daniel Oliveira (Lisbon, Portugal) have started six, six, five, five and one game, respectively.
• In Akron's four wins this season the Zips have outscored their opponents 16-3. Akron has outshot the opposition 53-30, including 27-9 on goal. Thirteen 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.

OWNING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The recent successes of the Akron men's soccer program over the past 12 seasons (2007-present) can be attributed to its play in the month of October. Since the start of the 2007 campaign, the Zips own a 69-10-7 (.843) ledger in the month, including a 36-4-3 (.872) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium - Cub Cadet Field.

UP NEXT
Akron opens Mid-American Conference play traveling to Bowling Green, Ohio for a 7 p.m. tilt versus the Falcons on Saturday, Oct. 6.