Akron Battles IU Indianapolis

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer team hosts IU Indianapolis at FirstEnergy Stadium for a non-conference tilt on Monday (Sept. 9). The 7 p.m. match with the Jaguars will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Chad Welker on the call.

Tickets for the contest against the Jaguars 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. IU Indianapolis | Sept. 9 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+

HEAD COACHES
IU Indianapolis: Sid van Druenen, Overall Record: 16-15-12 (Third Season), Record at IU Indianapolis: 16-15-12 (Third Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 181-78-43 (15th Season), Record at Akron: 134-57-35 (12th Season)

SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 12th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its tilt versus IU Indianapolis on Monday (Sept. 9) at 1-1-3 following a 4-0 triumph past No. 13 VCU on Friday (Sept. 6).

Redshirt seniors Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) and Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England) and senior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.) lead the Zips in goals (2), while senior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario) owns a team-best three assists on the campaign. Jaaskelainen directs the squad in shots (13), while Clapier leads the team in shots on goal (8). Redshirt junior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 12 saves and owns a 1.40 goals against average.

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, Dyson Clapier, junior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown Ohio), juniors Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) and Daragh Reilly (Meath, Ireland) and Wan Kamal.

SCOUTING IU INDIANAPOLIS
IU Indianapolis enters action against the Zips on Monday (Sept. 9) at 2-1-1 on the campaign following a 1-1 draw at Saint Louis on Monday (Sept. 2).

Sophomore Jose Antonio Herrera leads the Jaguars in goals (2), points (4), shots (7), shots on goal (3) and game-winners (1) this season. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Mason Taylor has posted 19 saves en route to posting a 0.67 goals against average.

The Jaguars are ranked 20th in the NCAA in saves per game (5.50), 29th in shutout percentage (.500) and 46th in save percentage (.815).

Individually, Taylor is rated seventh in the NCAA in shutouts (2),18th in total saves (19), 19th in save percentage (.905), 36th in saves per contest (4.75) and 40th in goals against average (.667). Jose Antonio Herrera and junior Cameron Radeke are ranked 23rd in game-winning goals (1).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting IU Indianapolis for the third time in program history with Akron leading the series, 1-0-1. In the previous encounter between the two schools, the Zips recorded a 1-0 triumph over the Jaguars on Oct. 10, 2003, in Indianapolis, Ind.

AKRON VERSUS HORIZON LEAGUE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Horizon League for the second time this season and 147th time overall.
• Akron owns a 107-29-10 (.767) all-time record versus the current 12 members of the Horizon League.
• Earlier this season, the Zips battled Cleveland State to a 3-3 draw on Sept. 2.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 10, 2003 – INDIANAPOLIS, IND.)
Akron went on the road and registered a 1-0 victory over IU Indianapolis a year after the two sides battled to a 2-2 draw at FirstEnergy Stadium.

AKRON NOTES
• The Zips own a 0-0-1 ledger in games versus IU Indianapolis at home.
• Akron has outscored IU Indianapolis by a 3-2 margin in series history.
• Dyson Clapier recorded his first career multi-goal game with a pair of second-half tallies versus No. 13 VCU.
• Emil Jaaskelainen recorded Akron's first multi-goal performance of the season against Cleveland State (Sept. 2).
• Mitch Budler is rated 17th among active career leaders in D1 in solo shutouts (15), 22nd in goals against average (1.04) and 38th in goalie minutes played (3,557.62). Emil Jaaskelainen is first in D1 active leaders in points (106), goals (45), goals per tilt (0.66) and points per game (1.56), 18th in assists (16) and 40th in games played (68).
• Through 40 career games, GK Mitch Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 96 saves en route to owning a 1.04 goals against average on the strength of 16 shutouts.
• Six different Zips have scored a goal this season, including two newcomers.
• Sixteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including nine newcomers.
• Ten Akron newcomers have appeared in a match for the Zips this season.
• Freshman Remi Agunbiade (Toronto, Ontario) made his collegiate debut versus No. 13 VCU recording three shots.
• Freshman Connor Filsinger (Frankfurt, Germany) made his Akron debut at Western Michigan and recorded a shot on goal, while freshman James Buebendorf (O'Fallon, Mo.) posted his first two collegiate shots against the Broncos.
• Dyson Clapier posted his 100th career shot at Western Michigan (Aug. 30) and his 50th shot on goal versus Cleveland State (Sept. 2).
• Akron has posted double-digit shots in three 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).
• Akron has posted double-digit shots in back-to-back-to-back contests on the campaign, including a season-best 21 shots against Cleveland State (Sept. 2)
• Since 2021, the Zips own 24-2-8 record in regular season home games at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• 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 (16), points (44), shots (107), shots on goal (52) and game-winners (6), while ranking third in assists (12). Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal and Dobrijevic have scored six and five goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 134-57-35 mark over the last 12 seasons under head coach Jared Embick. Akron's 134 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 103 of the squad's last 189 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 42 of its last 85 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 85-16-15 record in its last 116 home matches.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 87-44-31 record.

UP NEXT
Akron welcomes Temple to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 1 p.m. tilt on Saturday (Sept. 14).

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.

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Players Mentioned

Remi Agunbiade

Mitch Budler

James Buebendorf

Jonas Buechte

Dyson Clapier

Stefan Dobrijevic

Connor Filsinger

Malik Henry

Emil Jaaskelainen

Ashton Kamdem

Daragh Reilly

Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal

The University of Akron Athletics