Akron Closes Out Non-Conference Slate with Mid-Week Clash at Cleveland State

Tuesday, October 29

Cleveland, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Cleveland State

Akron Closes Out Non-Conference Slate with Mid-Week Clash at Cleveland State

October 28 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 15 - AKRON AT CLEVELAND STATE GAME NOTES (10/29)

Akron (4-8-2) at Cleveland State (6-5-1)
Tuesday, Oct. 29
Krenzler Field (1,680)
Cleveland, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 39-10-3
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com
Television: www.gozips.com

MATCH PREVIEW WITH HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK

WHAT'S AHEAD

The University of Akron men's soccer team closes out the non-conference portion of its campaign traveling to Krenzler Field in Cleveland for a 7 p.m. match versus Cleveland State on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

AKRON VERSUS THE HORIZON LEAGUE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Horizon League for the first time this season and 122nd time overall.
• Akron owns a 85-27-9 (.740) all-time record versus the current 10 members of the Horizon League.
• In their last encounter with a school from the Horizon League, the Zips registered a 2-0 home decision over Cleveland State on Oct. 10, 2017 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE
Cleveland State comes into play against the Zips having won three of its last four matches following a 2-1 setback at Wright State on Saturday, Oct. 26. Senior Gabe Pewu leads the Vikings in goals (7), points (15), shots on goal (17) and game-winners (3), while ranking second in shots (27). Freshman goalkeeper Omeed Naeemy has recorded 34 saves en route to posting four shutouts on the strength of a 1.05 goals against average.

The contest will be a reunion of sorts for Cleveland State head coach Sinisa Ubiparipovic, who was a two-time All-America honoree and 2006 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year for Akron. Ubiparipovic starred for the Zips for three seasons (2004-06) and was named a first-team All-MAC selection as a junior and senior.

As a team, the Vikings are ranked 40th in the NCAA in goals against average (.972).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Cleveland State are meeting for the 53rd time in program history with the Zips owning a 39-10-3 series advantage, including winning four straight and 19 of the last 20 overall. In the previous encounter between the two schools, Akron recorded a 2-0 triumph over the Vikings on Oct. 10, 2017, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 10, 2017 - AKRON, OHIO)
A goal in each half propelled the then 12th-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team to a 2-0 triumph past Cleveland State on Oct. 10, 2017, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Senior Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio) got the scoring started for Akron just 52 seconds into the match corralling a defensive miscue by Cleveland State in the box and delivering a goal to give the Zips a 1-0 advantage. Earning the assist on the tally was Stuart Holthusen.

Making his collegiate debut in net for Akron was redshirt junior Tor Saunders (Seattle, Wash.), who was tested immediately making a diving save off a shot by Noah Pio in the second minute (1:15).

The two sides then locked into a ball-control battle before Holthusen registered a shot on goal at the 16:23 mark that was saved by Cleveland State goalkeeper Pavle Majerle.

The Zips posted back-to-back strikes on frame at the 20:29 and 20:34 marks, respectively. Joe Korb's shot was saved with the deflection falling to the feet of Harter, who followed with a strike that was cleared off the line for a team save by Antonio Burgoa.

Joao Moutinho capped the Zips' offensive efforts on frame in the opening half with a shot that was saved by Majerle in the 37th minute (36:02).

Akron outshot the Vikings in the opening stanza, 7-3, including 5-2 on goal.

The Zips dominated the pace of play in the second half registering a 10-1 advantage in shots, including 4-0 margin on goal. Akron didn't allow a shot for Cleveland State until the 84th minute (83:45).

Barth-Luther Mouafo capped the scoring for Akron recording his first collegiate goal for the Zips in the 83rd minute (82:24). Moutinho struck a corner kick to Morgan Hackworth, who in turn played a touch off to Mouafo, who finished from three yards out for the goal.

Moutinho paced Akron with a game-high six shots, including three on goal, while Harter and Holthusen each collected a pair of shots. Pio led Cleveland State with two shots.

Saunders pulled in a pair of saves en route to collecting his first collegiate shutout. Majerle finished the evening with six saves for Cleveland State.

