The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, October 19
Chicago, Ill.
3:00 PM ET
University of Akron
at
DePaul
Akron Faces Road Test at DePaul
October 18 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The 23rd-rated University of Akron men's soccer team heads to Chicago for a showdown at DePaul on Saturday (Oct. 19). The 3 p.m. ET match with the Blue Demons will be broadcast on the Marquee Sports Network.
GAME INFO
Akron at DePaul | Oct. 19 | 3 PM ET | Chicago, Ill. | Live Stats | Marquee Sports Network
HEAD COACHES
DePaul: Mark Plotkin (DePaul, 2010), Overall Record: 31-48-25 (Seventh Season), Record at DePaul: 31-48-25 (Seventh Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 187-80-43 (15th Season), Record at Akron: 140-59-35 (12th Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 12th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its tilt at DePaul on Saturday (Oct. 19) at 7-3-3 on the campaign, including 4-0-0 in the BIG EAST Conference, following an 3-2 victory over Villanova on Saturday (Oct. 12).
Redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England) leads the Zips in goals (14), assists (6), points (34), shots (63), shots on goal (29) and game-winners (4), while redshirt senior Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah), senior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.), redshirt senior Victor Gaulmin (Guipavas, France) and redshirt freshman Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) have added four, three, two and two goals, respectively, to go along with Jaaskelainen, Clapier and Gaulmin owning a team-best six, five and five assists, respectively, on the campaign. Redshirt junior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 38 saves and owns a 1.23 goals against average.
Akron returns six starters in 2024, including 2023 All-BIG EAST Conference performers, seniors Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) and senior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario).
The Zips will also be bolstered by the return of key 2023 contributors in Budler, Clapier, junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown Ohio), juniors Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) and Daragh Reilly (Meath, Ireland) and Wan Kamal.
SCOUTING DEPAUL
DePaul comes into play versus the Zips on Saturday (Oct. 19) at 5-5-2 on the campaign, including 1-2-1 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 4-1 setback at St. John's on Saturday (Oct. 12).
Sophomore Noeh Hernandez leads the Blue Demons in goals (6), assists (7), points (19), shots (32), shots on goal (11) and game-winners (3). Senior goalkeeper Santiago Davila has posted 49 saves en route to owning a 1.75 combined goals against average with a pair of shutouts.
The Blue Demons are ranked 28th in the NCAA in total goals (24), points per game (6.00) and scoring offense (2.00), 29th in assists per tilt (2.00), 30th in total assists (24), 31st in total points (72) and 36th in saves per contest (4.33). Individually, Hernandez is rated 11th in total assists (7), 16th in assists per tilt (0.58), 22nd in total points (19), 26th in points per game (1.58) and 44th in total goals (6).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is encountering DePaul for the second time in program history with the Zips owning a 1-0-0 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron bested the Blue Demons, 3-0, on Oct. 7, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 7, 2023 – AKRON, OHIO)
A trio of second-half goals, including a pair from Jason Shokalook propelled the fourth-rated Akron to a 3-0 victory over DePaul on Oct. 7, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Akron grabbed a 1-0 lead when junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) scored in the 72nd minute, assisted by Jonas Buechte and Malik Henry.
The Zips increased their lead to 2-0 on a goal from Shokalook, in the 73rd minute before Akron made it a 3-0 advantage on Shokalook's 81st-minute goal.
SEVEN ZIPS HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus Villanova on Saturday (Oct. 12), marked Senior Night in the careers of Jonas Buechte, Dyson Clapier, Victor Gaulmin, Malik Henry, Emil Jaaskelainen, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Beto Ydrach (Orlando, Fla.).
Buechte has appeared in 69 career games as a Zip recording two goals, including one game-winner, to go along with nine assists on the heels of registering 37 shots, of which 13 fell on frame.
Clapier has appeared in 71 career games as a Zip, recording 18 goals, 17 assists and 53 points on 127 shots, including 59 on goal, with seven game-winning goals.
Gaulmin has appeared in 13 career games as a Zip recording two goals, to go along with five assists on the strength of registering 16 shots, including five on frame.
Henry has appeared in 64 career games as a Zip recording one goal, a game-winner, and 16 assists on the strength of 31 shots, including 17 on net.
Jaaskelainen has started all 13 career games as a Zip recording 14 goals, six assists, 34 points and four game-winning goals on the strength of registering 63 shots, of which 29 fell on frame.
Wan Kamal has appeared in 69 career games as a Zip, en route to recording seven goals and 17 assists on the strength of 66 shots, including 31 on goal.
