Akron Visits Seton Hall in BIG EAST Showdown

Friday, October 17

South Orange, N.J.

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Seton Hall

October 16 | Men's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio – The 23rd-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team travels to South Orange, N.J., for a BIG EAST Conference showdown at Seton Hall on Friday (Oct. 17). The 6:56 p.m. match with the Pirates will be broadcast on ESPN+.

GAME INFO
Akron at Seton Hall | Oct. 17 | 6:56 PM | South Orange, N.J. | Live Stats | ESPN+

HEAD COACHES
Seton Hall: Andreas Lindberg (Southampton, 2002), Overall Record: 228-88-44 (20th Season), Record at Seton Hall: 59-44-26 (Eighth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 200-85-46 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 153-64-38 (13th Season)

SCOUTING SETON HALL
Seton Hall enters action against the Zips on Friday (Oct. 17) at 5-2-5 on the campaign, including 2-0-2 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 2-2 draw at Villanova on Oct. 11.

The Pirates are led by sophomore Til Kauschke, who owns team-high marks in goals (4), assists (2), points (10), shots (22) and shots on goal (10). Senior Matias Molina has recorded 36 saves and maintains a 0.75 goals against average on the strength of seven shutouts.

As a team, Seton Hall is rated 14th in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.583), 23rd in save percentage (.813) and team goals against average (.750) and 31st in goal differential (11). Individually, Molina is ranked fifth in shutouts (7), 28th in goals against average (.750), 34th in save percentage (.800) and 35th in goalie minutes played (1,080:00), while junior Joseph Min is rated 44th in game-winning goals (2).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Seton Hall are meeting for the third time in program history with the Zips leading the all-time series 2-0-0. In the previous encounter between the two schools, Akron earned a 3-1 victory past the Pirates on Sept. 29, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium. Additionally, the Zips posted a 4-2 decision over the Seton Hall on Aug. 31, 2003 as part of the Virginia Soccer Classic in Charlottesville, Va.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 29, 2023 – AKRON, OHIO)
Fifth-ranked Akron got a pair of goals from Jason Shokalook in a 3-1 win over Seton Hall Sept. 29, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium. The victory marked Akron's first-ever triumph in the BIG EAST Conference.

Akron opened the scoring when Shokalook recorded a goal in the 32nd minute, assisted by Dyson Clapier and Malik Henry.

The Pirates evened the game at one on a penalty goal from James Boote in the 43rd minute.

Akron regained the lead in the 66th minute when Alejandro Varela's delivered a penalty kick goal for what proved to be the game-winning tally.

The Zips concluded the scoring with 85th-minute goal from Shokalook. Gyuwon Chong assisted the goal.

FIVE ZIPS HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus DePaul on Oct. 11 marked Senior Night in the careers of Mitch Budler, Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio), Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) and Daragh Reilly (Meath, Ireland) as well as manager Yuga Takizawa.

Budler has started all 69 games of his Akron career en route to collecting 164 saves and owning a 0.90 goals against average on the strength of an NCAA-best 32 shutouts.

Dobrijevic has appeared in 68 career games as a Zip, including 20 starts, recording 11 goals, 17 assists and 39 points on 89 shots, including 35 on goal, with three game-winning goals.

Kamdem has appeared in 69 career games as a Zip, including 57 starts, recording three goals, nine assists and 15 points on the strength of registering 23 shots, including six on frame. His defensive efforts have helped Akron record 35 shutouts over his four-year career.

Reilly has appeared in 44 career games as a Zip, including 14 starts, recording a goal on the strength of 10 shots, including three on net, while defensively sparking Akron to 28 shutouts.

HONORING LEGENDARY COACH STU PARRY
Akron men's soccer honored legendary men's soccer coach Stu Parry, who passed away peacefully on Aug. 15, prior to the squad's match versus Cleveland State (Sept. 1).

The first head coach in Akron men's program history, Parry began a decorated career guiding the Zips in 1955 and led the squad for 15 seasons en route to posting an enviable 118-43-4 record.

In those 15 years, Parry directed the Zips to nine Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Championships and developed 10 All-America soccer players, including Ed Bender, Fritz Kungl, Pete Milch, Joe Queiroga, Ford Brummer, Jim Malcolm and Eugene Alfred, and numerous All-Ohio and All-Midwest players.

In 1961, the Zips were invited to participate in their first NCAA post-season game. On five more occasions, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1968, Akron earned NCAA invitations. In 1966 and 1968, Parry's fellow coaches honored him for his many years of devotion to and promotion of soccer by voting him the Ohio Soccer Coach of the Year.

