Akron Set to Kick Off Campaign Battling Wright State

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Akron (0-0-0) vs. Wright State (0-0-0)
Thursday, Aug. 26
FirstEnergy Stadium
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 10-1-0
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Live Stats: www.GoZips.com

WHAT'S AHEAD
The University of Akron men's soccer team opens its 2021 fall campaign on Thursday, Aug. 26 as the Zips welcome Wright State to FirstEnergy Stadium. The 7 p.m. showdown with the Raiders will be broadcast on ESPN3 with David Bacon calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Wright State: Jake Slemker (Wright State, 2007), Overall Record: 29-14-8 (Fourth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 151-65-25 (15th Season)/Akron Record: 104-44-17 (Ninth Season)

SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE
Wright State enters action on Thursday, Aug. 26, on the heels of a 5-3-1 record during the spring campaign.

Senior Zion Beaton returns for the Raiders after directing the squad in goals (3), points (7), shots (27), shots on goal (9) and game-winners (2) this spring. Senior goalkeeper Sebastian Jimenez appeared in seven games for Wright State this past season, including six starts, and pulled in 24 saves en route to posting a 1.04 goals against average.

The Raiders ranked eighth in the NCAA this spring in shots per game (15.56), 29th in assists per contest (1.78), 31st in shots on goal (6.11) and 35th in corner kicks (5.89). Individually, Beaton was 38th in the NCAA in shots per game (3.00).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Wright State are squaring off for 12th time in program history, and first since the Zips garnered an 8-0 win over the Raiders on Oct. 15, 2008. Akron leads the all-time series, 10-1-0.

AKRON VERSUS HORIZON LEAGUE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Horizon League for the first time this season and 123rd time overall.
• Akron owns a 85-28-9 (.734) all-time record versus the current 10 members of the Horizon League.
• In their last encounter with a school from the Horizon League, the Zips suffered a 3-1 road setback at Cleveland State on Oct. 29, 2019.

ZIPS IN SEASON OPENERS
Now in its 67th season of intercollegiate soccer in 2021, the Akron men's soccer team have posted a record of 39-19-8 overall in season openers since the Zips first took the field against Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 8, 1955. Over the last 10 campaigns, Akron owns a 5-3-2 mark in season openers.

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 Aug. 25) (.758), with an overall record of 214-57-33. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 195-60-37 (.731), Maryland, 199-63-42 (.724), North Carolina, 192-65-44 (.711) and Creighton, 190-73-28 (.701). 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.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• Seven of the 11 matches between Akron and Wright State have resulted in a shutout, including six of the last seven, with the Zips owning a 7-0-0 mark in those contests.
• Akron is 6-0-0 all-time at home versus Wright State, having outscored the Raiders, 27-4.
• Wright State is playing its first regular season game at FirstEnergy Stadium since the 2008 campaign on Thursday.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in nine of 11 all-time meetings with Wright State.
• The Zips' game on April 4 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.
• Senior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal) scored tallies in back-to-back tilts for the second time in his career with goals versus Kentucky and Marshall.
• Senior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) is the active leader among all players in men's Division I in games played having appeared in 75 games.
• Twenty-one Zips registered a shot this season, including nine newcomers.
• Akron owned a 1-0-1 mark against ranked squads in 2020, including handing eventual national champion Marshall a 2-1 overtime setback on March 2, 2021.
• Diogo Pacheco lead Akron in goals (3), points (6), shots (18) and shots on goal (10).
• On the strength of 53 shots, including 22 on goal, the Zips registered 10.6 shots per game at FirstEnergy Stadium in 2020, while their opponents averaged 10.6 shots a night.
• Sophomore Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) led the MAC in game-winning goals (2), while rating second in goals (0.60), fourth in points (1.40), seventh in shots (2.20) and eighth in shots on goal (1.00) per game in conference-only matches.
• Freshman Jason Shookalook (Erie, Pa.) paced a talented core of freshmen for Akron in 2020 leading the newcomers in goals (1), assists (3), points (5), shots (15), shots on goal (7) and game-winners (1).
• Diogo Pacheco is Akron's active career leaders in goals (10), points (24), shots (68) and shots on goal (32). Will Jackson paces the team in game-winning goals (3), while Daniel Strachan has appeared in a team-high 75 games.
• The Zips own a 104-44-17 mark over the last nine seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 104 wins are ranked sixth in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 72 of the squad's last 128 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 24 of its last 47 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 61-11-6 record in its last 78 home matches.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 63-10-6 (.835) 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.
• In all, Akron leads all league members with 20 regular-season and 15 tournament championships since joining the MAC in 1993, and has won both titles in the same season 12 times.
• In the first 28 seasons in the MAC, the Zips have produced 203 All-MAC honorees, including a conference-record nine first-team selections in 2010.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 57-31-13 record.
• In all, the Zips have produced 23 Academic All-American honors in its history, dating back to the 1998 season.
• Akron has long been associated with academic excellence. Over the last six seasons, the Zips have posted team GPA's of 3.316 (2019), 3.21 (2018), 3.02 (2017), 3.09 (2016), 3.20 (2015) and 3.37 (2014). Akron finished second in Division I in 2011-12 with a cumulative mark of 3.44. The remarkable feat follows years that saw the Zips post GPAs of 3.43 in 2010-11 and 3.33 in 2009-10.

