Akron Set to Open BIG EAST Championship Play Versus DePaul

Saturday, November 9

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

DePaul

Tickets

Akron Set to Open BIG EAST Championship Play Versus DePaul

November 08 | Men's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio – The 13th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team opens BIG EAST Championship play welcoming eighth-seeded DePaul to FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday (Nov. 9). The 7 p.m. match with the Blue Demons will be broadcast on Flo Sports with Chad Welker on the call.

Tickets for the contest against the Blue Demons are available for purchase at http://www.gozips.com/Tickets. Fans are asked to park in Lots 6, 9 and 10 surrounding InfoCision Stadium and the Stile Athletics Field House. For complete parking information click here.

GAME INFO
Akron vs. DePaul | Nov. 9 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | FloSports

HEAD COACHES
DePaul: Mark Plotkin (DePaul, 2010), Overall Record: 32-50-26 (Seventh Season), Record at DePaul: 32-50-26 (Seventh Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 190-80-44 (15th Season), Record at Akron: 143-59-36 (12th Season)

SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 12th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its tilt versus DePaul on Saturday (Nov. 9) at 10-3-4 on the campaign, including 7-0-1 in the BIG EAST Conference, following an 0-0 draw at UConn on Nov. 2.

Redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England) leads the Zips in goals (20), assists (7), points (47), shots (76), shots on goal (37) and game-winners (5), while redshirt senior Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah), senior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.), redshirt senior Victor Gaulmin (Guipavas, France), junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio), redshirt freshman Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) and senior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario) have added four, four, three, two, two and two goals, respectively, to go along with Gaulmin, Clapier and Jaaskelainen owning a team-best eight, eight and seven assists, respectively, on the campaign. Redshirt junior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 44 saves and owns a 0.94 goals against average.

Akron returns six starters in 2024, including 2023 All-BIG EAST Conference performers, seniors Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) and Henry.

The Zips will also be bolstered by the return of key 2023 contributors in Budler, Clapier, Dobrijevic, 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 (Nov. 9) at 6-7-3 on the campaign, including 2-4-2 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 5-3 victory at Butler on Saturday (Nov. 2).

Sophomore Noeh Hernandez leads the Blue Demons in goals (8), assists (9), points (25), shots (42), shots on goal (13) and game-winners (3). Senior goalkeeper Santiago Davila has posted 64 saves en route to owning a 2.16 combined goals against average with a pair of shutouts.

The Blue Demons are ranked 32nd in the NCAA in scoring offense (2.00), 33rd in points per game (6.00), 35th in total goals (24), 36th in saves per contest (4.33), 38th in total points (72), 41st in assists per tilt (2.00) and 43rd in total assists (24). Individually, Hernandez is rated 12th in total assists (7), 14th in assists per tilt (0.58), 21st in total points (19), 27th in points per game (1.58) and in game-winning goals (3).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron is encountering DePaul for the third time in program history with the Zips owning a 2-0-0 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron bested the Blue Demons, 3-0, on Oct. 19, 2024, in Chicago, Ill.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 19, 2024 – CHICAGO, ILL.)
Akron garnered a brace from redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England) to propel the Zips to a 4-0 victory at DePaul on Oct. 19, 2024.

Victor Gaulmin gave the Zips a 1-0 lead at the 13:20 mark connecting on a goal off assists from Dyson Clapier and Jaaskelainen.

Malik Henry pushed Akron's advantage to 2-0 in the 20th minute (19:43) with a goal courtesy of an assist from Gaulmin.

Jaaskelainen found the back of the net in the 61st minute (60:53) to give Akron a 2-0 lead. Henry and Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal earned assists on the tally.

Jaaskelainen followed with a goal at the 65:07 mark to cap the scoring in the match.

ZIPS' CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains an 36-11-5 mark in 52 matches in league championship history, including a 13-3 mark under head coach Jared Embick. The Zips are 23-3-3 in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium in tournament play and 3-4-0 in true road contests.

AKRON CHAMPIONSHIP TIDBITS
Seven Zips have appeared in conference postseason play during their Akron careers with Dyson Clapier leading the squad in shots (6) and shots on goal (3), while Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal has added a pair of shots, both on goal. Mitch Budler has recorded seven saves for the Zips in a pair of league tournament matches.

JAASKELAINEN MAKING A RUN AT BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS
Emil Jaaskelainen has turned in an amazing run of play this season and has positioned himself as one of the leading contenders to earn Big East Player of the Year accolades. In eight BIG EAST games for Akron, he recorded 12 of his NCAA-leading 20 goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), while ranking second in assists (4). He delivered a hat trick against Villanova (Oct. 12), while posting league braces versus Marquette (Oct. 26), Creighton (Oct. 23), DePaul (Oct. 19) and Butler (Sept. 20). Overall, he has recorded eight multi-goal affairs on the season.

Jaaskelainen ranks first in the BIG EAST in goals (1.18), points (2.76), shots (4.47), shots on goal (2.18) per game as well as leading the league in total goals (20), shots (76), shots on goal (37), points (47) and game-winning goals (5) and rating fifth in assists (7). In league-only affairs, Jaaskelainen led the BIG EAST in total goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), as well as goals (1.50), points (3.50), shots (4.25), shots on goal (2.25) and game-winners (0.50) per contest, while rating third in total assists (4) and fifth in assists per tilt (0.50).