Ydrach has appeared in 12 games for Akron this fall, including 11 starts, he owns two assists on the strength of eight shots, including three on net.
JAASKELAINEN NAMED TDS NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emil Jaaskelainen was named by TopDrawerSoccer.com as its Men's Soccer National Player of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday (Oct. 15).
Jaaskelainen continued his stellar campaign a week ago registering five goals, including a first-half hat trick in a 3-2 victory over Villanova on Saturday (Oct. 12).
He opened his week recording his fourth multi-goal game of the year netting a pair of tallies in a 6-1 victory past Wright State on Oct. 8. Jaaskelainen finished the night recording a game-high five shots, including three on goal.
He then posted his second hat trick of the season with a three-goal explosion in the opening half en route to registering a season-best and game-high 12 shots, including five on net.
JAASKELAINEN NAMED BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emil Jaaskelainen was named the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday (Oct. 15).
AKRON NOTES
• In the only previous match-up between Akron and DePaul, the Zips posted a 3-0 shutout victory past the Blue Demons on Oct. 7, 2023.
• The Zips have outscored DePaul, 3-0, in one home game against the Blue Demons.
• Akron's next victory will mark the 250th triumph for the Zips since head coach Jared Embick joined the staff for the 2007 campaign.
• Emil Jaaskelainen posted his fifth multi-goal effort of the season against Villanova (Oct. 12) collecting a first-half hat trick. Earlier in the campaign, he recorded back-to-back multiple-goal performances following notching a hat trick in an 8-0 Akron victory over Saint Francis (Sept. 24). A game earlier, he posted his second multi-goal effort of the season with a pair of goals in a 4-3 win over Butler (Sept. 20). He played a hand in all four goals in the victory versus the Bulldogs as he collected a pair of assists to go along with his two scores. Additionally, he netted a pair of goals against Wright State (Oct. 8) and Cleveland State (Sept. 2).
• Emil Jaaskelainen enters play versus DePaul with 57 career goals, a mark that is rated No. 1 among active career leaders in Division I and fifth overall across all divisions. Additionally, he is ranked fifth in career points (134) across all divisions.
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in total goals (33), second in total points (105), total assists (39) and in assists per tilt (3.00), third in points per match (8.08), fourth in scoring offense (2.54), sixth in goal differential (17), seventh in shots per game (16.38), 15th in shots on goal per contest (6.77), 21st in corner kicks (6.15) and 39th in winning percentage (.654).
• Individually, GK Mitch Budler is rated seventh in the NCAA in goalie minutes played (1,170:00) and 30th in shutouts (5), Emil Jaaskelainen is ranked first in total goals (14), total points (34), goals per match (1.08) and points per outing (2.62), second in shots per game (4.85) and game-winning goals (4), fourth in shots on goal per contest (2.23), 25th in total assists (6) and 41st in assists per tilt (0.46). Additionally, Victor Gaulmin and Dyson Clapier are 43rd in total assists (5).
• Mitch Budler is rated 16th among active career leaders in D1 in solo shutouts (18), 27th in goals against average (1.05) and 30th in goalie minutes played (4,277.62). Emil Jaaskelainen is first in D1 active leaders in points (134) and goals (57), second in points per game (1.76) and in goals per tilt (0.75), 13th in assists (20), 15th in assists per contest (0.26) and 32nd in games played (76). Malik Henry is rated 38th in career assists (16).
• Thirteen different Zips have scored a goal this season, including four newcomers.
• Twenty-three Zips have registered a shot this season, including 11 newcomers.
• All but one field player for the Zips to have played in a game this season has posted a shot for Akron.
• Eleven Akron newcomers have appeared in a match for the Zips this season.
• Akron has posted double-digit shots in nine tilts this season.
• The Zips are 1-0-2 versus ranked teams this season following a 1-1 draw at No. 2 Notre Dame (Aug. 22), a 1-1 tie at No. 5 Western Michigan (Aug. 30) and a 4-0 triumph past No. 13 VCU (Sept. 6). A year ago, Akron was 2-0-1 against ranked squads after a 0-0 draw with No. 15 Notre Dame (Sept. 19), a 2-0 victory over No. 11 Florida International (Sept. 11) and a 1-0 triumph past No. 7 Vermont (Aug. 28).
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 34-22-10 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dyson Clapier is Akron's active career leaders in goals (17), points (50), shots (127), shots on goal (59) and game-winners (6), while ranking third in assists (14). Emil Jaaskelainen, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Stefan Dobrijevic have scored 14, six and five goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 140-59-35 mark over the last 12 seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 140 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 28-14-7.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 107 of the squad's last 197 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 44 of its last 92 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 90-18-15 record in its last 123 home matches.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 93-46-31 record.
