Akron Kicks Off Home Campaign Hosting VCU

DIGITAL TICKETING INFORMATION | CLEAR BAG POLICY

Akron (1-0-0) vs. VCU (0-1-0)
Monday, Aug. 29
FirstEnergy Stadium
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 3-1-1
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
As part of our ongoing effort to enhance our fan experience and improve safety at all of our venues, we are excited to deliver a convenient way for fans to access tickets and parking passes for every Akron home event directly on their smartphone.

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 University of Akron men's soccer team opens its home campaign on Monday, Aug. 29, as the Zips welcome VCU to FirstEnergy Stadium. The 7 p.m. tilt with the Rams will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Dave Bacon and Chad Welker calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
VCU: Dave Giffard (MacMurray, 1999), Overall Record: 106-85-35 (13th Season), Record at VCU: 106-85-35 (13th Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 161-71-28 (14th Season), Record at Akron: 114-50-20 (10th Season)

SCOUTING VCU
VCU enters action on Monday, Aug. 29, following a 5-0 setback at No. 14 Marshall on Thursday, Aug. 25. A season ago, the Rams posted a 9-7-2 record, including a 4-3-1 ledger in Conference USA.

Sophomore William Hitchcock and freshman Moussa Ndiaye recorded one shot each against the Thundering Herd, while sophomore goalkeeper Cory Taylor made eight saves versus Marshall.

The contest will be a reunion of sorts for VCU head coach Dave Giffard, who served as an assistant coach at Akron under head coach Caleb Porter from 2006-09.

A year ago, the Rams 21st in the NCAA in saves per game (4.83).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting VCU for the sixth time in program history with Akron leading the series, 3-1-1. Goals from Daniel Strachan and senior Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) lifted the Zips to a 2-0 victory past the Rams on Oct. 2, 2019 in the last meeting between the two schools.

AKRON VERSUS ATLANTIC-10 CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Atlantic 10 Conference for first time this season and the 40th time in program history.
• In all, the Zips are 24-11-4 (.667) versus teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 2, 2019 - AKRON, OHIO)
Sparked by the first career goals from Daniel Strachan and Sam Tojaga, Akron cracked the win column with a 2-0 victory over VCU on Oct. 2, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The Zips turned in a dominant performance in the match on the strength of registering a 17-8 edge in shots, including a 6-2 margin in shots on frame.

Strachan posted game-high marks in shots (4) and shots on goal (2) for Akron in the match, while David Egbo matched his four-shot performance, and Tojaga added a pair of shots to the Zips' offensive attack.

Goalkeeper Joe Bowles registered a clean sheet posting a pair of saves.

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 224-63-36. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 209-67-38 (.726), Maryland, 212-67-44 (.724), North Carolina, 203-71-46 (.706) and Creighton, 200-81-30 (.691). 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.

ZIPS TIDBITS
• The Zips own a 1-1-1 ledger in games versus VCU at home, with two of the three contests resulting in a shutout.
• Akron has outscored VCU by a 9-6 margin in series history, including 2-1 in a trio of home contests.
• Jason Shokalook recorded his second career multi-goal game against No. 18 FIU on Aug. 25, while also adding his second career game-winning goal in the 85th minute (84:58).
• Junior Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio) tallied his first career multi-assist affair against No. 18 FIU on Aug. 25.
• Akron's next win will mark the program's 225th triumph since head coach Jared Embick arrived in 2007, the top total in the country.
• Four different Zips have scored a goal this season.
• Seven Zips have registered a shot this season, including a pair of newcomers. A year ago 19 different Akron players recorded a shot, including nine newcomers.

AKRON INTRODUCES CLEAR BAG POLICY
University of Akron Athletics in conjunction with increased security measures on the campus of The University of Akron has established a clear bag policy at all its athletic venues for the 2022-23 year.

In alignment with many of the area's professional organizations, Akron has instituted new clear bag policy where approved bags include clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed a size of 12 inches wide by 12 inches high and 6 inches deep. Other approved bags include one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc bag or similar), medical bags and small clutch bags approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap.

Prohibited bags include backpacks, binocular cases, camera cases, fanny packs, large-printed bags, mesh bags, purses and tinted plastic bags.

UP NEXT
Akron welcomes Wright State to FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Josef Paulus

Jason Shokalook

Daniel Strachan

Sam Tojaga

The University of Akron Athletics