Non-Conference Showdown at Butler Looms for Zips

Tuesday, October 8

Indianapolis, Ind.

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Butler

Non-Conference Showdown at Butler Looms for Zips

October 07 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 10 - AKRON AT BUTLER GAME NOTES (10/8)

Akron (1-7-1) at Butler (5-4-0)
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl (5,647)
Indianapolis, Ind. • 7 p.m.

Series History: Series tied 0-0-1
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 returns to the road this Tuesday, Oct. 8, as the Zips travel to Indianapolis, Ind., to square off against Butler. The 7 p.m. contest from the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl will be broadcast via Butler's YouTube.com page with a link on www.GoZips.com.

AKRON VERSUS THE BIG EAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Big East Conference for the third time this season and the 37th time in program history.
• Earlier this season, Akron dropped a 2-0 decision at Xavier on Aug. 30, before falling at Creighton, 2-1, on Sept. 6.
• In all, Akron is 21-5-10 (.722) versus teams from the Big East Conference (Butler - 0-0-1; Creighton - 3-1-2; Georgetown - 2-0-1; Marquette - 8-1-4; Seton Hall - 1-0-0; St. John's - 0-2-2; Villanova - 1-0-0; Xavier - 6-1-0).

SCOUTING BUTLER
Having alternated wins and losses over its last four matches, Butler enters its home showdown with Akron on the heels of a 3-1 victory at Providence on Saturday, Oct. 5. Senior Brandon Guhl leads the Bulldogs in goals (4), while freshman Wilmer Cabrera Jr. paces the squad in points (8), shots (19), shots on goal (12) and game-winners (3), while ranking second in goals (3) and third in assists (2). Sophomore goalkeeper Gabriel Gjergji has recorded 42 saves en route to posting a pair of shutouts on the strength of a 1.20 goals against average.

As a team, Butler is ranked 36th in the NCAA in save percentage (.792) and 38th in saves per game (4.67).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting Butler for the second time in program history. A year ago, the Zips and Bulldogs battled to a 2-2 double-overtime tie on Aug. 24, 2018 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (AUG. 24, 2018 - AKRON, OHIO)
The second-ranked University of Akron men's soccer battled ninth-rated Butler to a 2-2 double-overtime draw in the season opener for both schools on Aug. 24, 2018, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Zips were directed by the first career multi-goal effort from junior David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria), who registered goals in the 24th (23:16) and 44th (43:58) minutes, respectively.

The Bulldogs connected on the game's first goal when Louis Bulger delivered a perfect strike on a free kick after Akron was whistled for a foul just outside of the 18-yard box at the 11:47 mark.

The Zips nearly netted the equalizer in the 13th minute (12:52) as only a diving lunge from Butler defender Kieran Geldenhuys for a team save prevented the header from Egbo from finding the back of the net.

The momentum continued in Akron's favor as Abdi Mohamed passed a ball to Joe Korb, who slotted a ball in from the corner outside the 18-yard box to Egbo, who tapped the laser into the goal at the 23:16 mark.

The Bulldogs were whistled for a foul in the box in the 41st minute (40:49) setting the stage for a penalty kick by Ezana Kahsay. The scoring opportunity was thwarted by a diving save from Butler goalkeeper Gabriel Gjergji.

The Bulldogs were again booked for a foul in the box at the 43:58 mark. Egbo stepped to the line and gave the Zips a 2-1 lead with a successful penalty kick.

Akron outshot the Bulldogs in the opening stanza, 5-4, including 4-1 on net, to maintain a 2-1 lead at halftime.

Brandon Guhl squared the contest at two in the 60th minute (59:40) tapping in a ball played in from the corner of the six-yard box by Alex Lehtinen.

Sophomore Ivan Nikolic (Toronto, Ontario) made his collegiate debut for the Zips in the 65th minute and came within inches of collecting his first career goal at the 65:57 mark.

Both squads had opportunities to go ahead in the final minutes of the second half, despite the Zips bettering Butler in shots, 10-5.

In overtime, Akron posted a 4-1 margin in shots, but were not able to find the golden goal. On the evening, the Zips outshot the Bulldogs, 19-10, including 5-4 on frame.

Egbo finished the evening with a game-high five shots, including three on goal, while Marco Micaletto and Kahsay added three and two shots, respectively.

Akron goalkeeper Ben Lundt made two saves for the Zips, while Gjergji made two stops for the Bulldogs.

THE COACHES
Butler: Paul Snape is in his ninth season as head coach of the Butler program, owning a 75-61-24 (.544) record.
Akron: In his seventh year on the Akron sidelines as head coach, and 13th season overall, is Jared Embick, who owns a 95-37-14 mark (.699), including 142-58-22 (.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 95-37-14 (.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 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 205-50-30 (.772), 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.

ZIPS BATTLE NO. 10 FIU TO 1-1 2OT DRAW
The University of Akron men's soccer team played arguably its finest match of the season, but the Zips were unable to score a golden goal and settled for a 1-1 double-overtime draw with No. 10 Florida International on Oct. 5, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Akron registered a season-best 22 shots, including posting a 7-2 edge in shots on goal, while limiting the Panthers, the NCAA's third-best offense, to 10 shots.

Freshman Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) garnered a career-high six shots for the Zips, including three on goal, while freshman Mani Austmann (Gardabaer, Iceland) added a career-best five shots of this own to spark the offensive efforts for Akron. Alessandro Campoy directed FIU with a team-high five shots.

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Tor Saunders (Seattle, Wash.) nearly collected his fourth career shutout in the match before finishing the contest with one save. Daniel Gagliardi concluded the evening with five stops for the Panthers.

