Akron Continues MAC Slate Hosting West Virginia

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GAME NO. 7 - AKRON VS. WEST VIRGINIA NOTES (4/7)

No. 21 Akron (3-2-1, 2-2-0 MAC) vs. West Virginia (5-2-0, 3-2-0 MAC)
Wednesday, April 7
FirstEnergy Stadium
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 17-4-1
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron men's soccer team continues its Mid-American Conference slate on Wednesday, April 7 as the 21st-rated Zips welcome West Virginia to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 7 p.m. tilt. The showdown with the Mountaineers will be broadcast on ESPN+.

HEAD COACHES
West Virginia: Dan Stratford (West Virginia, 2008), Overall Record: 66-6-5 (Fourth Season)/WVU Record: 5-2-0 (First Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 150-63-24 (14th Season)/Akron Record: 103-42-16 (Eighth Season)

SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia comes into play on Wednesday, April 7, riding a three-game winning streak following a 3-1 home triumph past Western Michigan on March 31.

Junior Ike Swiger leads the Mountaineers in goals (3), points (6), shots on goal (5) and game-winners (2), while ranking second in shots (8). Sophomore Luke McCormick paces the squad in shots (11). Senior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky has recorded 23 saves on the strength of a 0.43 goals against average and four shutouts.

As a team, West Virginia is seventh in the NCAA in goals against average (.429), 16th in shutout percentage (.571), 36th in goal differential (+7) and 41st in winning percentage (.714). Individually, Tekesky is 10th in the NCAA In goals against average (.429), 11th in save percentage (.885) and 21st in shutouts (4).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and West Virginia are meeting for the 23rd time in program history with the Zips owning a 17-4-1 series advantage. A year ago, Akron secured the Mid-American Conference regular season title with a 1-0 victory in Morgantown, W.Va., on Nov. 7, 2019.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (NOV. 7, 2019 - MORGANTOWN, W.VA.)
A goal from junior Colin Biros (Jackson, Ohio) in the 72nd minute (71:43) propelled the University of Akron men's soccer team to its 20th Mid-American Conference regular season title as the Zips persevered through the elements to garner a 1-0 victory over West Virginia on Nov. 7, 2019 in Morgantown, W.Va.

The victory marked a historic milestone for head coach Jared Embick, who earned his 100th career win as Akron head coach.

On a night when the Zips only registered one shot on goal, it was Biros adding another memorable header goal for his second tally of the season. David Egbo delivered a ball down the wing to senior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal), who lofted a cross into the box to the far post that Biros connected on for the game-winning tally. Ebgo and Pacheco were credited with assists on the goal.

The Zips were nearly forced into overtime as they got a fortuitous bounce on a shot inside three yards from Kevin Morris that hit the post and bounded down towards the goal line. In the scrum, goalkeeper Tor Saunders appeared to get a hand on the deflection before junior Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) was able to push the ball off the line to end the scoring threat for the Mountaineers.

West Virginia finished the evening posting a 12-5 advantage in shots, including a 4-1 edge in shots on goal.

Five different Zips collected one shot apiece in the affair, while the Mountaineers were directed by two shots each from Morris, Luke McCormick, Tony Pineda and Ethan Shim.

Saunders made three saves in net for Akron en route to notching his second shutout on the campaign, while Steven Tekesky was unable to stop the Zips' lone shot on goal in the match.

Saunders denied the first shot on goal in the match with a save, a strike by Shim in the 30th minute (29:43).

West Virginia had its best scoring opportunity in the opening stanza come at the 44:19 mark as Pineda's shot from the corner of the box was cleared off the line for a team save by Ritaccio.

The Mountaineers outshot the Zips over the opening 45 minutes, 5-2, including a 2-0 edge in shots on goal.

Saunders made a strong diving save in the box in the 53rd minute (52:15) off a strike from Pineda, before thwarting a shot on goal from Josh DiMatteo with a stop at the 58:22 mark.

The Zips broke the scoring stalemate in the 72nd minute (71:43) when Biros found the back of the net with the header.

Each side registered two shot apiece over the final 18 minutes of regulation, but it was Akron who was able to hold on to earn the victory.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS EDGES AKRON, 3-1
In its first competition in 17 days, a short-handed University of Akron men's soccer team suffered a 3-1 setback to Northern Illinois in Mid-American Conference action on Sunday, April 4, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Zips were playing their first tilt since earning a 2-0 road decision past SIU Edwardsville on March 17 after COVID-19 protocols forced the postponement of four overall games, including three league matches for Akron.