Individually, Jaaskelainen leads the NCAA in total goals (20), total points (47), game-winning goals (5), goals per game (1.18) and points per tilt (2.76), while ranking third in shots per match (4.47) and shots on goal per outing (2.18) and 35th in total assists (7).

AKRON CAPTURES BIG EAST TITLE
Akron captured its first-ever BIG EAST regular season title with a 3-0 triumph at Marquette (Oct. 26), a game after claiming the BIG EAST Midwest Division crown on the strength of a 3-0 victory past Creighton (Oct. 23).

BUECHTE EARNS BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS
Senior Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as he named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll, the league announced on Monday (Nov. 4).

AKRON NOTES
• In the two previous meetings between Akron and DePaul, the Zips have posted a pair of 3-0 shutout victories, including a 3-0 triumph on Oct. 19 in Chicago, Ill.
• The Zips have outscored DePaul, 3-0, in one home game against the Blue Demons.
• Emil Jaaskelainen equaled the BIG EAST record for goals (12) and points (28) scored. Jaaskelainen matched Ryan Finley of Notre Dame in 2012 (12 goals in 8 games) and Jarrod Smith of West Virginia in 2006 (12 goals in 10 games) in goals scored, while equaling Smith in the same season with 28 points.
• The Zips allowed the fourth-fewest goals (5) in conference play this season in BIG EAST history.
• Emil Jaaskelainen's 12-shot performance versus Villanova (Oct. 12) equaled a BIG EAST record in league play set by Mac Steeves of Providence on Oct. 24, 2015.
• Emil Jaaskelainen has posted eight multi-goal efforts on the season after recording a brace against Marquette (Oct. 26). He collected a first-half hat trick against Villanova (Oct. 12) after netting a pair of goals against Wright State (Oct. 8). He also notched a hat trick in an 8-0 Akron victory over Saint Francis (Sept. 24) and added a pair of goals in a 3-0 triumph over Creighton (Oct. 23), 4-0 victory past DePaul (Oct. 19), a 4-3 win over Butler (Sept. 20) and a 3-3 draw versus Cleveland State (Sept. 2).
• Emil Jaaskelainen enters play versus DePaul with 63 career goals, a mark that is rated No. 1 among active career leaders in Division I and third overall across all divisions. Additionally, he is ranked third in career points (147) across all divisions.
• In league-only affairs, Emil Jaaskelainen led the BIG EAST in total goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), as well as goals (1.50), points (3.50), shots (4.25), shots on goal (2.25) and game-winners (0.50) per contest, while rating third in total assists (4) and fifth in assists per tilt (0.50).
• The Zips are rated third in the NCAA in total assists (52), total points (138) and in goal differential (27), fourth in assists per tilt (3.06) and in points per match (8.12), fifth in total goals (43), sixth in scoring offense (2.53), 13th in shots per game (15.59) and in shutout percentage (0.47), 21st in shots on goal per contest (6.35), 24th in winning percentage (.706), 28th in goals against average (0.94), 31st in corner kicks (5.88) and 50th in save percentage (.750).
• Individually, GK Mitch Budler is rated third in the NCAA in shutouts (8), 12th in goalie minutes played (1,530:00) and 33rd in goals against average (0.94), Emil Jaaskelainen is ranked first in total goals (20), total points (47), goals per match (1.18), game-winning goals (5) and points per outing (2.76), third in shots per game (4.47) and in shots on goal per contest (2.18) and 37th in total assists (7). Additionally, Victor Gaulmin and Dyson Clapier are 20th in total assists (8) and 31st in assists per game (0.47).
• Mitch Budler is rated eighth among active career leaders in D1 in solo shutouts (22), 18th in goals against average (0.97) and 30th in goalie minutes played (4,637.62). Emil Jaaskelainen is first in D1 active leaders in points (147) and goals (63), second in points per game (1.84) and in goals per tilt (0.79), 15th in assists (21), 21st in assists per contest (0.26) and 33rd in games played (79). Malik Henry is rated 27th in career assists (18).
• Through 52 career games, GK Mitch Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 128 saves en route to owning a 0.98 goals against average on the strength of 22 shutouts.
• 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 12 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 2010, the Zips are 34-5-5 at FirstEnergy Stadium in regular season conference games. Overall, during that span, including postseason, Akron boasts a 49-8-6 mark versus league foes at home.
• Dyson Clapier is Akron's active career leaders in goals (18), assists (20), points (56), shots (134), shots on goal (61) and game-winners (6). Emil Jaaskelainen, Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Stefan Dobrijevic have scored 20, seven and six goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 143-59-36 mark over the last 12 seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 143 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 110 of the squad's last 201 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 45 of its last 93 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 91-18-15 record in its last 124 home matches.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 96-46-32 record.

UP NEXT
The advancing team between Akron and DePaul will face the advancing squad in the battle between fourth-seeded Georgetown and fifth-seeded Creighton at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (Nov. 14) in the BIG EAST Semifinals in Boyds, Md.

AKRON ATHLETICS NOW CASHLESS
The University of Akron Athletics Department announced its transition to cashless payments for all ticketing, concessions, and merchandise purchases at all Akron athletic venues, concession stands, and gear shops, beginning with the start of the 2024-25 sports seasons. For more information click here.