The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, September 25
Akron, Ohio
7:00 PM
University of Akron
vs
Yale
Akron Returns to Home Pitch Hosting Yale
September 24 | Men's Soccer
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No. 10 Akron (4-2-1) vs. Yale (3-2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 25
FirstEnergy Stadium
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.
Series History: First Meeting
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Television: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Live Stats:Â www.GoZips.comÂ
WHAT'S AHEAD
The 10th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team returns to its home pitch on Saturday, Sept. 25 as the Zips welcome Yale to FirstEnergy Stadium. The 7 p.m. showdown with the Bulldogs will be broadcast on ESPN+ with David Bacon calling the action.
HEAD COACHES
Yale: Kylie Stannard (Creighton, 2001), Overall Record: 32-44-12 (Sixth Season)/Yale Record: 32-44-12 (Sixth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 155-67-26 (15th Season)/Akron Record: 108-46-18 (Ninth Season)
SCOUTING YALE
Yale enters action this weekend with a 3-2-0 ledger on the heels on a 2-0 triumph past Boston College on Tuesday, Sept. 21. The Bulldogs posted a 13-3-2 record in 2019, including a 6-1-0 ledger in the Ivy League en route to advancing to NCAA Tournament, where Yale suffered a 3-0 setback at Boston College in the opening round. The Bulldogs and the Ivy League didn't compete during the 2021 spring campaign due to COVID-19.
The Bulldogs led offensively by junior Paolo Carroll, who owns team-high marks in goals (4), points (10) and game-winners (2), while ranking second on the team in assists (2), shots (9) and shots on goal (4). Junior goalkeeper Elian Haddock has recorded 20 saves en route to posting a 1.80 goals against average.
As a team, Yale is ranked 11th in the NCAA in assists per game (2.60), 22nd in points per contest (6.60) and 37th in scoring offense (2.00) and total assists (13). Individually, Carroll is 10th in points per contest (2.00), 17th in game-winning goals (2) and goals per game (0.80) and 36th in total goals (4).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Yale are playing for first time in program history.
AKRON VERSUS THE IVY LEAGUE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Ivy League for the first time this season and eighth time overall.
• Akron owns a 3-4-0 (.429) all-time record versus the current eight men's soccer members [Brown (0-1), Cornell (0-2), Penn (1-0) and Princeton (2-1)] of the Ivy League.
• In their last encounter with a school from Ivy League, the Zips dropped a 3-2 double-overtime decision to Cornell on Sept. 28, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
NO. 5 MARSHALL EDGES NO. 10 AKRON, 1-0
Fifth-rated and defending NCAA Champion Marshall scored a goal in each half to garner a 2-0 triumph over the 10th-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
Fueled by an 8-6 advantage in second-half shots, the Zips finished the affair registering an 11-10 edge in overall shots, led by a team-high three shots from senior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal).
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Senior GK Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) recorded five saves in net for Akron on the evening.
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• Meyer made a strong diving save early at the 13:30 mark of the opening half to keep the Thundering Herd off the scoreboard
• Marshall assumed a 1-0 lead in 31st minute (30:05) when Vitor Dias connected on a goal off assists from Vinicius Fernandes and Pedro Dolabello
• The Thundering Herd had a goal waved off with 2:21 left before halftime following an offsides call
• The Zips were outshot in the opening half, 4-3, including 3-0 on goal
• Fernandes extended Marshall's lead to 2-0 with a tally in the 50th minute (49:56)
• Pacheco delivered Akron's best scoring chance with a shot on goal in the 68th minute (67:21) one that was saved by Marshall GK Oliver Semmle
• The Thundering Herd had a second goal of the night waved off by an offsides call at the 73:02 mark
• Sophomore Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) accounted for Akron's other shot on goal on the evening, a strike in the 58th minute (57:55) saved by Semmle
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 Sept. 23) (.756), with an overall record of 218-59-34. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 199-62-37 (.730), Maryland, 206-64-42 (.728), North Carolina, 197-67-45 (.710) and Creighton, 191-76-29 (.694). 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
• Senior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) enters play versus Yale two games shy of cracking the top-10 in games played at Akron having appeared in an NCAA-best 82 contests among active players during his decorated Zips' career.
• Diogo Pacheco has now scored a point in five of Akron's seven games this season.