THE COACHES
Cleveland State: Sinisa Ubiparipovic is in his first season as head coach of the Cleveland State program, owning a 6-5-1 (.542) record.
Akron: In his seventh year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 13th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 98-38-15 mark (.699), including 145-59-23 (.689) 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 98-38-15 (.699) 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 98 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 208-51-31 (.771), including a 58-6-5 (.877) 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 3-0 VICTORY OVER MAC LEADER SIU EDWARDSVILLE
The University of Akron men's soccer team turned in a dominating Mid-American Conference performance against league-leading SIU Edwardsville en route to notching a 3-0 triumph past the Cougars on Oct. 25, at FirstEnergy Stadium, on the strength of the Zips registering a pair of first-half goals, before adding a late tally to earn the win.

The victory snapped a seven-match unbeaten streak for SIU Edwardsville and coupled with a 3-2 win by Northern Illinois over Western Michigan propelled Akron atop the MAC standings.

Sparked by a 12-8 advantage in second-half shots, Akron finished the match posting a 17-13 edge in shots, including a 6-2 margin in shots on goal.

Junior David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) directed the Zips' offensive performance with a game-high five shots, including two on frame, and finished the night with a goal and two assists. Adding three shots apiece for the Zips were freshmen Mani Austmann (Gardabaer, Iceland) and Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio), along with senior Christian Lue Young (Plantation, Fla.). Jorge Gonzalez, the leading scorer in the MAC, registered a team-high five shots for the Cougars, but was held off the scoreboard by a stout defensive effort by Akron.

Goalkeeper Tor Saunders garnered the clean sheet for the Zips pulling in a pair of saves, while Noah Heim posted three stops for SIU Edwardsville.

Austmann gave the Zips a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute (3:29) connecting on a shot from outside the 18-yard box to the upper 90 off an assist from Egbo. The tally was the second of the season for Austmann and proved to be the game-winning tally.

Jackson nearly extended the margin to 2-0 at the 18:20 mark as his 1v1 attempt in the box hit the near post.

Austmann delivered another laser in the box in the 19th minute (18:40) that was pulled in for a save by Heim.

Egbo extended Akron's margin to 2-0 in the 37th minute (36:27) delivering a shot from 10 yards out that found the corner of the net courtesy of an assist from freshman Henrique Cruz (Fortaleza, Brazil). The goal marked Egbo's team-leading fifth tally of the season, while representing the second assist on the campaign for Cruz.

Each side registered five shots in the opening stanza, with the Zips owning a 3-0 edge in shots on goal.

The Cougars posted the initial two shots of the second half before Lue Young placed a shot on goal inside the box in the 49th minute (48:12) that was headed off the line by Lachlan McLean for a team save. The follow-up shot at the 48:17 mark by sophomore Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) was blocked.

Egbo had his shot on goal in the 53rd minute (52:16) denied by a save from Heim, before Saunders pushed back a strike from Jake Meier at the 60:23 mark to preserve the shutout.

Gonzalez had a goal wiped off the scoreboard for the Cougars by an offsides call in the 64th minute (63:13), before getting off a shot at the 68:23 mark in the box that was thwarted by stellar save from Saunders. He later saw his 1v1 attempt in the box go wide of target in the 72nd minute (71:46), before striking the post with a shot at the 75:30 mark.

The Zips finished the contest registering a 6-2 edge in shots over the final 15 minutes capped by the third goal of the season in the 90th minute (89:22) from Jackson. Egbo and sophomore Pol Hernandez (Teia, Spain) split the defense to set-up the tally and earn the Akron duo a pair of assists.

ZIPS FINDING THEIR FORM
The Zips have begun to find their form in October as Akron owns a 4-1-2 mark in the month with remaining contests versus Cleveland State (Oct. 29). The Zips are averaging 15.7 shots and 1.57 goals per game in those contests, while limiting their opponents to 10.6 shots and 0.57 goals per tilt. Akron has outscored its opponents in the first half by a 8-1 margin, while posting a 52-28 edge in corner kicks. Mani Austmann, David Egbo and Will Jackson pace the Zips with 19, 19 and 17 shots, respectively. In goal, Joe Bowles owns a 0.55 goals against average on the strength of two shutouts and 13 saves.

