Zips Set to Battle Marshall

Saturday, September 21

Huntington, W.Va.

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Marshall

September 20 | Men's Soccer

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MATCH NO. 6 - AKRON AT MARSHALL GAME NOTES (9/21)

Akron (0-5-0) at Marshall (4-1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 21
Hoops Family Field (1,006)
Huntington, W.Va. • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 7-1-2
Live Stats: www.gozips.com
Live Stream: www.gozips.com ($)
Television: www.gozips.com ($)

MATCH PREVIEW WITH HEAD COACH JARED EMBICK

WHAT'S AHEAD

In the finale of a four-match road swing, the University of Akron men's soccer team will travel to Huntington, W.Va., for a showdown versus Marshall on Saturday, Sept. 21. The 7 p.m. match will be streamed on Herd Vision (per game fee associated to view) with a link on GoZips.com.

AKRON VERSUS THE CONFERENCE USA
• The Zips are meeting a team from Conference USA for the first time this season and 48th time overall.
• Akron owns a 27-13-7 (.649) all-time record versus the current nine members Conference USA.
• In their last encounter with a school from Conference USA, the Zips registered a 2-0 triumph over Marshall on Nov. 1, 2017.

SCOUTING MARSHALL
Marshall has gotten off to a strong start this season, owning a 4-1-1 mark, despite suffering its initial setback of the season on Tuesday, Sept. 17, with a 3-2 loss versus Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Junior Pedro Dolabella directs the Thundering Herd in goals (3) and points (7), while junior Jamil Roberts leads Marshall in assists (2), shots (19), shots on goal (7) and game-winners (1). Senior goalkeeper Paulo Pita has started all six games in net for the Thundering Herd, owning 15 saves and pair of shutouts on the heels of a 0.96 goals against average.

As a team, Marshall is ranked 15th in the NCAA in goals against average (.964), 22nd in shots on goal per game (6.67) and total goals (12), 28th in winning percentage (.750), save percentage (.714) and scoring offense (2.00), 33rd in total points (33), 40th in shots per contest (14.50), 45th in points per game (5.50) and 50th in total assists (9).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Marshall are playing for the 11th time in program history with the Zips owning a 7-1-2 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron earned a 2-0 victory over the Thundering Herd on Nov. 1, 2017 at FirstEnergy Stadium. In the last encounter in Huntington, W.Va., the Zips and Marshall battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Oct. 8, 2004.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 1, 2017 - AKRON, OHIO)
Overcoming a persistent and at times deluge of rain, the then fifth-rated Akron men's soccer team scored a pair of second-half goals to register a 2-0 triumph over Marshall on Nov. 1, 2017, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Zips garnered tallies from Stuart Holthusen and senior Skye Harter (Copley, Ohio) in the 67th (66:13) and 81st (80:11) minutes, respectively, to collect the victory.

Akron parlayed a 14-4 advantage in second-half shots, as part of an overall 20-9 edge in shots, including 7-1 on goal, into its seventh consecutive win.

Holthusen and Sam Gainford directed the Zips' offensive efforts with a game-high four shots apiece, while Joao Moutinho added three shots for Akron. Pedro Dolabella led the Thundering Herd with a team-best three shots.

Goalkeeper Ben Lundt earned his third straight and seventh overall clean sheet of the season for the Zips on the strength on making one save. Nate Himes recorded five stops in net for Marshall.

The two teams battled through a defensive first stanza in which neither side posted a shot on goal until Harter unleashed a strike on net as time expired in the initial half.

Jamil Roberts nearly capitalized on a free kick for the Thundering Herd at the 31:30 as his shot went just over the top of the net.

Gainford had a scoring opportunity of his own in the 37th minute (36:48) as his shot from the corner of box went high.

The Zips edged Marshall in first-half shots, 6-5.

After the Thundering Herd posted the initial two shots of the second half, Akron answered with three consecutive shots of its own, including a Gainford shot pulled in for a save by Himes at the 52:41 mark, and a header by Holthusen in the 54th minute (53:10) that went high.

The Zips unleashed a flurry of shots in the box in the 63rd minute, including one by Holthusen and a pair from Moutinho, each of which was blocked to deny the scoring threat.

The Zips finally broke through at the 66:13 mark when Gainford was tackled from behind in the box to set up a penalty kick for Akron. Stepping to the line and delivering the goal on what proved to be the game-winning tally was Holthusen.

Junior David Egbo (Enugu, Nigeria) recorded a creative scoring chance of his own at the 75:51 mark as his header on goal was saved by Himes.

Egbo continued to push the attack offensively for Akron as his pass to Harter in the 81st minute (80:11) resulted in a goal and a 2-0 lead for the Zips.

THE COACHES
Marshall: Chris Grassie is in his third season as head coach of the Marshall program, owning a 20-20-5 (.500) record, while sporting a 109-40-13 (.713) ledger in nine years 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 94-35-13 mark (.708), including 141-56-21 (.695) 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 94-35-13 (.708) 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 94 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 204-48-29 (.778), 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.

PITT EDGES ZIPS, 1-0
The University of Akron men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision at Pittsburgh on Monday, Sept. 16, as a 74th-minute (74:00) goal from Alexander Dexter lifted the Panthers to victory.

The Zips were unable net the equalizer down the stretch as the Panthers finished the evening registering an 18-6 advantage in shots, including 7-4 on goal.

Freshman Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) led Akron with a team-high two shots, while four other Zips collected a shot apiece. Edward Kizza directed the Panthers' offensive efforts with a game-high four shots.

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Tor Saunders (Seattle, Wash.) pulled in five saves for the Zips, including three in the second half, while Arie Ammann recorded four stops for Pittsburgh.

The Panthers held the early advantage offensively in the affair registering the first three shots of the match.

David Egbo posted the Zips' initial strike of the evening at the 20:54 mark delivering a free kick that was pulled in for a save by Ammann.

Saunders turned in a diving save off a shot from Almeda Rodrigo in the 29th minute (28:16) to deny the Pittsburgh scoring chance.

The Panthers played a cross into the box in the 31st minute that bounced off of Saunders, before the shot off a deflection by Braden Kline was cleared off the line and back into the hands of Saunders for a team save by junior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio).

The Zips were outshot in the initial 45 minutes, 7-1, including 3-1 on net.

Freshman Henrique Cruz (Fortaleza, Brazil) had a side-swinging laser shot from just outside the six-yard box go high of the net off a corner kick by sophomore Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio) in the 53rd minute (52:32).

Shots by Jackson and Skye Harter at the 56:20 and 67:50 marks, respectively, were thwarted by saves from Ammann.

Freshman Mani Austmann (Gardabaer, Iceland) shot in the 72nd minute (71:37) was denied by diving save from Ammann.

A ball played in from the endline into the box by Kline deflected off the Akron defender before Alexander punched the rebound to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead at the 74:00 mark.

A 1v1 opportunity by Dexter in the 79th minute (78:11) was nixed by a Saunders' save. Saunders again denied shots by Josh Hesson and Chad Stout at the 80:45 and 81:46 marks, respectively.

The Panthers nearly pushed their lead to 2-0 in the 84th minute (83:10) as a free kick by Sito Sena hit the underside of the bar before bounding down in front of the goal line and pushed out of danger by the Zips.

A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (as of games on Sept. 18) (.778), with an overall record of 204-48-29. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 187-52-38 (.744), North Carolina, 178-53-38 (.732), Wake Forest, 171-53-33 (.730) and Creighton, 179-62-27 (.718). Akron has made 12 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-18), earning a first-round bye in eight seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in eight of the last 11 years. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 33 times, including each of the past 12 seasons and 17 of the past 18.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Diogo Pacheco owns a league-high 3.25 shots per contest 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 Zips have seen action this season, including eight newcomers.
• Thirteen different Zips have registered a shot this season, including five newcomers.
• As a team, the Zips are rated 36th in the NCAA in corner kicks (6.20).
• Skye Harter enters play against Marshall among the active NCAA leaders in assists and games played. He is rated fifth in games played (69) and 16th in assists (16) among Division I players, while ranking17th and overall, across all divisions, in games played.
• Akron has garnered eight shots from its defensive backline this season, with five shots coming on goal, including a pair from sophomore Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy).
• Will Jackson has paced a talented core of freshmen for Akron this season leading the newcomers in assists (1), points (1), shots (8) and shots on goal (4).
• Five Akron newcomers have garnered a start in the Zips' initial five contests this season. Will Jackson has recorded five starts, while owning four starts is freshman Bradley Chick (Melbourne, Australia), while freshman Henrique Cruz and senior Tom Smart (Birmingham, England) and have posted three and two starts, respectively. Freshmen Mani Austmann recorded the start versus Xavier.
• Four different Zips in seniors Christian Lue Young and Tom Smart and Mani Austmann and Will Jackson earned their first-ever Akron starts versus Xavier.
• Four additional newcomers in Federico Serra and freshmen Bradley Chick, Henrique Cruz and Jaden Wright (Lorain, Ohio) made their Zips' debuts against Xavier.

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 opens a three-match homestand entertaining Cornell on Saturday, Sept. 28.