The University of Akron Athletics
Akron’s Meyer and Ritaccio Selected in MLS SuperDraft
January 11 | Men's Soccer
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2022 MLS SUPERDRAFT TRACKER
AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron men's soccer senior goalkeeper Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) and junior defender Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) culminated their stellar Zips' careers with their selections as part of the MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday, Jan. 11.
Meyer was drafted with the 10th selection of the second round (38th overall) by Nashville SC, while Ritaccio heard his name called with the seventh pick of the third round (63rd overall) by Chicago Fire FC
Meyer and Ritaccio become the 29th and 30th Zips to be drafted during the MLS SuperDraft overall with their selections.
Since 2008, Akron leads the country with eight players chosen among the top-five selections in the MLS SuperDraft. The Zips also boast the highest total of players picked among the top-10 draftees over the same span with 13.
"It's an exciting day for players and I am really happy and proud of Will (Meyer) and Carlo (Ritaccio), as well as Daniel (Strachan) and Diogo (Pacheco)," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented
Meyer, who garnered United Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-North Regional accolades on the field this past fall, started all 18 matches for the Zips this season en route to recording 45 saves and posting a 1.06 goals against average while garnering six shutouts. He ranked 36th in the NCAA in shutouts (6), 37th in minutes played (1,696:54) and 58th in goals against average (1.06), while finishing fourth in the MAC in saves (.692) and saves per game (2.50) and fifth in goals against average (1.06) and shutouts (.333). In conference-only affairs, he led the MAC in shutouts (.333), while rating fourth in goals against average (1.60) and saves per game (2.83) and fifth in saves (.630). Over his two-year Akron career, he played in 27 games as a Zip and posted eight shutouts on the strength of 72 saves and a 1.22 goals against average.
"I'm very excited to start my professional career off in Nashville," Meyer commented. "I've heard nothing but good things about the club and the city and I can't wait to show them what I can do."
"Will really played well for us and showed his talent and his potential and he is on a great path right now," said Embick.
Ritaccio, the 2018 TopDrawerSoccer.com National Freshman of the Year, appeared in 58 games during his decorated Akron career, registering seven goals and a pair of assists, on the strength of 26 shots, including 11 on goal. This past season, he appeared in 12 games for the Zips, including six starts. He recorded three goals on the strength off five shots, including three on goal.
"I am so excited for this opportunity ahead of me," said Ritaccio. "I can't thank Coach Jared, Mike (Nanchoff), Ger (Coppinger), Tim (Campbell) and Brett (Draper) and all the other support staff enough for their tireless work to make my time at Akron so special. I also want to thank my teammates for their support throughout my time as a Zip as well as all of my family and friends, who have been behind me through the good and bad times. Finally, I want to thank the Chicago Fire for having faith in me and I can't wait to get to work and help the team in any way possible."
"Carlo had a great career for us," Embick stated. "He plays with skill, passion, and toughness that you don't see often anymore, and I know teams admire that about him. He showed his toughness this year returning from surgery to help us get back to the NCAA Tournament and he is ready for the next step."
"Diogo unfortunately wasn't eligible for the draft, but I anticipate he will have some great opportunities," said Embick. "Daniel is going to be a steal for someone. He will end up with some opportunities and I'm excited to see him prove people wrong."
Developing players for the next level has become commonplace for the Akron staff as 45 Zips have gone on to play professionally either in Major League Soccer, USL or overseas since 2006, including No. 1 overall picks Joao Moutinho in 2018 and Steve Zakuani in 2009, and No. 2 overall picks Darlington Nagbe in 2011 and Darren Mattocks in 2012 - just to name a few. Nagbe was part of a draft class that set MLS draft day records for most players drafted from a single school in the first round (5) and overall (8).
2022 MLS SUPERDRAFT TRACKER
AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron men's soccer senior goalkeeper Will Meyer (Solon, Ohio) and junior defender Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) culminated their stellar Zips' careers with their selections as part of the MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday, Jan. 11.
Meyer was drafted with the 10th selection of the second round (38th overall) by Nashville SC, while Ritaccio heard his name called with the seventh pick of the third round (63rd overall) by Chicago Fire FC
Meyer and Ritaccio become the 29th and 30th Zips to be drafted during the MLS SuperDraft overall with their selections.
Since 2008, Akron leads the country with eight players chosen among the top-five selections in the MLS SuperDraft. The Zips also boast the highest total of players picked among the top-10 draftees over the same span with 13.
"It's an exciting day for players and I am really happy and proud of Will (Meyer) and Carlo (Ritaccio), as well as Daniel (Strachan) and Diogo (Pacheco)," Akron head coach Jared Embick commented
Meyer, who garnered United Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-North Regional accolades on the field this past fall, started all 18 matches for the Zips this season en route to recording 45 saves and posting a 1.06 goals against average while garnering six shutouts. He ranked 36th in the NCAA in shutouts (6), 37th in minutes played (1,696:54) and 58th in goals against average (1.06), while finishing fourth in the MAC in saves (.692) and saves per game (2.50) and fifth in goals against average (1.06) and shutouts (.333). In conference-only affairs, he led the MAC in shutouts (.333), while rating fourth in goals against average (1.60) and saves per game (2.83) and fifth in saves (.630). Over his two-year Akron career, he played in 27 games as a Zip and posted eight shutouts on the strength of 72 saves and a 1.22 goals against average.
"I'm very excited to start my professional career off in Nashville," Meyer commented. "I've heard nothing but good things about the club and the city and I can't wait to show them what I can do."
"Will really played well for us and showed his talent and his potential and he is on a great path right now," said Embick.
Ritaccio, the 2018 TopDrawerSoccer.com National Freshman of the Year, appeared in 58 games during his decorated Akron career, registering seven goals and a pair of assists, on the strength of 26 shots, including 11 on goal. This past season, he appeared in 12 games for the Zips, including six starts. He recorded three goals on the strength off five shots, including three on goal.
"I am so excited for this opportunity ahead of me," said Ritaccio. "I can't thank Coach Jared, Mike (Nanchoff), Ger (Coppinger), Tim (Campbell) and Brett (Draper) and all the other support staff enough for their tireless work to make my time at Akron so special. I also want to thank my teammates for their support throughout my time as a Zip as well as all of my family and friends, who have been behind me through the good and bad times. Finally, I want to thank the Chicago Fire for having faith in me and I can't wait to get to work and help the team in any way possible."
"Carlo had a great career for us," Embick stated. "He plays with skill, passion, and toughness that you don't see often anymore, and I know teams admire that about him. He showed his toughness this year returning from surgery to help us get back to the NCAA Tournament and he is ready for the next step."
"Diogo unfortunately wasn't eligible for the draft, but I anticipate he will have some great opportunities," said Embick. "Daniel is going to be a steal for someone. He will end up with some opportunities and I'm excited to see him prove people wrong."
Developing players for the next level has become commonplace for the Akron staff as 45 Zips have gone on to play professionally either in Major League Soccer, USL or overseas since 2006, including No. 1 overall picks Joao Moutinho in 2018 and Steve Zakuani in 2009, and No. 2 overall picks Darlington Nagbe in 2011 and Darren Mattocks in 2012 - just to name a few. Nagbe was part of a draft class that set MLS draft day records for most players drafted from a single school in the first round (5) and overall (8).
Players Mentioned
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