Akron Men's Soccer Announces Spring Exhibition Schedule

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron men's soccer team will face a challenging spring exhibition schedule, one that includes four matches at FirstEnergy Stadium, Zips' 12th-year head coach Jared Embick announced on Tuesday.

Akron is set to return seven starters in 2024, including 2023 All-BIG EAST Conference performers, seniors Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) and Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario).

The Zips will also be bolstered by the return of key 2023 contributors in redshirt junior Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.), seniors Gyuwon Chong (Kansas City, Mo.) and Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah), juniors Stefan Dobrijevic, Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio), Rui Reis (Lisbon, Portugal) and Daragh Reilly (Meath, Ireland) and senior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.).

Akron will take part in the fifth-year College Spring League this spring and face divisional rivals Michigan State (March 9), Michigan (March 17), Bowling Green (March 22) and Dayton (April 6). Cross-divisional opponents include Butler, Louisville, Marshall, Ohio State and Xavier with all 10 teams converging on Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus as part of Championship Saturday on April 13.

The exhibition games are part of the squad's non-championship spring season with results and statistics not counting towards NCAA play.

Akron opens its spring slate hosting Rush Canada, a Canadian club team, in a pair of exhibition contests at FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday, March 2. The Zips will battle the Rush U21 squad at 11 a.m. before facing the U19 team at 1 p.m.

Akron welcomes Michigan State to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 5 p.m. showdown against the Spartans on Saturday, March 9.

The Zips then face back-to-back road tilts at Michigan on Sunday, March 17 and versus Bowling Green on Friday, March 22. Game time against the Wolverines is set for 5 p.m., while the showdown with the Falcons will commence at 7 p.m.

The Zips kick off the month of April concludes its home exhibition competition hosting Dayton on Saturday, April 6 at FirstEnergy Stadium versus Dayton at 5 p.m.

The Zips conclude their spring traveling down I-71 for Championship Saturday in the College Spring League at Historic Crew Stadium on Saturday, April 13, as the top-two teams in each division will vie for the league title, while the second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-place squads will square off against one another in consolation play.

All spring exhibition contests at FirstEnergy Stadium are open to the public and free of charge.

2024 Akron Men's Soccer Spring Exhibition Schedule
Sat., March 2 – vs. Rush Canada U21, FirstEnergy Stadium, 11 a.m.
Sat., March 2 – vs. Rush Canada U19, FirstEnergy Stadium, 1 p.m.
Sat., March 9 – vs. Michigan State, FirstEnergy Stadium, 5 p.m.
Sun., March 17 – at Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., 5 p.m.
Fri., March 22 – at Bowling Green, Bowling Green, Ohio., 7 p.m.
Sat., April 6 – vs. Dayton, FirstEnergy Stadium, 5 p.m.
Sat., April 13 – at College Spring League Finals, Columbus, Ohio – TBA

Season tickets will be on sale soon! Fans with questions about new or existing season tickets for the 2024 campaign may call, email (tickets@uakron.edu) or text the C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visit the office at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue) Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Men's Soccer Announces Spring Exhibition Schedule

Players Mentioned

Mitch Budler

Jonas Buechte

Gyuwon Chong

Dyson Clapier

Stefan Dobrijevic

Malik Henry

Ashton Kamdem

Daragh Reilly

Rui Reis

Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal

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