• Junior Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) made his 2021 debut for the Zips at Ohio State following offseason surgery.
• 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.
• Ten different Zips have scored a goal this season.
• With tallies against Wright State and Michigan State freshman Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.) became the first Zip to score goals in back-to-back games since Diogo Pacheco did so last season at Kentucky and versus Marshall.
• Diogo Pacheco's along with freshman Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) and Johnny Fitzgerald have registered multiple assists in a game for Akron this season.
• Led by a two-goal effort from sophomore Ryan Kingsford (Herne Bay, England), three Akron newcomers scored goals in the Zips' 7-1 win over Wright State on Aug. 26. Joining Kingsford was Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and junior Renato Kauzlaric (Zagreb, Croatia).
• Dyson Clapier and Johnny Fitzgerald each registered a pair of assists for Akron against Wright State.
• Garnering their first collegiate points in the Zips' 7-1 victory over Wright State on Aug. 26 was Renato Kauzlaric (one goal and two assists), Ryan Kingsford (two goals), redshirt sophomore Ivan Nikolic (Toronto, Ontario) (one goal) and Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (one goal and one assist).
• Daniel Strachan is rated first among all players in men's Division I in games played having appeared in 82 games.
• Sixteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including seven newcomers.
• Akron ranks fourth in the NCAA in assists per game (2.86), while rating sixth in assists (20), 12th in corner kicks (7.29), 15th in points (50), 16th in points per game (7.14), 22nd in goal differential (8), 23rd in goals (15), 27th in scoring offense (2.14) and 38th in shots per tilt (14.43).
• Diogo Pacheco is ranked 25th in the NCAA in assists (4), 40th in assists per game (0.57) and 41st in total points (10).
• The Zips are 1-1-1 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 and dropping a 2-0 decision at No. 5 Marshall on Sept. 21.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 24-11-4.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 76 of the squad's last 135 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 25 of its last 51 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 64-11-7 record in its last 82 home matches.
UP NEXT
Akron travels to Morgantown, W.Va., as the Zips open Mid-American Conference play with a 7 p.m. tilt at West Virginia on Thursday, Sept. 30.
No. 10 Akron (4-2-1) vs. Yale (3-2-0)
Saturday, Sept. 25
FirstEnergy Stadium
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.
Series History: First Meeting
Live Stream: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Television: www.GoZips.com (subscription may be required) and ESPN App
Live Stats:Â www.GoZips.comÂ
WHAT'S AHEAD
The 10th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team returns to its home pitch on Saturday, Sept. 25 as the Zips welcome Yale to FirstEnergy Stadium. The 7 p.m. showdown with the Bulldogs will be broadcast on ESPN+ with David Bacon calling the action.
HEAD COACHES
Yale: Kylie Stannard (Creighton, 2001), Overall Record: 32-44-12 (Sixth Season)/Yale Record: 32-44-12 (Sixth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 155-67-26 (15th Season)/Akron Record: 108-46-18 (Ninth Season)
SCOUTING YALE
Yale enters action this weekend with a 3-2-0 ledger on the heels on a 2-0 triumph past Boston College on Tuesday, Sept. 21. The Bulldogs posted a 13-3-2 record in 2019, including a 6-1-0 ledger in the Ivy League en route to advancing to NCAA Tournament, where Yale suffered a 3-0 setback at Boston College in the opening round. The Bulldogs and the Ivy League didn't compete during the 2021 spring campaign due to COVID-19.
The Bulldogs led offensively by junior Paolo Carroll, who owns team-high marks in goals (4), points (10) and game-winners (2), while ranking second on the team in assists (2), shots (9) and shots on goal (4). Junior goalkeeper Elian Haddock has recorded 20 saves en route to posting a 1.80 goals against average.
As a team, Yale is ranked 11th in the NCAA in assists per game (2.60), 22nd in points per contest (6.60) and 37th in scoring offense (2.00) and total assists (13). Individually, Carroll is 10th in points per contest (2.00), 17th in game-winning goals (2) and goals per game (0.80) and 36th in total goals (4).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Yale are playing for first time in program history.
AKRON VERSUS THE IVY LEAGUE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Ivy League for the first time this season and eighth time overall.
