Akron Opens MAC Championship Play Hosting Bowling Green

Friday, November 15

Akron, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Akron

Bowling Green

Akron Opens MAC Championship Play Hosting Bowling Green

November 14 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 18 - AKRON VS. BOWLING GREEN GAME NOTES (11/15)

Akron (6-9-2) vs. Bowling Green (12-6-1)
Friday, Nov. 15
FirstEnergy Stadium (5,000)
Akron, Ohio • 6 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 48-8-5
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: ESPN+
Television: ESPN+ (Dave Bacon - pxp and Dino Campellone - color)

**Fans attending the MAC Men's Soccer Championship on Friday (Nov. 15) are asked to park in Lot 9 (surface lot at Corner of Spicer and E. Exchange Streets) or Lot 36 (Parking Deck off of E. Exchange Street) in order to avoid lot restrictions and parking fees w/basketball games at James A. Rhodes Arena**

MATCH PREVIEW WITH HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK

WHAT'S AHEAD

The top-seeded University of Akron men's soccer team continues its quest for its 16th Mid-American Conference Championship title battling top-seeded and fourth-seeded Bowling Green on Friday, Nov. 15, in the semifinals of the MAC Championship at FirstEnergy Stadium. The 6 p.m. contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with Dave Bacon and Dino Campellone calling the action.

ZIPS' MAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains an 36-8-5 mark in 49 matches in Mid-American Conference Championship history, including a 13-0 mark under head coach Jared Embick. The Zips are 23-1-3 in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium in tournament play. Akron is playing in the semifinal round for the 19th consecutive year and 24th time overall. The Zips own a 17-2-4 record in those contests.

AKRON MAC CHAMPIONSHIP TIDBITS
Senior Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio) is Akron's active leader in MAC Tournament games started at four, while junior David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) and sophomores Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio), Pol Hernandez (Teia, Spain), Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy), Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) have each started three tournament matches each. Ritaccio owns a team-high two goals in career tournament play, while Harter and Ritaccio enters action versus Bowling Green as the team's MAC Tournament career scoring leader having recorded four points each. Biros and Harter pace the squad in assists with two apiece.

Egbo has posted a team-best 11 shots, including five on goal, respectively. Harter, Biros, Tojaga, Ritaccio, senior Christian Lue Young (Plantation, Fla.), Hernandez and Milanese have recorded 6 (2), 6 (1), 3 (1), 2 (2), 1 (1), 1 (0) and 1 (0) shots (shots on goal), respectively.

AKRON-BOWLING GREEN MAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Zips have met Bowling Green eight times in MAC Championship play with Akron owning a 6-2-0 mark in those encounters, including a 3-1-0 record at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Zips won the last tournament contest between the two schools, 2-1, in the championship game of the 2014 MAC Championship on Nov. 16, 2014, at FirstEnergy Stadiyn. The two teams are meeting in the semifinals of the MAC Championship for the fourth time with Akron owning 8-2 and 2-0 triumphs in 2006 and 2012, respectively, with all three of tilts having been played at home.

FOUR SENIORS NEAR END OF THEIR HOME ZIPS' CAREERS
The Zips' contest versus Northern Illinois on Nov. 2, marked the final regular season 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 22 matches, including 11 starts and has posted a goal and a pair of assists on 20 shots, including eight on frame.

Smart has appeared in eight of the Zips' 17 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 18 matches, including six starts and owns a assist on three shots.

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green is riding a three-game winning streak entering play against the Zips following a 2-1 overtime victory over Northern Illinois on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Junior Chris Sullivan paces the Falcons in goals (6), assists (9), points (21), shots (38) and shots on goal (17). Senior goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia has recorded 57 saves en route to posting 10 shutouts on the strength of a 0.86 goals against average.

As a team, the Falcons are ranked 11th in the NCAA in shutout percentage (0.556), 24th in goals against average (0.822), 27th in save percentage (.776), 30th in total assists (32), 43rd in winning percentage (0.639), 45th in assists per game (1.78) and 47th in total points (94).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Bowling Green are meeting for 62nd time in program history with the Zips owning a 48-8-5 series advantage, including a 26-3-1 mark at home. Earlier this season, the Zips bested the Falcons, 2-1, on Oct. 12 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 12, 2019 - AKRON, OHIO)
The University of Akron men's soccer team garnered goals from redshirt junior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal) and freshman Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) en route to opening Mid-American Conference play with a 2-1 triumph past Bowling Green on Oct. 12, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Zips dominated the contest registering a 20-6 edge in shots, including posting a season-high 10 shots on goal for a 10-3 advantage in shots on frame.

