No. 12 Akron Battles Western Michigan with MAC Title on the Line

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No. 12 Akron (11-2-4, 5-0-2 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (13-2-1, 5-1-1 MAC)
Sunday, Nov. 6
FirstEnergy Stadium
Akron, Ohio • 6 p.m.

Series History: Akron Leads 38-6-5
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: www.GoZips.com

DIGITAL TICKETING
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GoZips.com/Tickets will be the easiest and most convenient way for fans to access their Zips ticket account. To save time at the venue, fans are encouraged to save tickets and parking to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay apps prior to arrival on game day.

GoZips.com/Tickets is the easiest way for a fan to access their tickets and parking on their mobile browser and log in with their email or Zips tickets account number and password. At that point fans will be able to manage their online account from their smartphone.

WHAT'S AHEAD
The 12th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team will vie for the Mid-American Conference regular season title when the Zips host Western Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 6. The 6 p.m. tilt with the Broncos will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a link on GoZips.com.

HEAD COACHES
Western Michigan: Chad Wiseman (Western Michigan, 2007), Overall Record: 156-78-32 (14th Season), Record at Western Michigan: 103-53-26 (10th Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 171-73-32 (14th Season), Record at Akron: 124-52-24 (10th Season)

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan comes into play on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 13-2-1 on the campaign, including a 5-1-1 record in the Mid-American Conference, while riding a four-game winning streak following a 2-0 victory over Bowling Green on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Senior Charlie Sharp leads Western Michigan in goals (9), points (25), shots (58), shots on goal (27), while ranking second in assists (7). Senior GK Hunter Morse has pulled in 46 saves en route to posting a 0.38 goals against average and 11 shutouts.

Western Michigan is rated second in the NCAA in goals against average (.375), goal differential (31), save percentage (.889) and shutout percentage (.688), while ranking third in winning percentage (.844), seventh in total assists (44) and assists per game (2.75), eighth in corner kicks (7.00), ninth in total points (118), 10th in shots on goal (7.31), 11th in points per outing (7.38), 14th in total goals (37), 15th in shots per tilt (15.75) and 32nd in scoring offense (2.31) and shot accuracy (.464).

Individually, Morse is rated second in the NCAA in shutouts (10), goals against average (.376) and save percentage (.885) and 44th in goalie minutes played (1437:57), while Sharp is fifth in shots per outing (3.62), 11th in total points (25), 12th in shots on goal (1.69), 16th in points per tilt (1.56), 21st in total goals (9), 32nd in goals per game (.560) and 33rd in total assists (7).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Western Michigan are squaring off for 50th time in program history with the Zips owning a 38-6-5 series advantage. Earlier this season, Akron earned a 1-0 triumph past the Broncos on Oct. 13 in Kalamazoo, Mich.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 13, 2022 - KALAMAZOO, MICH.)
A goal in the 25th minute (24:43) from junior Joel Sangwa (Phoenix, Ariz.) lifted the 18th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team to 1-0 Mid-American Conference victory at Western Michigan on Oct. 13 in Kalamazoo, Mich.

In a battle between Akron's second-ranked NCAA offense and the top-rated defense of Western Michigan, it was the Zips that were able to triumph and end the Broncos' 10-match unbeaten streak.

The game-winning goal came off a Zips' restart in which a back-heeled kick from sophomore Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) found a sliding Sangwa from approximately nine yards out in the center of the box for the tally.

Redshirt freshman GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) tallied four saves for the Zips en route to collecting his second consecutive and fourth overall shutout of the season.

Five different Zips recorded shots on the afternoon, including a trio of shots on goal from Sangwa, Shokalook and sophomore Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.).

ZIPS FINDING THEIR FORM
On the heels of a 1-0 setback at No. 18 Penn State on Sept. 25, the Zips have found their form as Akron owns a 7-0-2 mark since. The Zips are averaging 14.3 shots and 2.78 goals per game in those contests, while limiting their opponents to 5.0 shots and 0.33 goals per tilt. Akron has outscored its opponents in the first half by a 15-1 margin, while posting a 129-45 edge in shots. Sophomore Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) and Dyson Clapier paces the Zips with four goals apiece. In goal, Mitch Budler owns a 0.33 goals against average on the strength of six shutouts and 12 saves.

FINAL PUSH TO HOST MAC TITLE GAME UNDERWAY
With the final day of Mid-American Conference regular season slate on tap on Sunday, Nov. 6, the stage to determine the league's regular season champion and the right to host the upcoming MAC title game on Nov. 12 comes down to a battle between Akron and Western Michigan. Entering play on Sunday, Nov. 6, the Zips leads the race with 17 points. Akron is followed by Western Michigan (16 points), Bowling Green (11 points), Northern Illinois (7 points) and Chicago State (0 points). A victory or tie by th Zips will earn Akron its 21st regular season MAC title, while a triumph by Western Michigan will enable the Broncos to secure the regular season crown.

ZIPS TRIUMPH OVER CHICAGO STATE, 4-0
Akron positioned itself to play for the Mid-American Conference regular season title on the strength of a 4-0 victory over Chicago State on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Zips broke open a scoreless contest in the 38th minute (37:01) when junior Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) scored what proved to be the game-winning tally knocking in a deflection off a save on a penalty kick from junior Ryan Kingsford (Herne Bay, England).

Kingsford extended Akron's lead to 2-0 at the 52:23 mark delivering a strike from atop the six-yard box to the corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season. Dyson Clapier earned the assist on the tally.

