Akron Hosts In-State Rival Ohio State in Home Opener

Sunday, August 25

Akron, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Ohio State

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Akron Hosts In-State Rival Ohio State in Home Opener

August 24 | Men's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer team kicks off its home campaign battling in-state rival Ohio State on Sunday (Aug. 25). The 7 p.m. match with the Buckeyes will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Chad Welker on the call.

Tickets for the contest against the Buckeyes 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. Ohio State | Aug. 25 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+

HEAD COACHES
Ohio State: Brian Maisonneuve (Indiana, 1995), Overall Record: 34-50-18 (Seventh Season), Record at Ohio State: 34-50-18 (Seventh Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 180-77-41 (15th Season), Record at Akron: 133-56-33 (12th Season)

SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 12th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its showdown versus Ohio State on Sunday (Aug. 25) following a 1-1 draw at No. 2 Notre Dame on Thursday (Aug. 22).

Senior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.) registered the goal for the Zips on the strength of assists from junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) and redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England).

A year ago, Jason Shokalook posted team-high marks in goals (14), assists (5), points (33), shots (83), shots on goal (41) and game-winners (3). Redshirt junior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) collected 33 saves and owned a 0.76 goals against average with eight shutouts last season.

The Zips rated first in the NCAA in corner kicks (8.33), third in shots per game (18.56) and in shots on goal per contest (7.94), fourth in shutout percentage (.556) and in team goals against average (.667), 19th in goal differential (19), 25th in winning percentage (.694) and in save percentage (.782), 31st in total assists (36), 32nd in assists per game (2.00), 37th in total points (98), 41st in points per tilt (5.44), 45th in total goals (31) and 47th in scoring offense (1.72).

Individually, Shokalook finished second in the NCAA in shots on goal per match (2.41) and in shots per outing (4.88), third in points per tilt (1.94), fifth in goals per game (0.82), sixth in total points (33), seventh in total goals (14) and 48th in game-winning goals (3). Budler was 14th in goals against average (0.757) and 19th in shutouts (8).

Akron returns six 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 Budler, redshirt senior Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah), Dobrijevic, juniors Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) and Daragh Reilly (Meath, Ireland) and Wan Kamal.

Additionally, Jaaskelainen was tabbed by United Soccer Coaches among its Forwards to Watch List for 2024.

SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State enters action on Sunday (Aug. 25) at 0-0-1 on the campaign following a 1-1 draw versus Cleveland State on Thursday (Aug. 22).

Freshman David Ajagbe leads the Buckeyes in goals (1) and points (2), while senior Michael Adedokun paces the team in shots (7). Five different Ohio State players have posted a shot on goal. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Max Trejo played all 90 minutes against the Vikings without recording a save. A year ago, he registered 26 saves en route to owning a 1.13 goals against average on the strength of five shutouts.

The Buckeyes rank second in the NCAA in shots per game (26.0) and fifth in corner kicks per contest (11.0).

Individually, Trejo is rated third in the NCAA in goalie minutes played (90.00), while Adedokun and redshirt senior Siigi Magnusson and David Wrone are third, 12th and 28th, respectively, in shots per contest (7.00, 5.00 and 4.00).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Ohio State are meeting for the 43rd time in program history with the Zips owning a 29-7-6 series advantage with Akron being unbeaten in 13 of the previous 14 games versus the Buckeyes. In the last encounter between the two schools, the Zips and Ohio State battled to a 3-3 draw on Sept. 13, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

AKRON VERSUS BIG TEN CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Big Ten Conference for the first time this season and 207th time overall. A year ago, Akron went 0-0-1 against the conference as the Zips earned a 1-1 draw at Michigan (Sept. 1).
• Akron owns a 109-77-21 (.577) all-time record versus the current 18 members of the Big Ten Conference.
• The Zips have gone 26-11-7 against the league since 2012.
• In all, Akron is 43-16-10 (.696) versus teams from the Big Ten since 2007. During that time, the Zips have outscored the competition, 125-69.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 13, 2022 – AKRON, OHIO)
No. 12 Akron renewed its rivalry with in-state foe Ohio State and the top-25 showdown lived up to the hype as the Zips and 22nd-ranked Buckeyes battled to a 3-3 draw on Sept. 13, 2022, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Akron garnered goals in the fifth (4:25), 63rd (62:46) and 69th (68:48) minutes, respectively, from Ryan Kingsford, Jason Shokalook and Stefan Dobrijevic.

ZIPS IN SEASON OPENERS
Now in its 70th season of intercollegiate soccer in 2024, the Akron men's soccer team have posted a record of 42-19-9 overall in season openers since the Zips first took the field against Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 8, 1955.

JAASKELAINEN NAMED TO TDS PRESEASON BEST XI SQUAD
Emil Jaaskelainen was named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Preseason Best XI Third-Team squad. He will be making his Akron debut against Notre Dame on Thursday, Aug. 22.

AKRON NOTES
• Nineteen of the 42 matches between Akron and Ohio State have resulted in a shutout. Since 2002, the Zips own a 6-3-0 mark in those contests, including a 4-0 ledger at home.
• Akron owns an 17-1-2 all-time record versus Ohio State in Akron, having outscored the Buckeyes by 74-22 margin.
• Akron is unbeaten in 13 of its last 14 games against Ohio State en route to a 8-1-5 mark in those tilts.
• Eight of the last 12 showdowns between the Zips and Buckeyes have been decided by a goal or less.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 28 all-time meetings with Ohio State.
• Akron posted double-digit shots on goal seven times a year ago.
• The Zips recorded 20 or more shots in eight games last season.
• Akron outscored its opposition 24-6 in 11 homes games last season at FirstEnergy Stadium, while registering a 20.4-6.8 advantage in shots per contest. Jason Shokalook led the Zips in goals (10), assists (3), points (23), shots (52) and shots on goal (28).
• Since 2021, the Zips own 23-1-7 record in regular season home games at FirstEnergy Stadium, including a 24-match unbeaten regular season streak during that span.
• Mitch Budler is rated ninth among active career leaders in D1 in goals against average (0.985), 11th in solo shutouts (14) and 34th in goalie minutes played (3,197.62). Emil Jaaskelainen is first in D1 active leaders in points (101), goals (43), goals per tilt (0.67) and points per game (1.58), 13th in assists (15) and 37th in games played (64).
• The Zips are 0-0-1 versus ranked teams this season following a 1-1 draw at No. 2 Notre Dame (Aug. 22). 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).
• The Zips own a 133-56-33 mark over the last 12 seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 133 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• Under head coach Jared Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 27-13-6.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 101 of the squad's last 185 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 41 of its last 82 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 84-15-14 record in its last 113 home matches.

UP NEXT
Akron travels to Kalamazoo, Mich., for a showdown with Western Michigan on Friday (Aug. 30) at 5 p.m.

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.