No. 3 Akron Battles Xavier in BIG EAST Showdown

Saturday, October 14

Cincinnati, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Xavier

October 13 | Men's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio – The third-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team faces a key road showdown at BIG EAST Conference Midwest Division leader Xavier on Saturday (Oct. 14). The 7 p.m. tilt with the Musketeers will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network/FloSports.

GAME INFO
Akron at Xavier | Oct. 14 | 7 PM | Corcoran Field | Live Stats | BIG EAST Digital Network/FloSports

HEAD COACHES
Xavier: John Higgins (UIndy, 2010), Overall Record: 165-61-38 (14th Season), Record at Xavier: 15-5-9 (Second Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 180-75-37 (14th Season), Record at Akron: 133-54-29 (11th Season)

SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 11th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its showdown versus Xavier on Saturday (Oct. 13) at 9-0-4 on the campaign, including a 2-0-2 mark in the BIG EAST, following a 3-0 victory at Cleveland State on Oct. 10.

Junior Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) owns team-high marks in goals (13), assists (4), points (30), shots (59), shots on goal (32) and game-winners (3). Redshirt sophomore GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 19 saves and owns a 0.60 goals against average with six shutouts this season.

The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in shots on goal per contest (8.54) and shots per game (19.62), second in corner kicks (8.00), fourth in goal differential (21) and total assists (34), fifth in total points (90), shutout percentage (.615), winning percentage (.846) and in team goals against average (.538), sixth in total goals (28), 11th in assists per game (2.62), 15th in points per tilt (6.92), 17th in scoring offense (2.15) and 20th in save percentage (.800).

Individually, Jason Shokalook is first in the NCAA in total goals (13) and total points (30), second in shots per outing (4.92) and in shots on goal per match (2.67), third in goals per game (1.08) and in points per tilt (2.50) and 13th in game-winning goals (3), while Josef Paulus is rated 47th in the country in game-winning goals (2). Mitch Budler is fourth in shutouts (6) and ninth in goals against average (0.600).

Overall, Akron returns 11 starters in 2023 from a squad that registered a 11-4-5 overall record, including a 5-0-3 ledger in league play. Headlining that group is 2022 All-Mid-American Conference performers, juniors Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) and Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) and redshirt junior Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.), junior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario), redshirt senior Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio), senior Joel Sangwa (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Shokalook and junior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.), from a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 35th time in program history.

SCOUTING XAVIER
Xavier enters its match at Akron on Saturday (Oct. 14) at 6-3-2 on the season, including 3-1-0 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 2-1 victory at Marquette on Oct. 7.

Senior Jerome Jolly leads the Musketeers in goals (4), points (10), shots on goal (12) and game-winners (4), while junior Taylor Rhinehart paces the squad in assists (3) and shots (20). Sophomore GK Jonny Mennell has recorded 29 saves this season and maintains a 1.09 goals against average with four shutouts.

As a team, Xavier is rated first in the NCAA in penalty kicks (1.000) and 45th in shutout percentage (.364).

Individually, Jolly is rated third in the NCAA in game-winning goals (4), while Mennell is ranked 26th in shutouts (4)

SERIES HISTORY
Akron is encountering Xavier for the ninth time in program history with the Zips owning a 7-1-0 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, the Musketeers posted a 2-0 home victory past Akron on Aug. 30, 2019.

AKRON NOTES
• Four of the eight matches between Akron and Xavier have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips owning a 3-1-0 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored Xavier, 9-5, in five road games against the Musketeers.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in six all-time meetings with Xavier.
• Akron has posted double-digit shots on goal in four straight games and seven times this season.
• The Zips have recorded 20 or more shots in seven games this season.
• Akron is one of seven unbeaten teams in NCAA D1 play this season joining Marshall (11-0), Northwestern (9-0-3), West Virginia (9-0-4), SIU Edwardsville (9-0-3), Michigan State (6-0-5) and Saint Francis (Pa.) (4-0-5).
• Akron is rated 23rd in the latest NCAA RPI poll, while owning a 2-0-1 mark versus top-30 teams in the rankings. The Zips bested No. 15 Vermont and No. 19 Florida International, while garnering a draw with No. 5 Notre Dame.

SHOKALOOK NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) was honored by College Soccer News as its National Player of the Week it was announced on Monday, Oct. 9.

Additionally, the BIG EAST Conference honored Shokalook as its Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, while GK Mitch Budler and Malik Henry were selected to the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Honor Roll.

Shokalook continued his dominating run of play last week registering four goals in victories over Northern Kentucky and DePaul to extend the Zips' winning streak to three. He finished the week recording a team-high 18 shots, including nine on goal and tallied two goals against both squads and has now posted a brace in three consecutive matches.

AMAZING RUN OF PLAY
Jason Shokalook has turned in an amazing run of play over the last four games for Akron having recorded nine of his team-leading 13 goals over the span on the strength of team-high marks in goals (9), points (18), shots (30), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (2). He delivered braces in back-to-back-to-back contests against Seton Hall (Sept. 29), Northern Kentucky (Oct. 3) and DePaul (Oct. 7) before delivering his second career hat trick at Cleveland State (Oct. 10). He now owns seven career multi-goal affairs, including five this season.