AKRON DROPS 2-1 DECISION TO ST. JOHN'S
No. 22 Akron rallied from a 1-0 deficit to beat DePaul, 3-2, on Oct. 11 at home at FirstEnergy Stadium. The triumph represented the 200th career victory in the coaching career of Akron head coach Jared Embick.

DePaul broke into the scoring column first when Joon Han scored in the 17th minute (16:24), assisted by Nolan McGuire and Jayden Waski.

The Zips responded to tie things up on a goal from Stefan Dobrijevic, his fourth goal of the season, at the 23:52 mark assisted by sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Tyler Morck (Bethpage, N.Y.).

Akron then went ahead 2-1 on Roman's 26th-minute goal (25:05), his fifth of the season. Dobrijevic and redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) assisted the goal.

The Blue Demons tied the game at 2-2 with a goal from Daniel Hickiewicz at the 65:30 mark, assisted by Waski.

Akron took a 3-2 lead on the first career goal for junior Freddy Kossehasse's (McKinney, Texas) in the 88th minute (87:09), assisted by Dobrijevic. The goal finished off the 3-2 victory.

Akron registered eight shots on goal as part of a 19-11 overall edge in shots. Dobrijevic recorded a team- and career-high seven shots, including four on goal.

ZIPS BATTLE NO. 13 CORNELL TO 0-0 DRAW
No. 22 Akron garnered a 0-0 draw at No. 13 Cornell on Oct. 7 in Ithaca, N.Y.

The Zips came out on the offensive in the opening half and posted a 7-4 edge in shots, including 2-1 on goal. Akron was unable to turn one of those strikes in a goal over the opening 45 minutes and entered the intermission locked in a scoreless draw.

The Big Red came out to open the second half and registered an 11-6 margin in shots, including 4-1 on frame.

Neither side was able to find the back of the net before the Zips were whistled for a foul in the box in the 81st minute (80:59) that resulted in a penalty kick. Mitch Budler was up to the task denying the penalty kick with a successful save to give Akron a chance at the equalizer.

The game-winning tally didn't come for either team as the match concluded with the 0-0 draw.

Stefan Dobrijevic posted a game-high five shots in the contest.

A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.736), with an overall record of 263-77-54. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 251-84-53 (.715), Maryland, 243-85-60 (.704), North Carolina, 237-86-67 (.694), Indiana, 261-99-71 (.688) and Georgetown, 236-91-52 (.691). Akron made 12 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-18), earning a first-round bye in eight seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in eight of their last 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 36 times, including 20 of the past 24 seasons.

OWNING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
The recent success of the Akron men's soccer program over the past 19 seasons (2007-present) can be attributed to its play in the month of October. Since the start of the 2007 campaign, the Zips own a 94-18-18 (.792) ledger in the month, including a 53-8-7 (.831) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Akron is playing at Seton Hall for the third time in program history.
• The Zips have recorded a 7-3 advantage in goals in two previous meetings with the Pirates.
• Akron owns a 3-3-2 mark versus Top 100 teams in the latest NCAA RPI poll.
• Akron is rated No. 16 in the latest NCAA men's soccer RPI report on Oct. 15.
• The next victory for the Zips will represent the 800th triumph in program history as Akron enters its showdown at Seton Hall with a 799-305-122 (.701) overall record.
• The Zips' 2024 showdown with UConn marked the 250th game for head coach Jared Embick at Akron.
• The Zips are 2-1-2 versus ranked teams this season following a 0-0 draw versus No. 8 West Virginia (Aug. 29), a 2-0 win at No. 16 Ohio State (Sept. 5), a 1-0 setback at No. 5 Vermont (Sept. 13), a 3-0 triumph past No. 8 Saint Louis (Sept. 23) and a 0-0 draw at No. 13 Cornell (Oct. 7).
• The Zips recorded a season-best 20 shots at VCU (Aug. 24).
• Akron have posted double-digit shots in 12 of 13 tilts in 2025.
• The Zips have allowed only one first-half goal this season.
• Nine different Zips have scored a goal this season, including four newcomers.
• Nineteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including 10 newcomers.
• Budler collected his 150th career save against UConn (Sept. 19, 2025) and enters play versus Seton Hall with 164 career stops.
• The Zips are rated second in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.692), fourth in corner kicks (7.46), 15th in goals against average (0.615) and in total assists (29), 21st in assists per game (2.23), 27th in goal differential (12), 31st in shots per tilt (14.62), 37th in winning percentage (.692) and in total points (69), 42nd in save percentage (.784) and 48th in points per match (5.31).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (9), third in the nation in goalie minutes played (1,170:00), 19th in goals against average (0.615) and 47th in save percentage (.784). Additionally, Agunbiade, Borneo and Roman are 44th in game-winning goals (2) and Dobrijevic is 10th in total assists (7) and 22nd in assist per contest (0.54).
• Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (32), third in goalie minutes played (6,123.85), 10th in goals against average (.896), 25th in saves (164), 32nd in games played (69) and 43rd in save percentage (.729). Additionally, Kamdem is 32nd in games played (69) and Dobrijevic is 38th in games played (68).
• Through 69 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 164 saves en route to owning a 0.896 goals against average on the strength of 32 shutouts.
• Budler surpassed 6,000 career minutes in goal vs. Cornell (Oct. 7) having been in net for 6,123:51.
• Since 2021, the Zips own 35-6-9 record in regular season home games at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Since 2010, the Zips are 35-7-5 at FirstEnergy Stadium in regular season conference games. Overall, during that span, including postseason, Akron boasts a 51-10-6 mark versus league foes at home.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 37-25-12 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dobrijevic is Akron's active career leaders in goals (11), assists (17), points (39), shots (89), shots on goal (35) and game-winners (3). Dobrijevic, Roman, Borneo, Agunbiade, Kamdem and Nathan Ferguson have scored 10, five, four, four, three and three goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 153-64-38 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 153 wins are ranked eighth in all of Division I.
• Under Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 31-15-8.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 116 of the squad's last 218 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 51 of its last 103 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 98-20-16 record in its last 132 home matches.
• The Zips average attendance in 2025 is 1,618 to rank 16th nationally. In 2024 it was 1,098 fans per game, while in 2023 Akron ranked 13th nationally (1,699), while rating 17th nationally (1,290) in 2022, 13th (1,565) in 2021, 12th in 2019 and 16th in the country (1,419) in 2018. In 2016 and 2017, the Zips rated 10th nationally in attendance averaging 2,147 and 1,819 fans per contest, respectively.
• Since 2007, Akron maintains a league record of 81-16-16 (.788) mark in league play. Furthermore, the Zips won 11 consecutive MAC regular season championships (2006-16) and 11 of the final 14 MAC Tournament titles.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 106-51-34 record.