• Akron owns a 3-4-0 (.429) all-time record versus the current eight men's soccer members [Brown (0-1), Cornell (0-2), Penn (1-0) and Princeton (2-1)] of the Ivy League.
• In their last encounter with a school from Ivy League, the Zips dropped a 3-2 double-overtime decision to Cornell on Sept. 28, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
NO. 5 MARSHALL EDGES NO. 10 AKRON, 1-0
Fifth-rated and defending NCAA Champion Marshall scored a goal in each half to garner a 2-0 triumph over the 10th-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team on Tuesday, Sept. 21.
Fueled by an 8-6 advantage in second-half shots, the Zips finished the affair registering an 11-10 edge in overall shots, led by a team-high three shots from senior Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal).
Â
Senior GK Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) recorded five saves in net for Akron on the evening.
Â
• Meyer made a strong diving save early at the 13:30 mark of the opening half to keep the Thundering Herd off the scoreboard
• Marshall assumed a 1-0 lead in 31st minute (30:05) when Vitor Dias connected on a goal off assists from Vinicius Fernandes and Pedro Dolabello
• The Thundering Herd had a goal waved off with 2:21 left before halftime following an offsides call
• The Zips were outshot in the opening half, 4-3, including 3-0 on goal
• Fernandes extended Marshall's lead to 2-0 with a tally in the 50th minute (49:56)
• Pacheco delivered Akron's best scoring chance with a shot on goal in the 68th minute (67:21) one that was saved by Marshall GK Oliver Semmle
• The Thundering Herd had a second goal of the night waved off by an offsides call at the 73:02 mark
• Sophomore Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) accounted for Akron's other shot on goal on the evening, a strike in the 58th minute (57:55) saved by Semmle
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 Sept. 23) (.756), with an overall record of 218-59-34. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 199-62-37 (.730), Maryland, 206-64-42 (.728), North Carolina, 197-67-45 (.710) and Creighton, 191-76-29 (.694). 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
• Senior Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio) enters play versus Yale two games shy of cracking the top-10 in games played at Akron having appeared in an NCAA-best 82 contests among active players during his decorated Zips' career.
• Diogo Pacheco has now scored a point in five of Akron's seven games this season.
• Junior Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) made his 2021 debut for the Zips at Ohio State following offseason surgery.
• 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.
• Ten different Zips have scored a goal this season.
• With tallies against Wright State and Michigan State freshman Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.) became the first Zip to score goals in back-to-back games since Diogo Pacheco did so last season at Kentucky and versus Marshall.
• Diogo Pacheco's along with freshman Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) and Johnny Fitzgerald have registered multiple assists in a game for Akron this season.
• Led by a two-goal effort from sophomore Ryan Kingsford (Herne Bay, England), three Akron newcomers scored goals in the Zips' 7-1 win over Wright State on Aug. 26. Joining Kingsford was Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and junior Renato Kauzlaric (Zagreb, Croatia).
• Dyson Clapier and Johnny Fitzgerald each registered a pair of assists for Akron against Wright State.
• Garnering their first collegiate points in the Zips' 7-1 victory over Wright State on Aug. 26 was Renato Kauzlaric (one goal and two assists), Ryan Kingsford (two goals), redshirt sophomore Ivan Nikolic (Toronto, Ontario) (one goal) and Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (one goal and one assist).
• Daniel Strachan is rated first among all players in men's Division I in games played having appeared in 82 games.
• Sixteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including seven newcomers.
• Akron ranks fourth in the NCAA in assists per game (2.86), while rating sixth in assists (20), 12th in corner kicks (7.29), 15th in points (50), 16th in points per game (7.14), 22nd in goal differential (8), 23rd in goals (15), 27th in scoring offense (2.14) and 38th in shots per tilt (14.43).
• Diogo Pacheco is ranked 25th in the NCAA in assists (4), 40th in assists per game (0.57) and 41st in total points (10).
• The Zips are 1-1-1 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 and dropping a 2-0 decision at No. 5 Marshall on Sept. 21.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 24-11-4.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 76 of the squad's last 135 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 25 of its last 51 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 64-11-7 record in its last 82 home matches.
UP NEXT
Akron travels to Morgantown, W.Va., as the Zips open Mid-American Conference play with a 7 p.m. tilt at West Virginia on Thursday, Sept. 30.
Players Mentioned
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