Akron Opens MAC Play Hosting Bowling Green

Saturday, October 12

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Bowling Green

October 11 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 11 - AKRON VS. BOWLING GREEN GAME NOTES (10/12)

Akron (1-8-1, 0-0-0 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (7-3-1, 0-0-0 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 12
FirstEnergy Stadium (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 47-8-5
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: ESPN+
Television: ESPN+ (Dave Bacon - pxp and Chad Welker - color)

MATCH PREVIEW WITH HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK

WHAT'S AHEAD

The University of Akron men's soccer team opens Mid-American Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 12, as the Zips square off against Bowling Green. The 7 p.m. contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with Dave Bacon and Chad Welker calling the action.

AKRON IN MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE OPENERS
The Zips' contest versus Bowling Green marks the opening game in Akron's five-game conference slate in its 27th season in the Mid-American Conference. In the previous 26 conference openers, Akron owns a 22-2-2 mark. A year ago, the Zips battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Bowling Green on Oct. 6, 2018.

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green is riding a three-game winning streak entering play against the Zips following a 1-0 road victory over IUPUI on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Junior Chris Sullivan paces the Falcons in goals (4), assists (5), points (23) and shots on goal (11), while senior Chris Brennan leads Bowling Green in shots (26) and game-winners (2). Senior goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia has recorded 28 saves en route to posting six shutouts on the strength of a 0.96 goals against average.

As a team, the Falcons are ranked sixth in the NCAA in shutout percentage (0.636), 38th in total assists (19), 39th in winning percentage (0.682), 42nd in goals against average (0.890), 44th in total points (55), 49th in corner kicks (5.73) and 50th in total goals (18) and assists per game (1.73).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Bowling Green are meeting for 61st time in program history with the Zips owning a 47-8-5 series advantage, including a 25-3-1 mark at home. A year ago, the Zips battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Bowling Green on Oct. 6, 2018.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 6, 2018 - BOWLING GREEN, OHIO)
In a hard-fought contest played in wet and muddy conditions due to lingering rain and lightning, the University of Akron men's soccer team battled Bowling Green to a 0-0 draw in double overtime in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools on Oct. 6 in Bowling Green, Ohio.

The Zips outshot the Falcons on the evening, 21-7, including 10-2 on frame, and posted a 16-1 edge in corner kicks, but Akron was unable to find the golden goal in overtime to earn the triumph.

Junior David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) directed the Zips' offensive efforts recording a game-best five shots. Contributing four, three and three shots, respectively, for Akron was sophomore Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.), redshirt junior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal) and Ezana Kahsay. Chris Brennan led Bowling Green with a team-high three shots.

The contest was played in rain early before action was halted due to lightning with 7:30 remaining in the opening stanza. The contest resumed nearly 40 minutes later as neither side found a goal in the opening 45 minutes of play.

Marcel Zajac placed the first shot on goal of the evening on frame at the 17:11 mark, only to see his strike thwarted by a save from Falcons' goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia.

Akron goalkeeper Ben Lundt denied the scoring chance with a save off a header by Moe Mustafa in the 30th minute (29:15).

Immediately before the lightning delay, Abdi Mohamed connected on a shot on goal at the 35:44 mark for the Zips, again denied by a Mwembia save.

Following the delay, Kahsay unleashed a shot in the 43rd minute (42:57) that was collected for a save by Mwembia.

The Zips outshot Bowling Green in the opening half, 6-3, including 3-1 on goal.

Lundt again made the save for Akron off a shot by Brennan in the 58th minute (57:15).

Shot by Pacheco and senior Skye Harter were denied by saves from Mwembia at the 70:29 and 73:36 marks, respectively.

With the clock winding down in the second half, Pacheco and sophomore Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy) posted shots on goal, which again were stopped by saves from Mwembia in the 83rd (82:08 and 82:42) minute.

The Zips bettered the Falcons in second-half shots, 8-4, including 4-1 on net.

Neither side was able to record a shot in the opening overtime period. In the second-overtime stanza, Akron registered seven shots, including three on goal, and garnered six corner kicks, but were unable to find the back of the net with the game-winner.

Egbo, Tojaga and Harter each had shots on goal thwarted by saves from Mwembia over the final 10 minutes of the match.

Lundt finished the evening making two saves en route to collecting the shutout, while Mwembia made 10 stops to also earn the clean sheet.

