Akron Hosts Dayton in Exhibition Finale

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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer team under eighth-year head coach Jared Embick will play the second of two exhibition contests on Friday, Feb. 12, as the Zips host Dayton in a 2 p.m. tilt at Schrank Practice Field.

Due to current university COVID-19 protocols, family members and friends of the players and coaches, as well as fans, will not be allowed to attend on-campus events, including Akron men's soccer games until further notice. Additionally, there will be no live stats or live stream for the match.

The University of Akron is following the Summit County Stay at Home Health Advisory issued by Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and Summit County Health Commissioner Donna Skoda.

The University continues to work closely with state and local health officials on protocols for hosting events and make appropriate adjustments throughout the coming weeks. Please follow GoZips.com, the Akron Athletics app and all Zips' social media platforms for the most recent and up-to-date information.

Akron is set to return seven starters in 2020, including 2019 All-MAC performers, juniors Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio) and Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) from a squad that captured the 2019 Mid-American Conference regular season title.

Dayton returns seven starters from a squad that posted an 13-8-0 ledger a season ago, including a 6-2-0 mark in the Atlantic-10 Conference.

The Flyers' leading returning scorer is senior MF Jonas Fjeldberg, who registered team-high marks in goals (11), assists (9), points (31), shots (89) and shots on goal (47) in 2019.

Dayton will be breaking in a new goalkeeper this season after Federico Barrios started 20 contests for the Flyers in 2019, en route to posting 0.95 goals against average on the strength of 71 saves and four shutouts. Senior Jack Steele appeared in a pair of games in net for Dayton a year ago, including one start, recording eight saves.

A week ago, in Akron's exhibition opener versus Villanova in Pittsburgh, Pa., a second-half goal from the Wildcats propelled Villanova to a 1-0 triumph over the Zips.

Akron opens its 2021 spring campaign at No. 3 Pittsburgh on Feb. 20.

Three of the Zips' 2021 spring opponents are rated in the latest TopDrawerSoccer.com top-25 led by No. 3 Pittsburgh (Feb. 20), No. 9 Marshall (March 2) and No. 13 Kentucky (Feb. 25).

Akron will welcome ninth-ranked Marshall to FirstEnergy Stadium in the squad's home opener on March 2, while encountering road tilts at No. 3 Pittsburgh (Feb. 20) and No. 13 Kentucky (Feb. 25).

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

Since 2007, the Zips have recorded a 125-14-15 (.860) 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.

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Players Mentioned

Colin Biros

Carlo Ritaccio

The University of Akron Athletics