Akron Concludes Exhibition Campaign Hosting No. 16 Michigan

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AKRON, Ohio - The No. 3 ranked University of Akron men's soccer team draws its exhibition campaign to a close on Friday, Aug. 23, as the Zips welcome No. 16 Michigan to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. tilt.

Akron has registered 1-0 and 4-1 triumphs past Evansville and Charleston, respectively, in its opening two exhibition matches.

Akron returns seven starters in 2019, including 2018 All-Mid-American Conference performers, senior Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio), junior David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) and sophomores Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) from a squad that captured the MAC Tournament title en route to advancing to title match of the College Cup for the fourth time in program history on the strength of an overall record of 15-7-2.

The Zips return an offensive unit that accounted for nearly 52 percent (.519) of the overall scoring output for Akron in 2018. Additionally, the returners netted 55 percent (.551) of the Zips' goals and more than 46 percent (.464) squad's assists a season ago.

The Wolverines posted a 12-5-4 overall record a year ago en route to advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they battled Notre Dame to a 0-0 double-overtime draw, before falling in penalty kicks, 11-10.

Michigan's leading returning scorer is senior Jack Hallahan, who registered team-high marks in goals (8), assists (8), points (24), shots (68) and shots on goal (28) in 2018.

The Wolverines will be breaking in a new goalkeeper in 2019 after the departure of Henry Mashburn, who started all 21 games last season en route to collecting 48 saves and eight shutouts, while owning a 0.81 goals against average.

The Zips open their 65th season of intercollegiate soccer on Aug. 30 squaring off against Xavier for the eighth time in program history, and first in Cincinnati since Akron recorded a 3-2 overtime victory on Sept. 12, 1997.

Four of the Zips' 2019 opponents are rated in the preseason top-25 led by No. 1 Maryland (Sept. 13), No. 5 Stanford (Sept. 2), No. 7 Michigan State (Oct. 15) and No. 23 West Virginia (Nov. 7).

Akron will welcome Stanford and Michigan State to FirstEnergy Stadium on Sept. 2 and Oct. 15, respectively, while encountering road tilts at No. 1 Maryland (Sept. 13) and No. 23 West Virginia (Nov. 7).

Additionally, the Zips will play at Creighton, who is receiving votes in the preseason poll, on Sept. 6, while hosting No. 24 Michigan in an exhibition tilt on Aug. 23.

Bolstering Akron's efforts this fall will be a core of four seniors in Harter, Christian Lue Young (Plantation, Fla.), Tom Smart (Birmingham, England) and Leonard Sohn (Richmond Hill, Ontario).

Experience will also be key for the Zips as 10 returning players appeared in 10 or more games for the Zips in 2018.

The Zips open their home slate with one of the marquee matches of the 2019 season, welcoming three-time NCAA champion Stanford to FirstEnergy Stadium on Sept. 2. The Cardinal will be visiting Akron for only the second time in program history and first since the Zips earned a memorable 2-0 triumph over Stanford in the third round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

A year ago, Akron ended the reign of the three-time defending NCAA champions as sophomore Colin Biros' (Canton, Ohio) tally in the 81st minute lifted the Zips to a dramatic 3-2 road victory past the Cardinal in the Elite Eight on Nov. 30, 2018 in Stanford, Calif. The two teams have met in three of the last four seasons, all in postseason play, with the first two encounters coming in the semifinals of the College Cup in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

The Zips have found success on their home pitch throughout their storied history as Akron was recently being tabbed as one of the nine-best places to watch college soccer by NCAA.com.

Since 2007, the Zips have recorded a 120-11-14 (.876) ledger in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium. Akron owns five unbeaten campaigns during that span, including posting home marks of 12-0-1, 13-0-0, 12-0-1, 10-0-2 and 12-0-0 during the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2017 seasons, respectively.

In 2019, the Zips' 11-match season-ticket package features visits to FirstEnergy Stadium from Stanford from the Pac-12 Conference, Michigan and Michigan State from the Big Ten, Cornell from the Ivy League, Florida International from Conference USA and Virginia Commonwealth from the Atlantic-10. A very fan-friendly slate features six of Akron's 11 home games taking place on a Saturday or Sunday.

2019 Season Tickets are available now. Fans can renew or purchase new season tickets by calling or texting the C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting office at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Renewal invoices for existing season ticket holders were previously mailed out.

Limited Bleacher back seats are available for $110 per seat, General Admission are available for $60, and discounted General Admission season tickets for Akron Faculty/Staff are also available for $48 and must be purchased in person or on the phone. Additionally, General Admission Family Plans ($200), which include a combination of two adult and two youth tickets or one adult and three youth tickets, are available for the fall at this time.

As another option, all Akron Alumni are eligible to purchase the Alumni All-Sport Season Ticket Package for $175, which includes General Admission season tickets for men's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and a reserved seat for football.

One of the benefits of being a season-ticket holder is postseason ticketing priority.

Single-game tickets went on sale July 1.

Akron Concludes Exhibition Campaign Hosting No. 16 Michigan

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Players Mentioned

Colin Biros

David Egbo

Skye Harter

Christian Lue Young

Carlo Ritaccio

Tom Smart

Leonard Sohn

Sam Tojaga

The University of Akron Athletics