THE COACHES
Bowling Green: Eric Nichols is in his 11th season as head coach of the Bowling Green program, owning a 82-85-30 (.492) record, while maintaining a 140-107-31 (.559) mark in 15 seasons overall as a head coach.
Akron: In his seventh year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 13th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 95-38-14 mark (.694), including 142-59-22 (.686) overall, in his 11th 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 2019 campaign marks his seventh year leading the Zips having registered a 95-38-14 (.694) ledger after posting an 15-7-2 record en route to earning the program's second consecutive and sixth overall College Cup berth in 2018. Akron's 95 victories since Embick took the helm of the Zips' program in 2013 rank second among all men's soccer programs in Division I.

During Embick's time at Akron, the Zips have posted the highest winning percentage in the nation with an overall record of 205-51-30 (.769), including a 56-6-4 (.879) mark in Mid-American Conference play, while securing 11 conference tournament titles, 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament and three appearances in the College Cup final.

The Zips became one of just four Division I programs in 2018 to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in each of the past 12 seasons.

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. Akron's 2018 class was tabbed No. 9 nationally.

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.

AKRON EARNS 2-0 WIN OVER VCU
A golden goal in the 110th minute (109:11) from Alex Lehtinen propelled Butler to a 1-0 double-overtime men's soccer triumph over Akron on Tuesday, Oct. 8 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Playing in their second consecutive overtime match, a short-handed Zips' squad battled the Bulldogs for nearly 110 minutes before Lehtinen headed home the goal off a corner kick from Jack Haywood to give Butler a 1-0 triumph.

Each side posted three shots apiece in overtime, en route to both teams finishing the evening with six shots on goal. The Bulldogs won the overall shot total, 17-10.

The Zips were paced by two shots apiece from Skye Harter and senior Christian Lue Young (Plantation, Fla.) and freshman Mani Austmann (Gardabaer, Iceland). Lehtinen and Hemi Nasser directed the Bulldogs' attack with a game-high three shots each.

Gabriel Gjergji collected six saves in net for Butler en route to earning the shutout, while junior Joe Bowles (Stratford, England) recorded a career-best five saves.

Austmann registered the Zips' initial strike in the contest, a shot on goal at the 6:17 mark that was pulled in for a save by Gjergji.

Senior Leonard Sohn's (Richmond Hill, Ontario) strike in the box in the 29th minute (28:42) was blocked to deny the scoring chance.

Freshman Nicolas Alt (Basel, Switzerland) posted a shot on goal in the box at the 34:44 mark, one that was corralled for a save by Gjergji.

Akron recorded a 2-1 edge in shots on goal in the opening stanza, while the Bulldogs registered an 8-3 overall advantage in first-half shots.

Lue Young garnered the Zips' initial shot in the second half, a strike at the 59:51 mark that was saved by Gjergji. He then headed a shot in the box, one that went high, in the 66th minute (65:39).

Sam Tojaga added a shot on goal off a corner kick from Harter at the 71:30 mark.

Bowles made a punch-out save off a shot from Justin Savona in the 75th minute (74:47) before making another save off Wilmer Cabrera Jr. at the 80:19 mark.

The Bulldogs finished regulation owning a 14-7 advantage in shots.

Marco Milanese's shot in the 93rd minute (92:15) went wide of the goal.

A header in the box by Harter at the 94:35 mark was pulled in for a save by Gjergji.

Bowles made save in the 100th minute (99:53) off the foot of Nasser.

Austmann delivered a shot at the 102:51 mark that was denied by a save from Gjergji.