FOUR SENIORS NEAR END OF THEIR HOME ZIPS' CAREERS
The Zips' contest versus Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 2, will mark the final home games in the careers of seniors Skye Harter, Christian Lue Young, Tom Smart (Birmingham, England) and Leonard Sohn (Richmond Hill, Ontario).

Harter has played in a team-best 74 games over his Akron career, including 46 starts. He has registered nine goals, while adding 17 assists on the strength of 57 shots, including 26 on goal.

Lue Young joined the Zips prior to the 2017 season and has appeared in 19 matches, including eight starts and has posted a goal and an assist on 14 shots, including six on frame.

Smart has appeared in seven of the Zips' 14 contests this season, including a pair of starts. He has yet to record his first shot at Akron.

A two-year member of the Zips, Sohn has appeared in 16 matches, including six starts and owns a assist on three shots.

EGBO HONORED BY COLLEGE SOCCER NEWS
David Egbo was honored for his efforts leading the Zips to a 3-0 victory over league-leading SIU Edwardsville in Mid-American Conference play on Friday, Oct. 25, as College Soccer News named him to its National Men's Soccer Team of the Week.

Egbo turned in a stellar performance in sparking the Zips to a 3-0 victory over the Cougars in the squad's lone match of the week. He directed the Zips' offensive performance with a game-high five shots, including two on frame, and finished the night with a goal and two assists.

On the season, Egbo owns team-high marks in goals (5), assists (3), points (13), shots (34) and shots on goal (16).

JACKSON MAKING HIS MARK
Will Jackson has provided a dynamic presence for the Zips on the offensive end this season as he enters play versus Cleveland State on Oct. 29, leading Mid-American Conference freshmen in shots per game (2.08), while sitting second in total shots (27). In conference-only affairs, he is leading the league rookies in goals (2) and game-winners (1), while rating fourth in shots (7) and shots on goal (3). In MAC-Only contests overall, he is second in game-winning goals (0.33), third in goals (0.67), sixth in shots on goal (1.00), seventh points (1.67) and 10th in shots per game (2.33).

AUSTMANN ADDING TO ZIPS' OFFENSIVE ATTACK
Mani Austmann has upped his game in the month of October having registered team-high marks in shots (19) and shots on goal (10), while ranking second in game-winners (1) and fourth in goals (1) and points (2). He is currently leading Mid-American Conference freshmen in shots (9) and game-winners (1) in league-only affairs, while also sitting second in shots on goal (6). In MAC-Only contests overall, he ranks second in game-winning goals (0.33), third in shots on goal (2.00) and fourth in shots per game (3.00).