Just over a minute later in the 64th minute (63:47), Jackson garnered a brace in the match posting his first career multi-goal outing heading home a corner kick from Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal to extend Akron's advantage to 3-0.

Jason Shokalook capped the scoring in the match netting his team-leading eighth goal of the season at the 68:00 mark courtesy of assists from freshman Levi Stephens (Akron, Ohio) and sophomore Terence Okoeguale (Pulheim, Germany).

Junior Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Kingsford led Akron's efforts recording a game-high four shots apiece, while Jackson added a trio of shots. GK Mitch Budler recorded one save en route to earning his seventh shutout on the campaign.

A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.749), with an overall record of 234-65-40. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 222-71-38 (.728), Maryland, 221-69-49 (.724), North Carolina, 210-75-51 (.698) and Creighton, 205-83-37 (.688). 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 their last 12 NCAA Tournament appearances. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 34 times, including 18 of the past 21 seasons.

KAUZLARIC AND KINGSFORD TO BE HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus Western Michigan on Sunday, Nov. 6, will mark the final regular season home games in the careers of senior Renato Kauzlaric (Zagreb, Croatia) and Ryan Kingsford.

Kauzlaric has appeared in 23 career games at Akron, including 16 starts, owning a goal and two assists on the strength of 20 shots, including four on net

A two-year member of the Akron squad, Kingsford, a 2021 First-Team All-MAC performer, has played in 35 career games as a Zip recording 11 goals and nine assists on the heels of registering a pair of game-winning goals on the strength of 49 shots, of which 21 fell on frame.

ZIPS TABBED NO. 12 IN FIRST NCAA TOP-16 REVEAL
The NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee announced its top 16 ranking during a reveal on Oct. 28 and Akron was tabbed 12th in the initial tabulations. The top 16 correspond to the number of teams that are seeded in the 48-team NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship bracket.

SHOKALOOK NAMED MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jason Shokalook was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its Men's Soccer Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday.

Shokalook turned in a strong week for the Zips registering team-high marks in goals (2), points (5), shots (9) and shots on goal (5) to lead Akron to wins over Cleveland State and Northern Illinois.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Thirteen of the 23 matches between Akron and Western Michigan with head coach Jared Embick on the Zips' sideline have resulted in a shutout, including seven of the last 14, with the Zips owning a 10-3-1 mark in those contests.
• Akron is 19-2-2 all-time at home versus Western Michigan, having outscored the Broncos, 67-11.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 36 of 49 all-time meetings with Western Michigan.
• Wednesday's contest versus Chicago State marked the 200th game on the Akron sidelines for Jared Embick as head coach for the Zips. Additionally, it was his 275th tilt overall as a head coach.
• Akron has scored three or more goals in nine of its 17 games this season.
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in total goals (46) and total points (147), second in scoring offense (2.71), total assists (55), and points per outing (8.65), third in assists per game (3.24), fourth in goal differential (29), 14th in winning percentage (.765), 26th in shot accuracy (.472), 27th in corner kicks per game (6.24), 29th in shots on goal per contest (6.35), 35th in shutout percentage (.412), 37th in team goals against average (1.00) and 48th in shots per tilt (13.47).
• Individually, Dyson Clapier is ranked 22nd in the country in game-winning goals (3) and total points (22), 33rd in total assists (7) and 50th in assists per game (0.44). Additionally, GK Mitch Budler is ranked 10th in minutes played (1530:00), 12th in shutouts (7) and 48th goals against average (1.00), while Shokalook is 22nd in total points (22), 30th in shot accuracy (.556), 32nd in total goals (8), 33rd in points per game (1.38) and 47th in goals per outing (0.50).
• Fourteen different Zips have scored a goal this season, including five newcomers.
• Twenty-one Zips have registered a shot this season, including eight newcomers.
• The Zips are 2-2-2 versus ranked teams this season following a 1-0 victory over No. 24 Duquesne (Sept. 28), a 1-0 setback at No. 18 Penn State (Sept. 25), 3-3 draw at No. 3 Pitt (Sept. 19), 3-3 draw versus No. 22 Ohio State (Sept. 13), a 2-0 loss at Indiana (Sept. 9) and a 5-3 victory past No. 18 FIU (Aug. 25).
• Since 2010, the Zips are 28-5-2 at FirstEnergy Stadium in regular season conference games. Overall during that span, including postseason, Akron boasts a 43-7-3 mark versus league foes at home.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 31-22-7 mark against ranked opponents.
• Jason Shokalook is Akron's active career leaders in goals (14), points (39), assists (13), shots (83) and shots on goal (36), while Dyson Clapier and Ryan Kingsford have scored 12 and 11 goals, respectively. Will Jackson paces the squad in shots on goal (37), while Clapier and Jackson lead in game-winning goals (5).
• The Zips own a 124-52-24 mark over the last 10 seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 124 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 92 of the squad's last 163 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 34 of its last 68 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 76-13-10 record in its last 99 home matches.
• The Zips rank 18th nationally in average attendance in 2022 averaging 1,386 fans per game. In 2021 Akron ranked 13th nationally (1,565), while rating 12th nationally in 2019 and 16th in the country (1,419) in 2018. In 2016 and 2017, the Zips rated 10th nationally in attendance averaging 2,147 and 1,819 fans per contest, respectively.-
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 77-39-20 record.

UP NEXT
Akron will vie for the Mid-American Conference Tournament title when the Zips once again battle Western Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 12.

The University of Akron Athletics

No. 12 Akron Battles Western Michigan with MAC Title on the Line

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