The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Men’s Soccer Selected to Capture MAC Title
February 16 | Men's Soccer
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2021 MAC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL RELEASE
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer program will open its 66th season of intercollegiate soccer on Saturday, Feb. 20, squaring off against No. 3 Pittsburgh as the favorite to capture the Mid-American Conference regular season title in a preseason poll of six conference coaches, the league office announced Tuesday, Feb. 16.
The Zips under eighth-year head coach Jared Embick were picked to capture the conference regular season championship in the MAC Coaches Preseason poll with three first-place votes. Following Akron (33 points) in the rankings were Western Michigan (28 points) and Bowling Green (21 points). The Broncos and Falcons garnered two and one first-place tallies, respectively.
Rounding out the remainder of the poll was West Virginia (18 points), Northern Illinois (14 points) and SIU Edwardsville (12 points).
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.
Akron opens its campaign this week visiting third-rated Pittsburgh on Saturday, Feb. 20. The 3 p.m. contest with the Panthers will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
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. 12 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. 12 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.
2021 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Akron — 33 total points (3 first-place votes)
2. Western Michigan — 28 (2)
3. Bowling Green — 21 (1)
4. West Virginia — 18
5. Northern Illinois — 14
6. SIU Edwardsville — 12
2021 MAC MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL RELEASE
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer program will open its 66th season of intercollegiate soccer on Saturday, Feb. 20, squaring off against No. 3 Pittsburgh as the favorite to capture the Mid-American Conference regular season title in a preseason poll of six conference coaches, the league office announced Tuesday, Feb. 16.
The Zips under eighth-year head coach Jared Embick were picked to capture the conference regular season championship in the MAC Coaches Preseason poll with three first-place votes. Following Akron (33 points) in the rankings were Western Michigan (28 points) and Bowling Green (21 points). The Broncos and Falcons garnered two and one first-place tallies, respectively.
Rounding out the remainder of the poll was West Virginia (18 points), Northern Illinois (14 points) and SIU Edwardsville (12 points).
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.
Akron opens its campaign this week visiting third-rated Pittsburgh on Saturday, Feb. 20. The 3 p.m. contest with the Panthers will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
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. 12 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. 12 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.
2021 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Akron — 33 total points (3 first-place votes)
2. Western Michigan — 28 (2)
3. Bowling Green — 21 (1)
4. West Virginia — 18
5. Northern Illinois — 14
6. SIU Edwardsville — 12
Players Mentioned
MF
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