The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Men’s Soccer Welcomes Six Newcomers for 2024 Spring Campaign
January 25 | Men's Soccer
2024 AKRON MEN'S SOCCER SPRING ROSTER
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer squad under the leadership of 12th-year head coach Jared Embick, has announced a talented six-member newcomer class that will hit the pitch for the Zips during the 2024 spring campaign.
Donning the Akron uniform this spring will be Devin Armstrong (Palm Harbor, Fla.), Maximus Barboto (Wayne, N.J.), Joshua Bartels (Stafford, Va.), Nicholas Beier (Dietzenbach, Germany), James Buebendorf (O'Fallon, Mo.) and Roberto Ydrach (Orlando, Fla.).
A native of Palm Harbor, Fla., Armstrong, a goalkeeper, comes to Akron after playing two seasons at Wake Forest. He appeared in three games for the Demon Deacons this past season, recording a pair of combined shutouts in net after redshirting his freshman campaign in 2022. Rated as a three-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.com, he gained valuable playing experience with the Developmental Academy with Tampa Bay United before playing two seasons in MLS Next with Tampa Bay United.
Embick on Armstrong – "An athletic goalkeeper who is quick off his line and can make athletic saves."
Barboto, a midfielder from Wayne, N.J., arrives at Akron after playing two seasons at New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he started all 33 games for the Highlanders. He registered a goal and 13 assists on the strength of 23 shots, including seven on goal at NJIT playing under his father, Fernando, who is in his ninth season as the Highlander's head coach. A year ago, Barboto garnered America East First-Team accolades and was named to the America-East All-Championship squad for the second straight year. He posted a goal and nine assists on the campaign and ranked 15th in the NCAA in assists (9) and 17th in assists per game (0.53). As a freshman in 2022, he was tabbed the America East Rookie of the Year and named to the America East All-Rookie and All-Championship teams in 2022. He attended Wayne Valley High School and played for NYCFC Academy for two seasons.
Embick on Barboto – "An attacking player that has skill, passing ability and an eye for goal. Excellent in the final third. Can score from distance and one of the best assist players in the country."
A native of Stafford, Va., Bartels, a midfielder, gained valuable playing experience with Columbus Crew Academy. He is rated a three-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Embick on Bartels – "A versatile attacking player that can play wide or through the middle. He is very skillful and a shifty player."
A native of Dietzenbach, Germany, Beier, a midfielder, gained valuable playing experience with Darmstadt 98.
Embick on Beier – "A very strong and balanced midfielder, who can play box-to-box. He is good at driving the team and will help us dominate the midfield."
A native of O'Fallon, Mo., Buebendorf, a defender, gained valuable playing experience with St. Louis City SC. A three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com, he is rated among the IMG Academy 150 and ranks as the No. 8 player in the Heartland Region and as the 45th-rated defender nationally.
Embick on Buebendorf – "An Attacking left back that has great potential to add to our attack. He is very technical and has great crossing ability."
A native of Orlando, Fla., Ydrach, a midfielder/defender comes to Akron as a graduate transfer after a decorated career at Central Florida where he appeared in 47 games, including 24 starts, and was a member of America Athletic Conference regular season championship squads in 2019 and 2020 and an AAC Tournament crown in 2020. He finished his career with the Knights recording two goals and five assists on the strength of 20 shots, with 10 coming on goal. As a redshirt senior this past season, he appeared in 11 games, including one start, registering a goal and three assists. He was named to the AAC All-Tournament team in 2020. Additionally, he gained valuable playing experience for the Puerto Rican National Team for the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League, hitting the pitch against the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands. Prior to UCF, he played club soccer with Orlando City Academy and New York Red Bulls Academy.
Embick on Ydrach – "An experienced player that can play center back or defensive-mid. He is a very good leader that reads the game well. He is a good passer of the ball whether it is in the back line or midfield."
2024 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class
Devin Armstrong, goalkeeper, Palm Harbor, Fla. (Berkeley Preparatory School/Wake Forest)
Maximus Barboto, midfielder, Wayne, N.J. (Wayne Valley/NJIT)
Joshua Bartels, midfielder, Stafford, Va. (New Albany (Ohio))
Nicholas Beier, midfielder, Dietzenbach, Germany (Adolf Reichwein Gymnasium)
James Buebendorf, defender, O'Fallon, Mo. (Laurel Springs)
Roberto Ydrach, midfielder/defender, Orlando, Fla. (Olympia/UCF)
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer squad under the leadership of 12th-year head coach Jared Embick, has announced a talented six-member newcomer class that will hit the pitch for the Zips during the 2024 spring campaign.