Jackson and Christian Lue Young led Akron's offensive attack posting a game-high four shots apiece, including two shots on goal each, while Pacheco added three shots in reserve duty. Six different Falcons added one shot apiece.

Junior goalkeeper Joe Bowles (Stratford, England) collected two saves in net for the Zips to earn the victory, while Anthony Mwembia turned in a stellar effort for the Falcons registering eight saves.

Making his return to the Akron line-up after missing the last two contests, Pacheco made an immediate impact for the Zips after being inserted into the match at the 26:51 mark, as he connected on a goal in the 34th minute (33:06). Pol Hernandez delivered a ball just to the top of the box that was deflected by Jackson to the feet of Pacheco, who struck a laser into the corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Akron took a 1-0 lead into the intermission on the strength of a 4-2 edge in shots in the opening half.

The Zips dialed up their offensive firepower in the second half recording a 16-4 margin in overall shots and a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal.

In what he later described as a moment he had been dreaming about since third grade, Jackson netted his first collegiate goal, a game-winner, at the 58:36 mark, off a strike from 22 yards out, one that bested Mwembia and gave the Zips a 2-0 lead.

Colin Biros, Jackson, Hernadez and freshman Mani Austmann (Gardabaer, Iceland) connected on shots on goal in the 60th (59:25), 65th (64:22 and 64:57) and 67th (66:24) minutes, respectively, that were thwarted by saves from Mwembia.

A defensive turnover at the 69:32 mark allowed Bowling Green to cut the Zips' lead in half as Chris Sullivan scored his fifth goal of the season.

Akron continued to pepper the Falcons with shots as the Zips closed the contest with a 6-2 edge in shots, including strikes on net from Lue Young (71:42 and 77:27), Hernandez (73:31), and Austmann (77:20).

Bowles notched saves at the 86:30 and 87:48 marks, respectively, off shots from Achille Robin and Abdi Faqi.

THE COACHES
Bowling Green: Eric Nichols is in his 11th season as head coach of the Bowling Green program, owning a 87-88-30 (.498) record, while maintaining a 145-110-31 (.561) 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 100-39-15 mark (.698), including 147-60-23 (.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 100-39-15 (.698) 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 100 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 210-52-31 (.770), including a 60-6-5 (.880) 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 MAC TITLE WITH 1-0 WIN AT WEST VIRGINIA
A goal from Colin Biros in the 72nd minute (71:43) propelled the University of Akron men's soccer team to its 20th Mid-American Conference regular season title as the Zips persevered through the elements to garner a 1-0 victory over West Virginia on Nov. 7.

The victory marked a historic milestone for seventh-year head coach Jared Embick, who earned his 100th career win as Akron head coach. Embick's 100 triumphs since 2013 are the second-most in Division 1 men's soccer.

On a night when the Zips only registered one shot on goal, it was Biros adding another memorable header goal for his second tally of the season. David Egbo delivered a ball down the wing to Diogo Pacheco, who lofted a cross into the box to the far post that Biros connected on for the game-winning tally. Ebgo and Pacheco were credited with assists on the goal.

The Zips were nearly forced into overtime as they got a fortuitous bounce on a shot inside three yards from Kevin Morris that hit the post and bounded down towards the goal line. In the scrum, redshirt junior goalkeeper Tor Saunders (Seattle, Wash.) appeared to get a hand on the deflection before Carlo Ritaccio was able to push the ball off the line to end the scoring threat for the Mountaineers.

West Virginia finished the evening posting a 12-5 advantage in shots, including a 4-1 edge in shots on goal.

Five different Zips collected one shot apiece in the affair.

Saunders made three saves in net for Akron en route to notching his second shutout on the campaign, while Steven Tekesky was unable to stop the Zips' lone shot on goal in the match.

Saunders denied the first shot on goal in the match with a save, a strike by Ethan Shim in the 30th minute (29:43).

West Virginia had its best scoring opportunity in the opening stanza come at the 44:19 mark as Tony Pineda's shot from the corner of the box was cleared off the line for a team save by Ritaccio.

The Mountaineers outshot the Zips over the opening 45 minutes, 5-2, including a 2-0 edge in shots on goal.

Saunders made a strong diving save in the box in the 53rd minute (52:15) off a strike from Pineda, before thwarting a shot on goal from Josh DiMatteo with a stop at the 58:22 mark.