BIG EAST PRESEASON POLL
The University of Akron men's soccer program opens its 71st season of intercollegiate soccer tabbed to finish as the top team in the Midwest Division of the BIG EAST Conference, including earning 10 first-place votes in the division.

ZIPS IN THE CLASSROOM
Academic success has been a staple for the Zips under head coach Jared Embick. Akron has posted a cumulative team GPA's of 3.0 or better in 23 of 25 semesters overall under Embick, including registering cumulative marks of 3.11, 3.39, 3.01, 3.05, 3.40, 3.316, 3.21, 3.02, 3.09, 3.20 and 3.37 during the 2024-25, 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15 campaigns, respectively.

AKRON UNVEILS TALENTED 14-MEMBER RECRUITING CLASS
Akron under the leadership of 13th-year head coach Jared Embick, boast a talented 14-member signing class for 2025.

Donning the Akron uniform this fall will be Ignacio Alem (Potomac, Md.), Abdi Bahur (Toronto, Ontario), Gavin Crane (Hinckley, Ohio), Braxton Hayes, (Bowie, Md.), Logan LaMaina (Sellersville, Pa.), Farrel Ngongang, Matthew Paiva and Malte Schmaus (Hammersbach, Germany).

The nine players are part of Akron's 2025 signing class joining six members in Aljaz Dodig, Freddy Kossehasse, Tyler Morck, Jose Pedro, Jamai Royer (Markham, Ontario) and Jack Sullivan, that signed with the Zips prior to the spring semester.

DID YOU KNOW
• Zippy is just one of eight female-gendered college mascots in Division I athletics. Do you know the other seven? (YoUDee, the Delaware Blue Hen; Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State; Lucy Lobo of New Mexico; Sue E. Pig of Arkansas; Miss Pawla of South Alabama, Kate the Lion of Hofstra; and Wilma Wildcat of Arizona).
• One of the unique nicknames in collegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron.
• Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth "Red" Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams.
• Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers.
• The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for Zippers, a $6 pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company.
• The evolution of Zippy, UA's mascot, began 40 years ago when the student council decided the University needed a mascot.
• "Zippy" the kangaroo was officially declared the school's mascot on May 1, 1953. The first known printed reference to the mascot as "Zippy" was a 1965 Zip football press brochure. The Buchtelite's first use of the name "Zippy" came Sept. 24, 1965, in an identification of a photo of the cheerleaders listing "Mascot - 'Zippy' - Charles Huettner."
• In 2007, Zippy was named the Capital One National Mascot of the Year.

UP NEXT
Akron visits Xavier for a 2 p.m. match on Saturday (Oct. 25) in Cincinnati, Ohio.