UP NEXT
Akron hosts Creighton in the regular season home finale at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 23) at FirstEnergy Stadium.
GAME INFO
Akron at DePaul | Oct. 19 | 3 PM ET | Chicago, Ill. | Live Stats | Marquee Sports Network
HEAD COACHES
DePaul: Mark Plotkin (DePaul, 2010), Overall Record: 31-48-25 (Seventh Season), Record at DePaul: 31-48-25 (Seventh Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 187-80-43 (15th Season), Record at Akron: 140-59-35 (12th Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 12th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its tilt at DePaul on Saturday (Oct. 19) at 7-3-3 on the campaign, including 4-0-0 in the BIG EAST Conference, following an 3-2 victory over Villanova on Saturday (Oct. 12).
Redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England) leads the Zips in goals (14), assists (6), points (34), shots (63), shots on goal (29) and game-winners (4), while redshirt senior Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah), senior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.), redshirt senior Victor Gaulmin (Guipavas, France) and redshirt freshman Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) have added four, three, two and two goals, respectively, to go along with Jaaskelainen, Clapier and Gaulmin owning a team-best six, five and five assists, respectively, on the campaign. Redshirt junior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 38 saves and owns a 1.23 goals against average.
Akron returns six starters in 2024, including 2023 All-BIG EAST Conference performers, seniors Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) and senior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario).
The Zips will also be bolstered by the return of key 2023 contributors in Budler, Clapier, junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown Ohio), juniors Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) and Daragh Reilly (Meath, Ireland) and Wan Kamal.
SCOUTING DEPAUL
DePaul comes into play versus the Zips on Saturday (Oct. 19) at 5-5-2 on the campaign, including 1-2-1 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 4-1 setback at St. John's on Saturday (Oct. 12).
Sophomore Noeh Hernandez leads the Blue Demons in goals (6), assists (7), points (19), shots (32), shots on goal (11) and game-winners (3). Senior goalkeeper Santiago Davila has posted 49 saves en route to owning a 1.75 combined goals against average with a pair of shutouts.
The Blue Demons are ranked 28th in the NCAA in total goals (24), points per game (6.00) and scoring offense (2.00), 29th in assists per tilt (2.00), 30th in total assists (24), 31st in total points (72) and 36th in saves per contest (4.33). Individually, Hernandez is rated 11th in total assists (7), 16th in assists per tilt (0.58), 22nd in total points (19), 26th in points per game (1.58) and 44th in total goals (6).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is encountering DePaul for the second time in program history with the Zips owning a 1-0-0 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron bested the Blue Demons, 3-0, on Oct. 7, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 7, 2023 – AKRON, OHIO)
A trio of second-half goals, including a pair from Jason Shokalook propelled the fourth-rated Akron to a 3-0 victory over DePaul on Oct. 7, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Akron grabbed a 1-0 lead when junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) scored in the 72nd minute, assisted by Jonas Buechte and Malik Henry.
The Zips increased their lead to 2-0 on a goal from Shokalook, in the 73rd minute before Akron made it a 3-0 advantage on Shokalook's 81st-minute goal.
SEVEN ZIPS HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus Villanova on Saturday (Oct. 12), marked Senior Night in the careers of Jonas Buechte, Dyson Clapier, Victor Gaulmin, Malik Henry, Emil Jaaskelainen, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Beto Ydrach (Orlando, Fla.).
Buechte has appeared in 69 career games as a Zip recording two goals, including one game-winner, to go along with nine assists on the heels of registering 37 shots, of which 13 fell on frame.
Clapier has appeared in 71 career games as a Zip, recording 18 goals, 17 assists and 53 points on 127 shots, including 59 on goal, with seven game-winning goals.
Gaulmin has appeared in 13 career games as a Zip recording two goals, to go along with five assists on the strength of registering 16 shots, including five on frame.
Henry has appeared in 64 career games as a Zip recording one goal, a game-winner, and 16 assists on the strength of 31 shots, including 17 on net.
Jaaskelainen has started all 13 career games as a Zip recording 14 goals, six assists, 34 points and four game-winning goals on the strength of registering 63 shots, of which 29 fell on frame.
Wan Kamal has appeared in 69 career games as a Zip, en route to recording seven goals and 17 assists on the strength of 66 shots, including 31 on goal.
Ydrach has appeared in 12 games for Akron this fall, including 11 starts, he owns two assists on the strength of eight shots, including three on net.
JAASKELAINEN NAMED TDS NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emil Jaaskelainen was named by TopDrawerSoccer.com as its Men's Soccer National Player of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday (Oct. 15).