Only a sliding save by Gagliardi at the 8:29 mark prevented Jackson from scoring his first career goal to give the Zips an early 1-0 lead. Jackson's redirection of the deflection was blocked, before a strike from sophomore Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) went high.

Gagliardi denied a shot by Jackson with a save in the 11th minute (10:39).

David Egbo came within inches of scoring a goal for the Zips at the 37:59 mark as his free kick from just outside the right side of the box hit the crossbar.

The continued offensive pressure for Akron paid off at the 42:33 mark when Egbo was taken down in the box by Gagliardi after a strong pass in stride from freshman Jaden Wright (Lorain, Ohio). Egbo stepped to the line and successfully converted the penalty kick to send the Zips into the intermission with a 1-0 lead.

Akron posted a 10-2 margin in shots in the opening 45 minutes of play.

Egbo began the second half unleashing a laser of shot in the box in the 48th minute (47:34), a shot that was thwarted by a save from Gagliardi.

Continuing the offense attack, Jackson got behind Gagliardi in the box at the 56:20 and delivered a strike that only a deflection for a team save by a diving Nick O'Callaghan prevented the Zips from scoring.

Just over a minute later in the 58th minute (57:38), Austmann struck a shot that Gagliardi denied once again for a save.

FIU registered its first shot on goal in the contest at the 67:41 mark, a shot from Campoy that was rejected by a Saunders' diving save.

The Zips were forced to adjust their line-up late in the game and the Panthers capitalized swinging the momentum of the match slightly in their favor registering a 5-3 edge over the final 20 minutes of regulation.

FIU netted the equalizer at the 86:30 mark when Andrew Booth headed home the goal.

Sophomore Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) got off Akron's last shot of the second half in the 88th minute (87:44), a strike that was pulled in for a save by Gagliardi.

The Panthers appeared to garner the golden goal off the foot of Booth at the 93:25 mark only to see the tally disallowed after FIU was whistled for an offsides call.

Sophomore Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio), Jackson and Austmann each recorded shots for the Zips in the first overtime, unfortunately for Akron, none of the strikes fell on frame.

Both shots in the second overtime were blocked as the matched ended in a draw.

ZIPS TO HOST ALUMNI GATHERING
The University of Akron men's soccer program will welcome back its legendary alumni for a special evening celebrating the Zips' success on Friday, Oct. 11.

The evening will feature a beer and food-tasting opportunity from 7-10 p.m. at the Thirsty Dog Brewing Company in Akron, Ohio (529 Grant Street, Akron, Ohio 44311).

Space for this special evening of memories is limited and the cost is $65 per person. For more information on the securing your seat to this unique and intimate event, please register online at www.uakron.edu/giving/soccer65, text Soccer65 to 41444 or contact George Van Horne at the University of Akron Athletics Development office at (330) 972-8255.

The event will mark the start of a memorable weekend for the Zips as the 2009 men's soccer team will be honored as part of the 45th Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies on Oct. 12.

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 73-13-9 (.816) ledger in the month, including a 38-6-4 (.833) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• 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. Daniel Strachan and Sam Tojaga joined the club tallying goals against VCU. They join senior Christian Lue Young (Plantation, Fla.) 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 20th-best strength of schedule in the country in 2019 according to RPI Update.
• Akron has also faced the 26th-most difficult schedule in the NCAA this season as tabulated by NCAA.com, as well as the most-challenging ledger in the Mid-American Conference.
• The Zips face upcoming tests versus a pair of top-50 teams in the latest RPI Update rankings. Akron faces road tests at No. 24 Butler (Oct. 8) and No. 39 West Virginia (Nov. 7). Additionally, the Zips battle No. 51 Western Michigan (Oct. 20), No. 81 Bowling Green (Oct. 12) and No. 83 SIU Edwardsville (Oct. 25).
• Twenty-four Zips have seen action this season, including 11 newcomers.
• Seventeen different Zips have registered a shot this season, including five newcomers.
• As a team, the Zips are rated 25th in the NCAA in corner kicks (6.33).
• Skye Harter enters play against Butler among the active NCAA leaders in assists and games played. He is rated ninth in games played (70) and 22nd in assists (16) among Division I players, while ranking 46th overall, across all divisions, in games played.
• 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 nine contests this season. Will Jackson has recorded nine starts, while owning five starts is freshman Henrique Cruz (Fortaleza, Brazil). Freshmen Bradley Chick (Melbourne, Australia) and Mani Austmann, senior Tom Smart (Birmingham, England), junior Joe Bowles and freshman Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) have posted four, four, two, two and one 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 Valetin (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.

2009 AKRON SQUAD TO BE INDUCTED INTO VARSITY "A" SPORTS HALL OF FAME
The 2009 men's soccer team will be honored as part of the 45th Annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame ceremonies on Oct. 12.

The Zips, under the guidance of head coach Caleb Porter, won the 2009 MAC regular-season championship and tournament championship en route to an appearance in the NCAA National Championship game. Akron finished 23-1-1 overall and 6-0 in MAC play.

The Zips went undefeated through the regular season and NCAA Tournament until the College Cup. Akron tied North Carolina 0-0 in the national semifinal, advancing on penalty kicks. The Zips then tied Virginia 0-0 and fell in penalty kicks in the title game.

Fueled by one of the greatest defensive seasons in college history, Akron matched an NCAA record by posting a perfect 23-0-0 record heading into the College Cup in 2009 en route to its runner-up finish. Akron didn't allow a single goal during the NCAA Tournament and finished with 19 shutouts for the campaign, which represented the second highest total all-time. Furthermore, its goals-against-average (0.27) and shutout percentage (.760) were ranked third-best in NCAA history.

UP NEXT
Akron commences the Mid-American Conference portion of its schedule with a 7 p.m. tilt versus Bowling Green on Saturday, Oct. 12.