The Zips broke the scoring stalemate in the 72nd minute (71:43) when Biros found the back of the net with the header.

Each side registered two shot apiece over the final 18 minutes of regulation, but it was Akron who was able to hold on to earn the victory.

EMBICK NAMED MAC COACH OF THE YEAR
University of Akron men's soccer head coach Jared Embick was tabbed as the 2019 Mid-American Conference Gary V. Palmisano Men's Soccer Coach of the Year as announced by the league on Thursday, Nov. 14.

In his seventh year as head coach and 13th campaign overall with Akron, Embick earned MAC Coach of the Year accolades for the first time after guiding the Zips to their 20th regular season MAC title on the strength of a 4-0-1 league mark this fall.

Embick collected the 11th MAC Coach of the Year award in Akron men's soccer program history joining Caleb Porter (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012) and Ken Lolla (1993, 1995, 1998 and 2005).

A league-best six Akron players garnered All-MAC accolades under Embick's tutelage led by Colin Biros, David Egbo and Carlo Ritaccio, who were named first-team selections, while Will Jackson, Christian Lue Young and junior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) were tabbed second-team honorees.

Ranking second in NCAA D1 men's soccer in victories (100) since he took over as head coach in 2013, Embick has led the Zips to five regular season MAC titles (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019), six MAC Tournament championships (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018), six NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018) and three berths in the NCAA College Cup (2015, 2017, 2018).

LEAGUE-BEST SIX ZIPS EARN ALL-MAC ACCOLADES
Led by David Egbo, Colin Biros and Carlo Ritaccio, who were selected as First-Team All-Mid-American Conference men's soccer selections, a league-best six Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades as announced by the league on Thursday, Nov. 14.

Will Jackson, Christian Lue Young and Daniel Strachan were tabbed second-team honorees.

Pulling in First-Team All-MAC honors for the second consecutive year was Egbo, who has started 12 of the 14 games in which he has appeared this season, registering team-leading marks in goals (9), assists (4), points (18), shots (42) and shots on goal (19).

Egbo enters play against Bowling Green on Friday, Nov. 15, rating second in the MAC in goals (0.50), points (1.29), shots (3.00) and shots on goal (1.36) per contest. In league-only affairs, he led the conference in goals (0.75), points (2.25) and shots (4.00) per outing, while pacing all players in total goals (3) and points (9), and ranking second in total assists (3) and shots (16).

A year after garnering second-team all-league honors, Ritaccio, who has started each of the 14 matches he has appeared in for Akron, was elevated to a First-Team All-MAC recipient this season. He has helped anchor a Zips' defensive unit that has posted four shutouts on the campaign, while adding an assist on the strength of seven shots, including a pair on frame.

Named a First-Team All-MAC honoree for the first time, Biros, has started 15 of Akron's 17 games. Sparked by 13 shots, including six on goal, he has recorded two goals and one assist, and ranked third in the conference in game-winning goals (1) in league-only affairs.

Having started each of the 16 games he has appeared in for Akron, Jackson has made an immediate on the Zips as a freshman earning Second-Team All-MAC accolades on the strength of team-best marks in shots on goal (19) and game-winners (3), while ranking second in goals (4), points (11) and shots (37). He is third in the league in shots on goal (1.19) per game and in game-winning goals (0.19) and fifth in shots (2.31) per contest. In league-only matches, he ranked first, second, fourth, seventh and eighth, respectively, in game-winners (0.40), goals (0.60), points (1.40), shots (2.20) and shots on goal (1.00) per outing.

Lue Young elevated his game to another level this season and has helped anchor a Zips' defense unit that has registered four shutouts, en route to collecting Second-Team All-MAC honors for the first time. He has started 11 of the 15 matches he has appeared in for Akron, owing a goal and two assists on 18 shots, including seven on frame.

A team captain and one of two Zips to play in all 17 games this season, Strachan earned all-conference accolades for the first time, as he was tabbed a Second-Team All-MAC honoree. A versatile player that has sparked the Zips both as a defender and midfielder on the campaign, Strachan has netted a goal and an assist for Akron on the strength of 13 shots, with six of those strike falling on frame.

BIROS TABBED AS MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Colin Biros was honored as the Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Nov. 12. He shares the award with Anthony Mwembia of Bowling Green.

Biros scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the Zips' 1-0 victory at West Virginia on Nov. 7. His tally in the 72nd minute (71:43) propelled Akron to its 20th MAC regular season title.