Jaaskelainen continued his stellar campaign a week ago registering five goals, including a first-half hat trick in a 3-2 victory over Villanova on Saturday (Oct. 12).
He opened his week recording his fourth multi-goal game of the year netting a pair of tallies in a 6-1 victory past Wright State on Oct. 8. Jaaskelainen finished the night recording a game-high five shots, including three on goal.
He then posted his second hat trick of the season with a three-goal explosion in the opening half en route to registering a season-best and game-high 12 shots, including five on net.
JAASKELAINEN NAMED BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emil Jaaskelainen was named the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday (Oct. 15).
AKRON NOTES
• In the only previous match-up between Akron and DePaul, the Zips posted a 3-0 shutout victory past the Blue Demons on Oct. 7, 2023.
• The Zips have outscored DePaul, 3-0, in one home game against the Blue Demons.
• Akron's next victory will mark the 250th triumph for the Zips since head coach Jared Embick joined the staff for the 2007 campaign.
• Emil Jaaskelainen posted his fifth multi-goal effort of the season against Villanova (Oct. 12) collecting a first-half hat trick. Earlier in the campaign, he recorded back-to-back multiple-goal performances following notching a hat trick in an 8-0 Akron victory over Saint Francis (Sept. 24). A game earlier, he posted his second multi-goal effort of the season with a pair of goals in a 4-3 win over Butler (Sept. 20). He played a hand in all four goals in the victory versus the Bulldogs as he collected a pair of assists to go along with his two scores. Additionally, he netted a pair of goals against Wright State (Oct. 8) and Cleveland State (Sept. 2).
• Emil Jaaskelainen enters play versus DePaul with 57 career goals, a mark that is rated No. 1 among active career leaders in Division I and fifth overall across all divisions. Additionally, he is ranked fifth in career points (134) across all divisions.
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in total goals (33), second in total points (105), total assists (39) and in assists per tilt (3.00), third in points per match (8.08), fourth in scoring offense (2.54), sixth in goal differential (17), seventh in shots per game (16.38), 15th in shots on goal per contest (6.77), 21st in corner kicks (6.15) and 39th in winning percentage (.654).
• Individually, GK Mitch Budler is rated seventh in the NCAA in goalie minutes played (1,170:00) and 30th in shutouts (5), Emil Jaaskelainen is ranked first in total goals (14), total points (34), goals per match (1.08) and points per outing (2.62), second in shots per game (4.85) and game-winning goals (4), fourth in shots on goal per contest (2.23), 25th in total assists (6) and 41st in assists per tilt (0.46). Additionally, Victor Gaulmin and Dyson Clapier are 43rd in total assists (5).
• Mitch Budler is rated 16th among active career leaders in D1 in solo shutouts (18), 27th in goals against average (1.05) and 30th in goalie minutes played (4,277.62). Emil Jaaskelainen is first in D1 active leaders in points (134) and goals (57), second in points per game (1.76) and in goals per tilt (0.75), 13th in assists (20), 15th in assists per contest (0.26) and 32nd in games played (76). Malik Henry is rated 38th in career assists (16).
• Thirteen different Zips have scored a goal this season, including four newcomers.
• Twenty-three Zips have registered a shot this season, including 11 newcomers.
• All but one field player for the Zips to have played in a game this season has posted a shot for Akron.
• Eleven Akron newcomers have appeared in a match for the Zips this season.
• Akron has posted double-digit shots in nine tilts this season.
• The Zips are 1-0-2 versus ranked teams this season following a 1-1 draw at No. 2 Notre Dame (Aug. 22), a 1-1 tie at No. 5 Western Michigan (Aug. 30) and a 4-0 triumph past No. 13 VCU (Sept. 6). A year ago, Akron was 2-0-1 against ranked squads after a 0-0 draw with No. 15 Notre Dame (Sept. 19), a 2-0 victory over No. 11 Florida International (Sept. 11) and a 1-0 triumph past No. 7 Vermont (Aug. 28).
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 34-22-10 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dyson Clapier is Akron's active career leaders in goals (17), points (50), shots (127), shots on goal (59) and game-winners (6), while ranking third in assists (14). Emil Jaaskelainen, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Stefan Dobrijevic have scored 14, six and five goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 140-59-35 mark over the last 12 seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 140 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 28-14-7.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 107 of the squad's last 197 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 44 of its last 92 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 90-18-15 record in its last 123 home matches.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 93-46-31 record.
UP NEXT
Akron hosts Creighton in the regular season home finale at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 23) at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Players Mentioned
GK
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MF
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MF
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MF/D
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