In-State Showdown Ahead as No. 9 Akron Hosts No. 22 Ohio State

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No. 9 Akron (4-1-0) vs. No. 22 Ohio State (4-0-1)
Tuesday, Sept. 13
FirstEnergy Stadium
Akron, Ohio • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 29-7-5
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

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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 ninth-rated University of Akron men's soccer team welcomes No. 22 Ohio State to FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 13 for an in-state non-conference showdown. The 7 p.m. tilt with the Buckeyes will be broadcast on ESPN+ with David Bacon and Chad Welker calling the action.

HEAD COACHES
Ohio State: Brian Maisonneuve (Indiana, 1995), Overall Record: 21-41-6 (Fifth Season), Record at OSU: 21-41-6 (Fifth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 164-72-28 (14th Season), Record at Akron: 117-51-20 (10th Season)

SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State comes into play on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 4-0-1 on the campaign following a 2-0 victory over Butler on Friday, Sept. 9. The Buckeyes have posted clean sheets in each of Ohio State's last four games and surrendered only one goal all season.

Freshman Marko Borkovic leads the Buckeyes with a team-best marks in goals (3), points (6) and game-winners (2), while junior Laurence Wootton paces the squad in shots (11) and shots on goal (8). Senior GK Keagan McLaughlin has pulled in 18 saves en route to posting a 0.20 goals against average.

As a team, the Buckeyes are ranked first in the NCAA in goals against average (.200) and shutout percentage (.800), second in corner kicks (9.00), third in save percentage (.947), ninth in winning percentage (.900), 15th in shots per tilt (16.80), 18th in shots on goal per game (7.60) and 23rd in goal differential (8). Individually, McLaughlin is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (4), fourth in goals against average (0.20), sixth in save percentage (.947) and 10th in minutes played (450:00), while Wootton is ranked 12th in shot accuracy (.727) and shots on goal per game (2.00) and 34th in game-winning goals (1).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Ohio State are meeting for the 42nd time in program history with the Zips owning a 29-7-5 series advantage with Akron being unbeaten in 12 of the previous 13 games versus the Buckeyes. In the last encounter between the two schools, Ohio State earned a 1-0 triumph over the Zips on Sept. 15, 2021 in Columbus.

AKRON VERSUS THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Big Ten Conference for the third time this season and 197th time overall. Akron dropped a 2-0 decision at Indiana on Sept. 9 after earning a 2-0 victory over Michigan State on Sept. 5.
• Akron owns a 107-70-19 (.594) all-time record versus the current 14 members of the Big Ten Conference.
• The Zips have gone 25-7-6 against the league since 2012.
• In all, Akron is 42-12-9 (.738) versus teams from the Big Ten since 2007. During that time, the Zips have out-scored the competition, 116-52.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 15, 2021 - COLUMBUS, OHIO)
Sixth-rated Akron dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision at Ohio State on Sept. 15, 2021 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

The Zips outshot the Buckeyes on the evening, 10-7, including a 4-2 edge in shots on goal. Diogo Pacheco directed Akron with a game-high three shots.

Will Meyer made one stop in goal for the Zips, while Keagan McLaughlin recorded four saves for Ohio State.

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 227-64-36. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 214-67-38 (.730), Maryland, 214-68-45 (.723), North Carolina, 204-73-46 (.703) and Creighton, 201-81-33 (.690). 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.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Nineteen of the 41 matches between Akron and Ohio State have resulted in a shutout. Since 2002, the Zips own a 6-3-0 mark in those contests, including a 4-0 ledger at home.
• Akron owns an 17-1-1 all-time record versus Ohio State in Akron, having outscored the Buckeyes by a 71-19 margin.
• Akron is unbeaten in 12 of its last 13 games against Ohio State en route to a 8-1-4 mark in those tilts.
• Seven of the last 11 showdowns between the Zips and Buckeyes have been decided by a goal or less.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 27 all-time meetings with Ohio State.
• Akron has scored three or more goals in three of its first five games this season.
• The Zips are rated ninth in the NCAA in total goals (15), 10th in scoring offense (3.00), 11th in total points (44), 12th in points per game (8.80), 15th in total assists (14), 16th in assists per tilt (2.80), 22nd in shots on goal (7.40), 23rd in goal differential (8), 24th in winning percentage (.800) and 34th in shots per outing (15.40).
• Individually, sophomore Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) is ranked second in the country in game-winning goals (2), while junior Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio) is 25th in assists (3) and 36th in assists per game (0.60) and Jason Shokalook and Johnny Fitzgerald are 27th in total goals (3) and 34th in game-winning goals (1). Additionally, Mitch Budler is ranked 10th in minutes played (450:00).
• Ten different Zips have scored a goal this season, including four newcomers.
• Sixteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including five newcomers. A year ago 19 different Akron players recorded a shot, including five newcomers.
• The Zips are 1-1 versus ranked teams this season following a 2-0 setback on Sept. 9 at Indiana. Additionally, Akron registered a 5-3 victory past No. 18 FIU on Aug. 25. A year ago, Akron went 2-3-2 versus ranked teams last season besting No. 3 Pitt, 2-1, on Sept. 6, garnering a 1-1 double-overtime draw with No. 3 Indiana on Sept. 10, dropping a 2-0 decision at No. 5 Marshall on Sept. 21, battling No. 3 West Virginia to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Sept. 30, edging No. 14 Bowling Green, 5-1, on Oct. 22, falling 2-1 at No. 16 Northern Illinois on Oct. 30 and 2-1 versus No. 16 Santa Clara on Nov. 18.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 30-21-5 mark against ranked opponents.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 26-13-4.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 85 of the squad's last 151 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 30 of its last 62 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 72-13-8 record in its last 93 home matches.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to faces No. 5 Pittsburgh in a 7 p.m. tilt on Monday, Sept. 19.

In-State Showdown Ahead as No. 9 Akron Hosts No. 22 Ohio State

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Players Mentioned

Mitch Budler

Dyson Clapier

Johnny Fitzgerald

Will Meyer

Diogo Pacheco

Josef Paulus

Jason Shokalook

The University of Akron Athletics