STRACHAN GARNERS COSIDA THIRD-TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Daniel Strachan added another honor to his impressive collegiate resume with his selection to the 2020-21 Academic All-America® Division I Men's Soccer Team, as chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Strachan graduated from Akron in December of 2020 earning a bachelor's degree in business administration on the strength of a 3.653 cumulative GPA and recently completed his first semester in graduate school where he is majoring in business. Strachan is one of 10 student-athletes nationally recognized as a third-team Academic All-America honoree for Division I.

A team captain and the only Zip to start all 10 games, Strachan earned all-Mid-American Conference accolades for the second consecutive year, as he was tabbed a second-team All-MAC honoree. A versatile player that sparked the Zips both sides of the ball on the campaign, Strachan ranked second on the squad in goals (2) and points (5) and third in assists (1) on the strength of four shots, with two of those strikes falling on frame. He ranked eighth in the conference in goals per game (0.25) in league-only affairs.

Strachan becomes the 12th Zip to garner CoSIDA All-America accolades in the sport of men's soccer, and the first since Adam Najem garnered third-team honors in 2016.

The award marks the 19th time in program history in which an Akron men's soccer standout has been selected to the national CoSIDA Academic All-America squads, first-, second- or third-team, respectively.

AKRON SET TO WELCOME BACK FANS TO FIRSTENERGY STADIUM AT 100-PERCENT CAPACITY
The University of Akron announced this summer that its athletic venues will return to full 100 percent capacity when fall 2021 campaigns get underway for the Zips this month per the latest COVID-19 guidance from the University, Summit County and the State of Ohio.

BUECHTE NAMED TO TDS PRESEASON BEST XI SQUAD
Freshman Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) was named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Preseason Best XI Freshman squad. He will be making his collegiate debut against Wright State on Thursday, Aug. 26.

AKRON GARNERS FIVE ALL-MAC SELECTIONS
Led by Diogo Pacheco, who was selected as First-Team All-Mid-American Conference men's soccer selection, five Akron student-athletes garnered All-MAC accolades this past spring.

Colin Biros, Will Jackson, junior Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and Daniel Strachan were tabbed second-team honorees.

Earning all-league honors for the first time was Pacheco, who started each of the six games he appeared in for the Zips, registering team-high marks in goals (3), points (6), shots (18) and shots on goal (10). He ranked second in the MAC in shots (3.00) and shots on goal (1.67) and sixth in points (1.00). In league-only affairs, Pacheco led the conference in shots on goal (1.75), while rating second in shots per game (2.75).

Hauling in All-MAC honors for the second consecutive season was Biros, who appeared in all 10 contests for Akron, including eight starts. Sparked by eight shots, including four on goal, he recorded a goal and a team-high three assists en route to ranking seventh in the conference in assists (0.30) and eighth in assists in league-only affairs (0.25).

Jackson started seven of the eight games in which he appeared in for Akron en route to earning Second-Team All-MAC accolades for the second straight year. He registered six shots on the campaign, including a trio falling on frame.

Garnering All-MAC accolades for the third time, Ritaccio, a team captain, started all nine matches he appeared in for Akron. He helped anchor a Zips' defensive unit that posted three shutouts on the campaign, while adding a goal and an assist on the strength of four shots, including one on goal.