On a night when the Zips only registered one shot on goal, it was Biros adding another memorable header goal for his second tally of the season. David Egbo delivered a ball down the wing to Diogo Pacheco, who lofted a cross into the box to the far post that Biros connected on for the game-winning tally. Ebgo and Pacheco were credited with assists on the goal.

On the season, Biros owns two goals and an assist on the strength of 13 shots, including six on goal.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Since 2013, seven of the eight contests between Akron and Bowling Green have been decided by a goal or less, with the Zips owning a 6-0-2 mark in those games.
• Thirty-four of the 61 matches between Akron and Bowling Green have resulted in a shutout with the Zips owning a 25-6-3 mark in those contests.
• Akron maintains a 25-3-1 mark in its 29 encounters with the Falcons at FirstEnergy Stadium, including wins in the previous 13 meetings. The Zips have outscored Bowling Green, 88-25, all-time at home, including earning shutout victories in six of the last 10 encounters.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 42 all-time meetings with Bowling Green.
• Akron head coach Jared Embick registered the 100th victory in his Zips' coaching career with a 1-0 triumph at West Virginia on Nov. 7.
• The Zips set season-high marks in shots (31) and shots on goal (12) in a 3-2 win over Northern Illinois on Nov. 2, while establishing a season-best total in corner kicks (14) against Cleveland State on Oct. 29. Will Jackson and Colin Biros each established career-high marks in shots and shots on goal registering (6/4) and 6/3) versus the Vikings.
• 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 eight home games this season owning team-high marks in goals (7), points (17), shots (30) and shots on goal (15).
• On the strength of 145 shots, including 57 on goal, the Zips are registering 18.1 shots per game at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2019, while limiting their opponents to 10.5 shots a night.
• Six Zips finished among the league leaders in several statistical categories for conference-only matches as David Egbo led the league in goals (0.75), points (2.25) and shots (4.00) per outing, while rating second in assists (0.75) and fifth in shots on goal (1.25) per game. Tor Saunders paced the conference in goal against average (0.68) and shutouts per contest (0.67), while Joe Bowles was second in goals against average (0.90) and Will Jackson was first in game-winning goals (0.40). Mani Austmann ranked first in shots per contest (2.80), shots on goal per game (1.40) and game-winning goals (0.20), while Pol Hernandez was third in assists per game (0.60).
• The NCAA released its fifth men's soccer RPI report on Nov. 11 and the Zips (No. 73) face an upcoming home test vs. No. 102 Bowling Green (Nov. 15).
• Five different Zips have garnered their first-ever collegiate goals this season. Will Jackson was the latest to join the group with a second-half goal against Bowling Green on Oct. 12. Daniel Strachan and Sam Tojaga tallied goals against VCU (Oct. 2). They join Christian Lue Young and Mani Austmann, who recorded goals versus Creighton (Sept. 6) and Marshall (Sept. 21), respectively.
• Twelve different Akron players have earned an assist this season.
• The Zips own the 17th-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.
• 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 second in the NCAA in corner kicks (7.41) and 29th in shots per game (14.65).
• Skye Harter enters play against Bowling Green among the active NCAA leaders in assists and games played. He is rated 38th in assists (16) and 43rd in games played (74) among Division I players. David Egbo is 38th in career points per game (1.00), 44th in points per game (55) and 45th in goals (21).
• Will Jackson has paced a talented core of freshmen for Akron this season leading the newcomers in goals (4), assists (3), points (11), shots (37), shots on goal (19) and game-winners (3).
• Eight Akron newcomers have garnered a start in the Zips' 17 contests this season. Will Jackson has recorded 16 starts, while owning 11 and seven starts, respectively, are Mani Austmann and Henrique Cruz (Fortaleza, Brazil). Joe Bowles, freshman Bradley Chick (Melbourne, Australia), senior Tom Smart, and freshmen Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Joey Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio) have posted six, four, two, two and one start, respectively.
• David Egbo is Akron's active career leaders in goals (21), points (55), shots (125), shots on goal (50) and game-winning goals (6). Skye Harter directs the squad in assists (17) and games played (74).
• The Zips own a 100-39-15 mark over the last six seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 100 wins are ranked second in all of Division I.

UP NEXT
A victory by Akron advances the Zips to the championship match of the Mid-American Conference Tournament against the winner of the Western Michigan/West Virginia tilt on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium.