Akron to Battle League-Leading Northern Illinois

Saturday, October 30

DeKalb, Ill.

3:00 PM ET

University of Akron

Northern Illinois

Akron to Battle League-Leading Northern Illinois

October 29 | Men's Soccer

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No. 19 Akron (9-3-3, 2-1-1 MAC) at No. 16 Northern Illinois (11-1-2, 3-0-2 MAC)
Saturday, Oct. 30
NIU Soccer and Track and Field Complex
DeKalb, Ill. • 3 p.m. ET

Series History: Akron leads 26-6-1
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The No. 19 University of Akron men's soccer team is set to battle league-leading Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 30 in DeKalb, Ill. The 3 p.m. ET tilt with the Huskies will be broadcast on NIU All-Access.

HEAD COACHES
Northern Illinois: Ryan Swan (Drury, 2000), Overall Record: 140-86-14 (13th Season)/NIU Record: 34-39-6 (Fifth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 159-68-28 (15th Season)/Akron Record: 113-47-20 (Ninth Season)

SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois enters action this Saturday with a 11-1-2 ledger, including a 3-0-2 mark in the Mid-American Conference, following a 2-1 overtime victory at Georgia State on Oct. 23. The Huskies are unbeaten in their last 12 games.

Northern Illinois is led offensively by senior Nick Markanich, who owns team-high marks in goals (13), points (30), shots (67) and shots on goal (36). Redshirt junior goalkeeper Martin Sanchez has recorded 31 saves en route to posting a 0.44 goals against average as part of nine shutouts.

As a team, Northern Illinois is ranked first in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.643), third in goal differential (30), save percentage (.842) and goals against average (.445), seventh in scoring offense (2.57) and shots on goal (7.57), ninth in total goals (36) and winning percentage (.857), 10th in points per contest (7.50), 11th in total points (105), 16th in shot accuracy (.488), 19th in shots per tilt (15.50), 20th in assists per game (2.36) and 21st in total assists (33). Individually, Markanich is rated second in the NCAA in total goals (13), shots per game (4.79) and shots on goal (2.57), third in goals per contest (0.93) and total points (30), fourth in points per tilt (2.14) and 11th in game-winning goals (4), while Sanchez is third in goals against average (0.445) and shutouts (8) and fourth in save percentage (.838).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Northern Illinois are meeting for the 34th time in program history with the Zips owning a 26-6-1 series advantage. A year ago, the Huskies earned a 3-0 victory over Akron on March 14, 2021 in DeKalb, Ill., before besting the Zips, 3-1, on April 4, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (APRIL 4, 2021 - AKRON, OHIO)
A short-handed University of Akron men's soccer team suffered a 3-1 setback to Northern Illinois in Mid-American Conference action on April 4, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Sparked by an 11-5 advantage in second-half shots, the Huskies garnered a 16-10 edge in shots, including a 7-4 margin in shots on goal.

Senior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal) paced the Zips' attack with a team-high three shots, with two falling on frame, while junior Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) and Tonny Temple added two shots each. Enrique Banuelos led Northern Illinois with a game-high six shots.

Senior GK Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) registered three saves in net for Akron, while junior Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) prevented a pair of goals with clearances off the goal line in the match. Martin Sanchez pulled in a trio of saves for the Huskies.

The Zips thwarted the shutout bid at the 84:19 mark as Temple notched his second goal of the season. Making the most of their season and collegiate debuts, respectively, sophomore Jaden Wright (Lorain, Ohio) and freshman Nate Metsack (Ashford, Ct.) were rewarded with assists on the tally.

SEVEN ZIPS PLAY IN FINAL REGULAR SEASON AKRON HOME GAME
The Zips' contest versus Cleveland State on Tuesday, Oct. 26, marked the final home games in the careers of seniors Samuel George (Dagenham, England), Will Meyer, Diogo Pacheco, Hazem Sobhy (Cairo, Egypt) and Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio), as well as Carlo Ritaccio and redshirt sophomore Ivan Nikolic (Toronto, Ontario).

George has appeared in nine of the Zips' 15 contests this season, owning a goal on the strength of eight shots, including a pair on frame.

A two-year member of the Akron squad, Meyer has played 24 games in net for the Zips owning 65 saves and eight shutouts en route to a 1.06 goals against average.

Nikolic has persevered through injuries to appear in nine games during his four-year Zips' career owning a goal on the strength of four shots, including a pair on net.

Pacheco has appeared in 49 matches, including 25 starts and has posted 15 goals and 10 assists on 108 shots, including 44 on frame.

Ritaccio has played in 55 games over his Akron career, including 50 starts. He has registered five goals, while adding two assists on the heels of 23 shots, including nine on goal.

Sobhy is in his second season at Akron and has recorded a goal and two assists in 18 contests.

Strachan has played in a team-best 89 games over his Akron career, including 79 starts. He has registered three goals, while adding six assists on the strength of 33 shots, including 13 on goal.

AKRON BESTS CLEVELAND STATE, 4-0
Akron sophomore Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) registered his first career multi-goal effort to spark the 19th-rated Zips to a 4-0 non-conference triumph over Cleveland State on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Fitzgerald earned the brace collecting goals in the 16th (15:23) and 36th (35:55) minutes, respectively, while Carlo Ritaccio and sophomore Ryan Kingsford (Herne Bay, England) added second-half tallies for Akron at the 50:27 and 60:05 marks.

Freshman Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.), the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, directed the Zips' offensive efforts with a game-high six shots, as part of an overall 14-3 edge in shots for Akron on the evening.

GK Will Meyer recorded one save for the Zips to garner Akron's sixth shutout of the season.

Fitzgerald scored what proved to be the game-winning tally at the 15:23 mark knocking in a deflection off a blocked shot by Shokalook to give the Zips a 1-0 lead.

A left-footed strike from 12 yards out in the 36th minute (35:55) by Fitzgerald off an assist from freshman Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario) extended Akron's lead to 2-0.

Ritaccio connected on his first goal of the year tapping in a deflection off a shot from Daniel Strachan at the 50:27 mark to push the Zips' advantage to 3-0.

Kingsford capped the scoring on the night on set piece that saw sophomore Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio) serve a ball into the box off a corner kick which sophomore Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) flicked towards the net to Kingsford, who tapped the ball into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

OWNING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The recent successes of the Akron men's soccer program over the past 15 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 80-16-11 (.799) ledger in the month, including a 45-7-5 (.833) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium.

ZIPS FINDING THEIR FORM
The Zips have begun to find their form in October as Akron owns a 4-1-1 mark in the month with a remaining contest at Northern Illinois (Oct. 30). The Zips are averaging 14.8 shots and 2.33 goals per game in those contests, while limiting their opponents to 8.7 shots and 0.83 goals per tilt. Akron has outscored its opponents in the first half by a 8-1 margin, while posting a 89-52 edge in shots. Diogo Pacheco paces the Zips with 18 shots. In goal, Will Meyer owns a 0.80 goals against average on the strength of three shutouts and 12 saves.

A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (as of games on Oct. 29) (.755), with an overall record of 223-60-36. The Zips are followed by Maryland, 211-66-43 (.727), Wake Forest, 205-65-38 (.727), North Carolina, 203-70-45 (.709) and Creighton, 196-79-30 (.692). Akron 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 13 years. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 33 times, including 17 of the past 20 seasons.

SHOKALOOK GARNERS NATIONAL AND LEAGUE HONORS
Jason Shokalook was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday, Oct. 25. Additionally, he was tabbed by College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.Com to its Men's Soccer National Teams of the Week.

Shokalook turned in an impressive week for the Zips registering a trio of goals to propel the team to a 1-0-1 mark in a pair of matches. He posted team-high marks in goals (3), points (6) and shots on goal (3), while ranking second in shots (4).

In Akron's 5-1 victory over No. 14 Bowling Green on Oct. 22, Shokalook entered the match in the 24th minute and went on to record his first career hat trick with tallies in the 42nd (41:27), 54th (53:22) and 80th (79:38) minutes, respectively.

He became the first active Zip to register a hat trick since senior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal) netted three goals in a victory at VCU in 2018. His first two goals came off headers in the box before his tenacity in the box capped the hat trick.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Thirteen of the 19 matches between Akron and Northern Illinois with head coach Jared Embick on the Zips' sideline have resulted in a shutout, including four of the last seven, with Akron owning a 11-1-1 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored Northern Illinois, 29-12 all-time in 14 road games against the Huskies.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 21 all-time meetings with Northern Illinois.
• Daniel Strachan cracked the top-10 in games played at Akron against Georgia Southern and has now appeared in 89 career contests during his decorated Zips' career, tied for fourth on the all-time list with former Akron standout Adam Najem (2013-16).
• Diogo Pacheco has now scored a point in nine of Akron's 15 games this season.
• The Zips set season-high marks in goals (7), assists (8), points (22) and shots on goal in a 7-1 win over Wright State on Aug. 26, while establishing top marks in shots (24) and corner kicks (18) in a 3-0 triumph past Robert Morris on Sept. 3.
• Twelve different Zips have scored a goal this season.
• Daniel Strachan is rated second among all players in men's Division I in games played having appeared in 89 games.
• Nineteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including nine newcomers.
• Akron ranks fifth in the NCAA in assists (39) and assists per game (2.60), while rating 17th in goals against average (.766) and total points (99), 21st in goal differential (18), 23rd in points per tilt (6.60), 27th in corner kicks (6.27), 30th in total goals (30), 32nd in scoring offense (2.00), 33rd in winning percentage (.700), 38th in save percentage (.769) and shutout percentage (.400) and 46th shots per game (14.07).
• Will Meyer is ranked 17th in the NCAA in goals against average (.766) and in shutouts (6), 22nd in minutes played (1,410:00) and 45th in save percentage (.760), while Malik Henry is rated 26th in total assists (7) and 44th in assists per game (0.47).
• The Zips are 2-1-2 versus ranked teams this season having best No. 3 Pitt, 2-1, on Sept. 6, garnering a 1-1 double-overtime draw with No. 3 Indiana on Sept. 10, dropping a 2-0 decision at No. 5 Marshall on Sept. 21, battling No. 3 West Virginia to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Sept. 30 and edging No. 14 Bowling Green, 5-1, on Oct. 22.
• Diogo Pacheco's along with Dyson Clapier, Johnny Fitzgerald and Malik Henry have registered multiple assists in a game for Akron this season.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 29-18-5 mark against ranked opponents.
• The Zips own a 13-14-4 mark in their last 30 matches away from home on the strength of six and three goals, respectively, from Diogo Pacheco and Carlo Ritaccio. The Zips have also posted a 195-150 margin in corner kicks and a 380-351 edge in total shots.
• Diogo Pacheco is Akron's active career leaders in goals (15), points (40), shots (108) and shots on goal (44). Will Jackson and Pacheco paces the team in game-winning goals (3), while Daniel Strachan has appeared in a team-high 89 games.
• The Zips own a 113-47-20 mark over the last nine seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 113 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 80 of the squad's last 143 matches.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 64-10-7 (.833) mark in the MAC. Furthermore, the Zips won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships (2006-16) and 11 of the last 12 MAC Tournament titles.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Kalamazoo, Mich., for a 4 p.m. showdown with Western Michigan on Thursday, Nov. 4.