No. 5 Akron Hosts Long Island

AKRON, Ohio – The fifth-rated University of Akron men's soccer team hosts Long Island in a 7 p.m. tilt on Friday (Sept. 8) at FirstEnergy Stadium.

GAME INFO
Akron vs. Long Island | Sept. 8 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | FloSports

PARKING UPDATE
Akron fans are strongly encouraged to park in Lot 1 (Parking Garage) at the corner of Carroll and Spicer Streets off Route 8 for all Akron fall home sporting events due to construction on Exchange Street in Akron. For fans traveling using Route 8 North to campus please be advised that the Carroll Street exit off Route 8 is temporarily closed and to please allow extra time getting to campus.

HEAD COACHES
Long Island: Michael Mordocco (UConn, 2002), Overall Record: 51-25-13 (Sixth Season), Record at LIU: 37-20-12 (Fifth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 174-75-33 (14th Season), Record at Akron: 127-54-25 (11th Season)

SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 11th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its showdown versus Long Island on Friday (Sept. 8) at 3-0-1 on the campaign following a 1-0 triumph past Southern Indiana on Monday (Sept. 4).

Senior Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio) owns team-high marks in goals (2), assists (1), points (5), shots on goal (4) and game-winners (1), while junior Gyuwon Chong (Kansas City, Mo.) leads the squad in shots (13). Nine different Zips have recorded an assist this season. Redshirt freshman GK Seth Wilson (Frisco, Texas) has collected eight saves and owns a 0.00 goals against average with two shutouts this season.

The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in penalty kicks (1.000), third in shutout percentage (.750) and teams goals against average (0.25), fifth in goal differential (8), eighth in shots per game (17.50), ninth in winning percentage (.875), 10th in save percentage (.889), 19th in total goals (9) and in total points (27), 20th in total assists (9), 23rd in points per tilt (6.75), 25th in assists per game (2.25), 26th in scoring offense (2.25) and 33rd in shots on goal per contest (6.50).

Individually, junior Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah), redshirt senior Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio) and Paulus are rated 24th in the country in game-winning goals (1), while Chong is 45th in shots per game (3.25). Wilson is 11th in the NCAA in goals against average (.033), 12th in shutouts (2) and 15th in save percentage (0.67).

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, junior Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany), Clapier and redshirt junior Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.), junior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario), Jackson, senior Joel Sangwa (Phoenix, Ariz.) and juniors Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) and Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.), from a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 35th time in program history.

ZIPS SET TO JOIN BIG EAST
The Zips will make their Big East Conference debut this fall with an eight-game schedule that will culminate with the league's tournament running Nov. 4-12.

CLAPIER NAMED TO MAC HERMANN TROPHY LIST
Dyson Clapier added another accolade to his growing resume with his selection on Aug. 24 to the 2023 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List.

Clapier is one of 37 men tabbed for consideration for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer recognizing the National Player of the Year as determined by the voting of Division I coaches who are members of United Soccer Coaches.

AKRON RECEIVES MULTIPLE PRESEASON ACCOLADES
• Dyson Clapier and Joel Sangwa were tabbed by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Preseason Best XI First Team
• Clapier was selected as a Preseason All-BIG EAST honoree
• The United Soccer Coaches honored Dyson Clapier, Will Jackson, Joel Sangwa and Jason Shokalook on its National Players to Watch lists.

SCOUTING LONG ISLAND
Long Island enters its match versus Akron on Friday (Sept. 8) at 3-1-0 on the season following a 4-0 victory past VMI on Sept. 4.

Redshirt junior Ben Assane Fall leads the Sharks in goals (3), points (7) and game-winners (2), while senior Emil Jaaskelainen owns team-leading totals in assists (2), shots (24) and shots on goal (11). Senior GK Eoin Gawronski has recorded 13 saves this season and maintains a 1.00 goals against average with a pair of shutouts.

As a team, Long Island is rated seventh in the NCAA in assists (11) and assists per game (2.75), 12th in total points (29), 15th in points per contest (7.25), 18th in shots per tilt (16.25) and shots on goal per outing (16.25), 19th in total goals (9), 23rd in shutout percentage (.500), 25th in goal differential (5), 26th in scoring offense (2.25) and 32nd in winning percentage (.750).

Individually, Assane Fall is rated third in the NCAA in game-winning goals (2), 17th in shots per affair (3.75) and total goals (3), 22nd in total points (7), 30th in goals per game (0.75) and 36th in points per tilt (1.75). Jaaskelainen is ranked second in shots per contest (6.00), fourth in shots on goal per game (2.75), 38th in total assists (2), 39th in total points (6).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Long Island are meeting for the first time in program history.

TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased now by calling or texting 888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) during our business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

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Players Mentioned

Jonas Buechte

Gyuwon Chong

Dyson Clapier

Johnny Fitzgerald

Malik Henry

Will Jackson

Josef Paulus

Joel Sangwa

Jason Shokalook

Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal

Seth Wilson

The University of Akron Athletics