A team captain and the only Zip to start all 10 games, Strachan earned all-conference accolades for the second consecutive year, as he was tabbed a Second-Team All-MAC honoree. A versatile player that sparked the Zips both sides of the ball on the campaign, Strachan ranked second on the squad in goals (2) and points (5) and third in assists (1) on the strength of four shots, with two of those strike falling on frame. He ranked eighth in the conference in goals per game (0.25) in league-only affairs.

LEAGUE-HIGH 11 ZIPS EARN ACADEMIC ALL-MAC HONORS
The University of Akron men's soccer team earned a league-best 11 selections when the Mid-American Conference released its 2020-21 Men's Soccer Academic All-MAC team on June 8.

In all, 53 student-athletes from six conference institutions were honored including Diogo Pacheco and Daniel Strachan, Declan Watters, Colin Biros, Pol Hernandez, Marco Milanese, Carlo Ritaccio and sophomores Henrique Cruz, Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.), Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio) and Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.).

To qualify for the Academic All-MAC Teams, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the scheduled contests and/or completed at the league championship in the particular sport.

ZIPS' DUO EARNS UNITED SOCCER COACHES ALL-REGION ACCOLADES
Diogo Pacheco and Carlo Ritaccio added to their impressive Zips' resumes on Tuesday, May 11, as the United Soccer Coaches tabbed the Akron duo as 2020-21 All-North Regional honorees.

Pacheco and Ritaccio each garnered second-team regional accolades for the Zips.

Ritaccio earned All-North Regional honors for second consecutive season, while Pacheco collected regional recognition for the first time.

Pacheco was honored as a First-Team All-Mid-American Conference honoree this spring for the first time after starting each of the six games he appeared in for the Zips this season, registering team-high marks in goals (3), points (6), shots (18) and shots on goal (10). He ranked second in the MAC in shots (3.00) and shots on goal (1.67) and sixth in points (1.00). In league-only affairs, Pacheco led the conference in shots on goal (1.75), while rating second in shots per game (2.75).

A team captain, Ritaccio garnered All-MAC accolades for the third time as he started all nine matches that he appeared in for Akron. He helped anchor a Zips' defensive unit that posted three shutouts on the campaign, while adding a goal and an assist on the strength of four shots, including one on goal.

AKRON EARNS ACADEMIC TEAM HONORS
The University of Akron was one of 188 schools nationwide to have its men's and women's soccer teams recognized by the United Soccer Coaches as 2019-20 Collegiate Team Academic Award winners.

The Zips were the only school in the Mid-American Conference to have both of their respective soccer programs honored.

The Akron men's team under eighth-year head coach Jared Embick was honored for the 13th consecutive year and 14th time overall after registering a cumulative 3.316 grade point average for the 2019-20 academic year.

To qualify for the award, the team must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the entire academic year. The team GPA is determined by adding every player's GPA, then dividing by the number of players.

JACKSON COLLECTS TOP-100 ACCOLADES
University of Akron men's soccer sophomore Will Jackson was named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Postseason Top-100 Players to Watch men's soccer squad being tabbed No. 98.

ZIPS IN THE CLASSROOM
Academic success has been a staple for the Zips under head coach Jared Embick. Akron has posted a cumulative team GPA's of 3.0 or better in each of the last seven semesters and 16 of 17 overall under Embick, including registering cumulative marks of 3.316, 3.21, 3.02, 3.09, 3.20 and 3.37 during the 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15 campaigns, respectively.

MAC PRESEASON POLL
The University of Akron men's soccer program will open its 67th season of intercollegiate soccer tabbed to finish second in the Mid-American Conference regular season title race in a preseason poll of seven conference coaches, the league office announced Aug. 25.

The Zips under ninth-year head coach Jared Embick were picked to finish second in the conference regular season championship race in the MAC Coaches Preseason poll with one first-place vote. West Virginia was picked as the league favorite with three first-place votes and 40 points, it was followed in the rankings by Akron (39 points), Bowling Green (38 points), Western Michigan (30 points), Northern Illinois (22 points), Georgia State (17 points) and Georgia Southern (10).

UP NEXT
Akron travels to East Lansing, Mich., for a 7 p.m. tilt at Michigan State on Monday, Aug. 30.

Akron Set to Kick Off Campaign Battling Wright State

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Players Mentioned

Colin Biros

Jonas Buechte

Henrique Cruz

Johnny Fitzgerald

Pol Hernandez

Will Jackson

Marco Milanese

Diogo Pacheco

Josef Paulus

Carlo Ritaccio

Daniel Strachan

Sam Tojaga

Declan Watters

The University of Akron Athletics