Akron Faces Road Test at Creighton

AKRON, Ohio – The fifth-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team faces a key road test at Creighton on Wednesday (Oct. 18). The 7 p.m. ET tilt with the Bluejays will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network/FloSports.

GAME INFO
Akron at Creighton | Oct. 18 | 7 PM ET | Morrison Stadium | Live Stats | BIG EAST Digital Network/FloSports

PARKING UPDATE
For the remaining matches this season, Akron fans are asked to please park in Lots 6 (Along S. Union Street between InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field and Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex) and Lot 10 (Corner of Vine and Spicer Streets behind the Stile Athletics Field House). Overflow parking will be available in Lot 8. All other parking lots will require a university permit. If parking at metered spaces outside of these designated lots, meters must be paid in full and current.

HEAD COACHES
Creighton: Johnny Torres (Creighton, 2008), Overall Record: 39-31-15 (Fifth Season), Record at Creighton: 39-31-15 (Fifth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 180-75-38 (14th Season), Record at Akron: 133-54-30 (11th Season)

SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 11th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its showdown versus Creighton on Wednesday (Oct. 18) at 9-0-5 on the campaign, including a 2-0-3 mark in the BIG EAST, following a 0-0 draw at Xavier on Oct. 14.

Junior Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) owns team-high marks in goals (13), assists (4), points (30), shots (64), shots on goal (33) and game-winners (3). Redshirt sophomore GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 21 saves and owns a 0.57 goals against average with seven shutouts this season.

The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in shots on goal per contest (8.29) and shots per game (19.07), second in corner kicks (7.86), third in shutout percentage (.643), fifth in goal differential (21) and team goals against average (.500), sixth in total assists (34) and winning percentage (.821), ninth in total points (90), 13th in assists per game (2.43) and in save percentage (.816), 14th in total goals (28), 19th in points per tilt (6.43) and 25th in scoring offense (2.00).

Individually, Jason Shokalook is first in the NCAA in total goals (13) and total points (30), second in shots on goal per match (2.54), third in shots per outing (4.92), goals per game (1.00) and in points per tilt (2.31) and 17th in game-winning goals (3). Mitch Budler is eighth in shutouts (7) and in goals against average (0.570) and 37th in save percentage (.778).

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 CREIGHTON
Creighton enters its match against Akron on Wednesday (Oct. 18) at 3-5-5 on the season, including 2-2-1 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 2-1 setback at Seton Hall on Oct. 14.

Senior Alfie Pope leads the Bluejays in goals (4), shots (32), shots on goal (11) and game-winners (2), while senior Giorgio Probo paces the squad in assists (5). Redshirt sophomore GK Blake Gillingham and junior Nathan Schnur have combined to record 56 saves this season and maintain a 1. 46 goals against average with two shutouts.

As a team, Creighton is rated fourth in the NCAA in corner kicks (7.23), 22nd in saves per game (4.54) and 37th in shots per contest (13.69).

Individually, Gillingham is rated 24th in the NCAA in saves per tilt (4.43) and 42nd in save percentage (.775).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron is encountering Creighton for the seventh time in program history with the Zips owning a 3-1-2 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, the Bluejays posted a 2-1 home victory past Akron on Sept. 6, 2019.

AKRON NOTES
• Two of the six matches between Akron and Creighton have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips owning a 2-0-0 mark in those contests.
• Defense has dominated the series between Akron and Creighton as neither team has scored more than one goal in four of the six encounters.
• Akron has posted double-digit shots on goal seven times this season.
• The Zips have recorded 20 or more shots in seven games this season.
• The Zips earned their first-ever BIG EAST Conference victory with a 3-1 decision past Seton Hall on Sept. 29. Nearly 30 years ago, Akron garnered its initial win in the Mid-American Conference with a 4-0 triumph over Western Michigan on Oct. 8, 1993. Both historic triumphs came at home.
• Akron is one of six unbeaten teams in NCAA D1 play this season joining Marshall (12-0), West Virginia (9-0-4), SIU Edwardsville (10-0-3), Michigan State (6-0-6) and Saint Francis (Pa.) (4-0-6).
• Akron is rated 12th in the latest NCAA RPI poll, while owning a 2-0-1 mark versus top-30 teams in the rankings. The Zips bested No. 7 Florida International and No. 8 Vermont, while garnering a draw with No. 3 Notre Dame.

AMAZING RUN OF PLAY
Jason Shokalook has turned in an amazing run of play over the last five 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 (35), shots on goal (19) 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 connecting on his second career hat trick at Cleveland State (Oct. 10). He now owns seven career multi-goal affairs, including five this season.

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Players Mentioned

Mitch Budler

Jonas Buechte

Dyson Clapier

Johnny Fitzgerald

Malik Henry

Will Jackson

Joel Sangwa

Jason Shokalook

Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal

The University of Akron Athletics