OWNING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The recent successes of the Akron men's soccer program over the past 13 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 73-14-9 (.807) ledger in the month, including a 38-6-4 (.833) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Akron is opening its Mid-American Conference slate at home for the first time since Oct. 7, 2016 when the Zips bested Buffalo, 4-0
• Since 2013, six of the seven contests between Akron and Bowling Green have been decided by a goal or less, with the Zips owning a 5-0-2 mark in those games.
• Since 2010,the Zips are 19-3-0 at FirstEnergy Stadium in regular season conference games. Overall during that span, including postseason, Akron boasts a 34-4-1 mark at home.
• Since joining the MAC in 1993, the Zips are 24-2-0 in home conference openers and 21-2-1 overall when facing a league foe following a loss.
• Akron registered a season-best 22 shots against Florida International on Oct. 5, while freshmen Will Jackson and Mani Austmann established career-high marks in shots recording six and five, respectively. Jackson's six strikes stand as the top single-game mark for a Zip in 2019.
• Four different Zips have garnered their first-ever collegiate goals this season. Junior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) and Sam Tojaga joined the club tallying goals against VCU. They join Christian Lue Young and Mani Austmann, who recorded goals versus Creighton (Sept. 6) and Marshall (Sept. 21), respectively.
• David Egbo recorded his 100th career shot in the Zips' 2-0 win over VCU on Oct. 2.
• Nine different Akron players have earned an assist this season.
• The Zips own the 15th-best strength of schedule in the country in 2019 according to RPI Update.
• Akron has also faced the 23rd-most difficult schedule in the NCAA this season as tabulated by NCAA.com, as well as the most-challenging ledger in the MAC.
• The Zips face upcoming tests versus a pair of top-50 teams in the latest RPI Update rankings. Akron faces a road test at No. 48 West Virginia (Nov. 7). Additionally, the Zips battle No. 54 Western Michigan (Oct. 20), No. 75 Bowling Green (Oct. 12) and No. 92 SIU Edwardsville (Oct. 25).
• Diogo Pacheco is ranked third in the MAC in shots per contest (2.71) after equaling a career-best mark with a five-shot effort at Maryland on Sept. 13. A year ago, he posted five strikes, including a career-high three shots on goal versus Syracuse on Oct. 18, 2018. He also played a career-best 90 minutes against the Terrapins.
• Twenty-four Zips have seen action this season, including 11 newcomers.
• Eighteen different Zips have registered a shot this season, including six newcomers.
• As a team, the Zips are rated 20th in the NCAA in corner kicks (6.60).
• Skye Harter enters play against Bowling Green among the active NCAA leaders in assists and games played. He is rated eighth in games played (71) and 27th in assists (16) among Division I players.
• Will Jackson has paced a talented core of freshmen for Akron this season leading the newcomers in assists (1), shots (17) and shots on goal (8), while ranking seventh in points (1).
• Seven Akron newcomers have garnered a start in the Zips' initial 10 contests this season. Will Jackson has recorded nine starts, while owning five starts are freshmen Mani Austmann and Henrique Cruz (Fortaleza, Brazil). Freshmen Bradley Chick (Melbourne, Australia), Joe Bowles, senior Tom Smart (Birmingham, England), and freshman Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) have posted four, three, two and two starts, respectively.
• Four different Zips in Christian Lue Young and Tom Smart and Mani Austmann and Will Jackson earned their first-ever Akron starts versus Xavier.
• Four additional newcomers in sophomore Federico Serra (Cagliari, Italy) and Bradley Chick, Henrique Cruz and Jaden Wright made their Zips' debuts against Xavier, while freshman Nicolas Alt (Basel, Switzerland) saw his first collegiate playing time versus Florida International (Oct. 5).

FORMER ZIPS CLINCH BERTHS INTO MLS CUP PLAYOFFS
Seven former Zips saw their respective MLS clubs earn a berth into the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs following Decision Day slated on Oct. 6. In the Eastern Conference, Teal Bunbury (New England), Scott Caldwell (New England), Richie Laryea (Toronto) and Darlington Nagbe (Atlanta) have secured a postseason berth. In the Western Conference, Perry Kitchen (Los Angeles), Saad Abdul-Salaam (Seattle) and Zarek Valentin (Portland) locked down spots.

In the Eastern Conference, second-seeded Atlanta hosts No. 7 New England, while No. 4 Toronto entertains No. 5 D.C. United on Oct. 19. In the Western Conference, No. 2 Seattle hosts No. 7 F.C Dallas (Oct. 19), No.3 Real Salt Lake welcomes No. 6 Portland (Oct. 19) and No. 4 Minnesota hosts No. 5 Los Angeles Galaxy (Oct. 20).

LARYEA DEBUTS FOR TEAM CANADA
Richie Laryea, who played for the Zips from 2014-15, earned his first international cap for Canada against Cuba on Sept. 7. A member of Toronto FC, he has been added to the Canadian roster for a friendly against the United States on Oct. 15.

KAHSAY EARNS FIRST INTERNATIONAL CAP
Ezana Kahsay, who played for the Zips from 2013-18, earned his first international cap for the Eritrea National Team in September. The Red Sea Boys fell in the opening leg of FIFA World Cup qualifying versus Namibia on Sept. 4, 2-1, before dropping a 2-0 decision in the second leg on Sept. 10.

LEWIS CALLED UP TO U-23 USMNT TEAM
Jonathan Lewis, who played for the Zips during the 2016 campaign, was among 25 called to a training camp and match vs. El Salvador from Oct. 6-15 in Miami, Fla. The match vs. El Salvador will take place on Oct. 15. It marks another step in the U-23 MNT's path to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

UP NEXT
In a rematch of the 2019 College Cup semifinal, Akron welcomes Michigan State to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 7 p.m. match on Tuesday, Oct. 15.