Donning the Akron uniform this spring will be Devin Armstrong (Palm Harbor, Fla.), Maximus Barboto (Wayne, N.J.), Joshua Bartels (Stafford, Va.), Nicholas Beier (Dietzenbach, Germany), James Buebendorf (O'Fallon, Mo.) and Roberto Ydrach (Orlando, Fla.).
A native of Palm Harbor, Fla., Armstrong, a goalkeeper, comes to Akron after playing two seasons at Wake Forest. He appeared in three games for the Demon Deacons this past season, recording a pair of combined shutouts in net after redshirting his freshman campaign in 2022. Rated as a three-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.com, he gained valuable playing experience with the Developmental Academy with Tampa Bay United before playing two seasons in MLS Next with Tampa Bay United.
Embick on Armstrong – "An athletic goalkeeper who is quick off his line and can make athletic saves."
Barboto, a midfielder from Wayne, N.J., arrives at Akron after playing two seasons at New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he started all 33 games for the Highlanders. He registered a goal and 13 assists on the strength of 23 shots, including seven on goal at NJIT playing under his father, Fernando, who is in his ninth season as the Highlander's head coach. A year ago, Barboto garnered America East First-Team accolades and was named to the America-East All-Championship squad for the second straight year. He posted a goal and nine assists on the campaign and ranked 15th in the NCAA in assists (9) and 17th in assists per game (0.53). As a freshman in 2022, he was tabbed the America East Rookie of the Year and named to the America East All-Rookie and All-Championship teams in 2022. He attended Wayne Valley High School and played for NYCFC Academy for two seasons.
Embick on Barboto – "An attacking player that has skill, passing ability and an eye for goal. Excellent in the final third. Can score from distance and one of the best assist players in the country."
A native of Stafford, Va., Bartels, a midfielder, gained valuable playing experience with Columbus Crew Academy. He is rated a three-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Embick on Bartels – "A versatile attacking player that can play wide or through the middle. He is very skillful and a shifty player."
A native of Dietzenbach, Germany, Beier, a midfielder, gained valuable playing experience with Darmstadt 98.
Embick on Beier – "A very strong and balanced midfielder, who can play box-to-box. He is good at driving the team and will help us dominate the midfield."
A native of O'Fallon, Mo., Buebendorf, a defender, gained valuable playing experience with St. Louis City SC. A three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com, he is rated among the IMG Academy 150 and ranks as the No. 8 player in the Heartland Region and as the 45th-rated defender nationally.
Embick on Buebendorf – "An Attacking left back that has great potential to add to our attack. He is very technical and has great crossing ability."
A native of Orlando, Fla., Ydrach, a midfielder/defender comes to Akron as a graduate transfer after a decorated career at Central Florida where he appeared in 47 games, including 24 starts, and was a member of America Athletic Conference regular season championship squads in 2019 and 2020 and an AAC Tournament crown in 2020. He finished his career with the Knights recording two goals and five assists on the strength of 20 shots, with 10 coming on goal. As a redshirt senior this past season, he appeared in 11 games, including one start, registering a goal and three assists. He was named to the AAC All-Tournament team in 2020. Additionally, he gained valuable playing experience for the Puerto Rican National Team for the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League, hitting the pitch against the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands. Prior to UCF, he played club soccer with Orlando City Academy and New York Red Bulls Academy.
Embick on Ydrach – "An experienced player that can play center back or defensive-mid. He is a very good leader that reads the game well. He is a good passer of the ball whether it is in the back line or midfield."
2024 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class
Devin Armstrong, goalkeeper, Palm Harbor, Fla. (Berkeley Preparatory School/Wake Forest)
Maximus Barboto, midfielder, Wayne, N.J. (Wayne Valley/NJIT)
Joshua Bartels, midfielder, Stafford, Va. (New Albany (Ohio))
Nicholas Beier, midfielder, Dietzenbach, Germany (Adolf Reichwein Gymnasium)
James Buebendorf, defender, O'Fallon, Mo. (Laurel Springs)
Roberto Ydrach, midfielder/defender, Orlando, Fla. (Olympia/UCF)
Players Mentioned
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