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.

Diogo Pacheco paced the Zips' attack with a team-high three shots, with two falling on frame, while junior Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) and sophomore Tonny Temple (Millville, Pa.) 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 Carlo Ritaccio 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.

Roque Viegas Jr. provided Northern Illinois a 1-0 lead heading home his first goal of the season in the 22nd minute (21:08) off a ball served into the box from the corner by Carlos Valdez.
Pacheco recorded the Zips' lone shot on goal in the opening stanza, a strike at the 34:13 mark that was saved by Sanchez.

The Huskies maintained the 1-0 edge at the intermission as each side recorded five first-half shots.

Northern Illinois capitalized off a set-piece at the 55:49 mark as Banuelos headed home a ball served into the box on a corner kick from Luis Hernandez.

Anthony Markanich got a fortuitous bounce in the 58th minute (57:17) as his header in the box hit the underside of the crossbar and fell behind the line for the goal. Earning the assist on the tally was Banuelos.

Pacheco's shot on goal at the 71:54 mark was again denied by a save from Sanchez.

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. The assists were the first collegiate points for the Akron duo.

In his collegiate debut, redshirt freshman Natnael McDonald (Wolayta-Sodo, Ethiopia) added his first career shot, a strike on goal in the 87th minute (86:05). Freshmen Paul Jones (Irmo, S.C.), Metsack, Jordan Seaman (Stow, Ohio) and Damon Williams (Columbia, S.C.) also garnered their initial appearances in an Akron uniform in the match.

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 April 6) (.763), with an overall record of 213-55-32. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 192-59-37 (.731), Maryland, 199-61-41 (.729), North Carolina, 189-64-43 (.711) and Creighton, 190-71-28 (.706). 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 12 years. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 33 times, including 17 of the past 19 seasons.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Sunday's game versus Northern Illinois marked the 300th game for head coach Jared Embick on the Akron sidelines for a regular or postseason game dating back to the 2007 campaign.
• Five of the 13 matches between Akron and West Virginia with head coach Jared Embick on the Zips' sideline have resulted in a shutout, with Akron owning a 5-0-0 mark in those contests.
• Six of the last 10 home encounters with West Virginia have resulted in Akron scoring two or more goals en route to posting an 8-2 record.
• The Zips have outscored West Virginia, 38-18 all-time in 14 home games against the Mountaineers and own a 11-3-0 mark in those contests.
• The Zips are looking to post their first home victory over the Mountaineers since a 3-2 triumph in the semifinals of the 2015 Mid-American Conference Tournament on Nov. 13, 2015.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 16 all-time meetings with West Virginia.
• Eighteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including seven newcomers.
• Akron owns a 1-0-1 mark against ranked squads in 2021.
• The Zips are ranked 38th in the NCAA in assists per game (1.67).
• Diogo Pacheco and Tonny Temple lead Akron in goals (2) and points (4), while Pacheco paces the team in shots (12) and shots on goal (6). Colin Biros directs the Zips with a team-high two assists.
• Akron head coach Jared Embick registered his 150th career coaching victory with a 2-0 road triumph past SIU Edwardsville on March 17. A year ago, he posted the 100th victory in his Zips' coaching career with a 1-0 triumph at West Virginia on Nov. 7, 2019.
• On the strength of 34 shots, including nine on goal, the Zips have registered 11.3 shots per game at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2021, while limiting their opponents to 9.3 shots a night.
• Diogo Pacheco is Akron's active career leaders in goals (9), points (22), shots (62) and shots on goal (28). Colin Biros directs the squad in assists (7), Will Jackson paces the team in game-winning goals (3), while Daniel Strachan has appeared in a team-high 71 games.
• The Zips own a 103-42-16 mark over the last eight seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 103 wins are ranked fifth in all of Division I.

UP NEXT
Akron is scheduled to travel to Bowling Green, Ohio for a 1 p.m. tilt at Bowling Green on Sunday, April 11.

The University of Akron Athletics

Players Mentioned

Colin Biros

David Egbo

Will Jackson

Paul Jones

Natnael McDonald

Nate Metsack

Will Meyer

Diogo Pacheco

Carlo Ritaccio

Tor Saunders

Jordan Seaman

Daniel Strachan

Tonny Temple

Sam Tojaga

Damon Williams

Jaden Wright

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