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 76-14-10 (.810) ledger in the month, including a 41-6-4 (.843) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Three of the last four matches between Akron and Cleveland State have resulted in a shutout with the Zips owning a 4-0 mark in those contests.
• Akron maintains a 19-1 mark in the last 20 encounters between the Zips and Cleveland State, including wins in the previous four meetings. Akron has outscored the Vikings 14-1 over the four-game series winning streak and 59-16 overall in the last 20 matches between the schools.
• The previous three times Akron has traveled to Cleveland State the match has been decided by a single goal.
• The Zips' 3-0 win over SIU Edwardsville on Oct. 25 represented the 125th regular season Mid-American Conference victory for Akron since joining the conference in 1993.
• Akron's match at Western Michigan marked Jared Embick's 150th game as head coach of the Zips and 225th contest overall as a head coach.
• David Egbo has been stellar in Akron's seven home games this season owning team-high marks in goals (5), points (13), shots (23) and shots on goal (12).
• On the strength of 114 shots, including 45 on goal, the Zips are registering 16.3 shots per game at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2019, while limiting their opponents to 11.3 shots a night.
• Will Jackson made the most of his MAC debut versus Bowling Green on Oct. 12 as he posted his first collegiate goal, a game-winner, while also tallying an assist on Diogo Pacheco's first-half goal.
• Will Jackson ranks second in the MAC in game-winning goals (1), while rating third in goals (0.67), sixth in shots on goal (1.00) and seventh in points (1.67) per game in conference-only matches.
• Three Zips are among the league leaders in several statistical categories for conference-only matches as David Egbo leads the league in assists (1.00) and shots (4.00) per outing, while rating second in points per game (2.00). Diogo Pacheco is first in goals (1.00) and second in points (2.00) per contest. Tor Saunders paces the conference in goals against average (0.00), shutouts per contest (1.000) and save percentage (1.000), while Joe Bowles is second in goals against average (0.90). Mani Austmann ranks second in game-winning goals (0.33) and third in shots on goal per contest (2.00), while Pol Hernandez is third in assists per game (0.67).
• The NCAA released its third men's soccer RPI report on Oct. 28 and the Zips (No. 73) face upcoming road tests at No. 100 West Virginia (Nov. 7), as well as a home match against No. 96 Northern Illinois (Nov. 2).
• Ten different Akron players have earned an assist this season.
• The Zips own the sixth-best strength of schedule in the country in 2019 according to RPI Update.
• Akron has also faced the 12th-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 top-100 teams in the latest RPI Update rankings. Akron faces a road showdown at No. 100 West Virginia (Nov. 7), while also battling No. 96 Northern Illinois (Nov. 2) at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Diogo Pacheco is ranked third in the MAC in shots per contest (2.67) 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 11th in the NCAA in corner kicks (6.57).
• Skye Harter enters play against Cleveland State among the active NCAA leaders in assists and games played. He is rated 13th in games played (74) and 33rd in assists (16) among Division I players. David Egbo is 31st in career points per game (0.94).
• Will Jackson has paced a talented core of freshmen for Akron this season leading the newcomers in goals (3), assists (2), points (8), shots (27), shots on goal (13) and game-winners (2).
• Seven Akron newcomers have garnered a start in the Zips' initial 14 contests this season. Will Jackson has recorded 13 starts, while owning eight and six starts, respectively, are Mani Austmann and Henrique Cruz. Joe Bowles, freshman Bradley Chick (Melbourne, Australia), senior Tom Smart, and freshman Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) have posted six, four, two and two starts, respectively.
• Tor Saunders has made the most of his playing time in goal for the Zips having registered four career shutouts on the strength of 34 saves and posting a 1.05 goal against average. He has earned shutouts over SIU Edwardsville (Oct. 25), No. 8 Creighton in 2018, as well as past No. 8 Notre Dame and Cleveland State in 2017.
• David Egbo is Akron's active career leaders in goals (19), points (50), shots (117), shots on goal (47) and game-winning goals (6). Skye Harter directs the squad in assists (17) and games played (74).
• The Zips own a 98-38-15 mark over the last six seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 98 wins are ranked second in all of Division I.
• The Zips rank 11th nationally in average attendance in 2019 averaging 1,833 fans per game. A year ago, Akron ranked 16th in the country averaging 1,419 for nine home games. In 2016 and 2017, the Zips rated 10th nationally in attendance averaging 2,147 and 1,819 fans per contest, respectively.

FORMER ZIPS EARN BERTHS IN MLS CUP CONFERENCE FINALS
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 earned a 1-0 win over No. 7 New England, while No. 4 Toronto bested No. 5 D.C. United, 5-1, on Oct. 19. Richie Laryea scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in overtime for Toronto. In the Western Conference, No. 2 Seattle downed No. 7 F.C Dallas, 4-3, No.3 Real Salt Lake edged No. 6 Portland, 2-1, and No. 4 Minnesota fell to No. 5 Los Angeles Galaxy, 2-1.

In conference semifinal action, No. 4 Toronto bested top-seeded New York City FC, 2-1, on Oct. 23, while second-seeded Atlanta handed No. 3 Philadelphia a 2-0 setback on Oct. 24. In the Western Conference, No. 2 Seattle defeated No. 3 Real Salt Lake, 2-0, on Oct. 23 before the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Galaxy bettered cross-town rival Los Angeles FC, 5-3, on Oct. 24.

In the Eastern Conference title match, No. 2 Atlanta hosts fourth-seeded Toronto on Oct. 30, while in the Western Division, No. 1 LAFC entertains second-seeded Seattle on Oct. 29. The MLS Cup will be played on Nov. 10.

UP NEXT
The Zips welcome Northern Illinois to FirstEnergy Stadium for Senior Night on Saturday, Nov. 2, as the Zips host the Huskies in a 7 p.m. tilt.