Akron Set for Showdown at No. 3 Pitt

No. 14 Akron (4-1-1) at No. 3 Pitt (5-1-0)
Monday, Sept. 19
Ambrose Urbanic Field
Pittsburgh, Pa. • 7 p.m.

Series History: Akron leads 19-8-2
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WHAT'S AHEAD
The 14th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team continues its non-conference slate with a showdown at No. 3 Pitt on Monday, Sept. 19. The 7 p.m. tilt with the Panthers will be broadcast on ESPN+ and ACC Network Extra.

HEAD COACHES
Pitt: Jay Vidovich (Ohio Wesleyan, 1982), Overall Record: 272-121-50 (21st Season), Record at Pitt: 62-51-8 (Seventh Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 164-72-29 (14th Season), Record at Akron: 117-51-21 (10th Season)

SCOUTING PITT
Pitt enters action on Monday, Sept. 19, at 5-1-0 on the campaign following a 2-0 victory over NC State on Friday, Sept. 16. The Panthers have posted clean sheets in four of Pitt's first six games and surrendered only three goals all season.

Junior Bertin Jacquesson and senior Valentin Noel lead the Panthers with a team-best three goals each, while Jacquesson paces the squad in points (9) and shots (19) and Noel in shots on goal (9) and game-winners (2). Senior GK Joe van der Sar has pulled in 15 saves en route to posting a 0.50 goals against average.

As a team, the Panthers are ranked 12th in the NCAA in shots on goal per game (8.0), 14th in shots per contest (17.0) and shutout percentage (.667), 15th in goals against average (0.50), 20th in goal differential (12), 22nd in corner kicks (6.67), save percentage (.833) and winning percentage (.833), 25th in points per tilt (7.50) and scoring offense (2.50), 29th in assists per game (2.50), 31st in total goals (15), 32nd in total assists (15) and 35th in total points (45).

Individually, Jacquesson is rated 30th in the NCAA in points per tilt (1.50), 32nd in total assists (3), 36th in assists per game (0.50), 41st in shots per outing (3.17) and 45th in total goals (3) and game-winners (2). Additionally, van der Sor is ranked ninth in shutouts (.667), 20th in goals against average (0.50) and 30th in save percentage (.833).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Pittsburgh are meeting for the 30th time in program history with the Zips owning a 19-8-2 series advantage. A year ago, Akron registered a 2-1 victory over the Panthers on Sept. 6, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

AKRON VERSUS THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference for the first time this season and 74th time overall.
• Akron owns a 41-26-6 (.603) all-time record versus the current 12 members of the ACC.
• In their last encounter with a school from the ACC, the Zips registered a 2-1 victory over the Panthers on Sept. 6, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 6, 2021 - AKRON, OHIO)
Diogo Pacheco scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 76th minute (75:29) to send an electric FirstEnergy Stadium crowd home happy as the Zips garnered a 2-1 men's soccer triumph over No. 3 Pitt on Sept. 6, 2021.

The game-winning tally came courtesy of a pair of strong passes for assists from juniors Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) and Ryan Kingsford (Herne Bay, England).

Fueled by a 10-3 advantage in second-half shots, the Panthers edged the Zips on the night in overall shots, 15-12, including registering a 7-5 margin in shots on goal.

Akron benefited from a team-best three strikes apiece from Pacheco and sophomores Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) and Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.).

Goalkeeper Will Meyer was stellar in net for the Zips making six saves, including several of the acrobatic variety.

A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.748), with an overall record of 227-64-37. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 216-67-38 (.732), Maryland, 215-68-45 (.724), North Carolina, 205-73-47 (.703) and Creighton, 202-81-33 (.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.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Seventeen of the 29 matches between Akron and Pittsburgh, including the last six of the last meetings, have resulted in a shutout with the Zips owning a 19-8-2 mark in those contests.
• Akron maintains a 8-4-2 mark in its 14 road encounters with the Panthers. The Zips have outscored Pittsburgh, 35-18, all-time on the road.
• After dropping decisions in four of the first five home games with the Panthers dating back to 1957, Akron has won nine straight on its home pitch since posting a 2-0 victory on Nov. 4, 1967.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 18 all-time meetings with Pittsburgh.
• Akron has scored three or more goals in four of its first six games this season.
• The Zips are rated sixth in the NCAA in total goals (18) and in total points (52), seventh in scoring offense (3.00), 10th in points per game (8.67), 11th in total assists (16), 17th in assists per tilt (2.67), 24th in goal differential (8), 29th in winning percentage (.750), 35th in shots on goal (6.67) and 45th in shots per outing (14.00).
• Individually, Dyson Clapier is ranked third in the country in game-winning goals (2), while junior Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio) is 32nd in assists (3) and Jason Shokalook is 16th in total goals (4), 19th in total points (10), 34th in points per outing (1.67) and 45th in game-winning goals (1). Additionally, Mitch Budler is ranked seventh 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 1-1-1 versus ranked teams this season following a 3-3 draw with Ohio State on Sept. 13. Additionally, Akron dropped a 2-0 decision at Indiana on Sept. 9 after registering a 5-3 victory past No. 18 FIU on Aug. 25.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 30-21-6 mark against ranked opponents.
• Jason Shokalook is Akron's active career leader in goals (10) and points (27), while Ryan Kingsford and Dyson Clapier have scored eight and seven goals, respectively. Will Jackson paces the squad in shots (70) and shots on goal (33) and Clapier in game-winning goals (4). Jason Shokalook leads the Zips in assists (9).
• The Zips own a 117-51-21 mark over the last 10 seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 117 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 86 of the squad's last 152 matches.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to faces Penn State in a 4 p.m. tilt on Sunday, Sept. 25.

The University of Akron Athletics

Players Mentioned

Mitch Budler

Dyson Clapier

Will Jackson

Ryan Kingsford

Will Meyer

Diogo Pacheco

Josef Paulus

Jason Shokalook

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