Akron Battles Xavier in Key BIG EAST Matchup

Saturday, October 25

Cincinnati, Ohio

2:00 PM

University of Akron

Xavier

October 24 | Men's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio – The 23rd-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team travels to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a BIG EAST Conference showdown at Xavier on Saturday (Oct. 25). The 2 p.m. match with the Musketeers will be broadcast on ESPN+.

GAME INFO
Akron at Xavier | Oct. 25 | 2 PM | Cincinnati, Ohio | Live Stats | ESPN+

HEAD COACHES
Xavier: John Higgins (UIndy, 2010), Overall Record: 177-74-50 (16th Season), Record at Xavier: 27-18-21 (Fourth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 200-85-47 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 153-64-39 (13th Season)

SCOUTING XAVIER
Xavier enters action against the Zips on Saturday (Oct. 25) at 5-4-3 on the campaign, including 1-2-2 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 1-1 draw at Butler on Oct. 17.

The Musketeers are led by senior Cooper Forcellini, who owns team-high marks in goals (9), points (19), shots (27), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (2). Senior Jonny Mennell has recorded 29 saves and maintains a 1.25 goals against average on the strength of three shutouts.

As a team, Xavier is rated 45th in the NCAA in scoring offense (1.83). Individually, Forcellini is ranked 11th in goals per contest (0.75), 12th in total goals (9), 15th in points per match (1.58), 18th in shots on goal (1.50) and 22nd in total points (19).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron is encountering Xavier for the 12th time in program history with the Zips owning an 8-2-1 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron bested the Musketeers, 1-0, on Oct. 4, 2024, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (OCT. 4, 2024 – AKRON, OHIO)
Akron parlayed a second-half goal from Emil Jaaskelainen along with a strong defensive effort to post a 1-0 BIG EAST Conference victory over Xavier on Oct. 4, 2024, at FirstEnergy Stadium,

The two sides waged a scoreless opening stanza with the Musketeers owning a 3-2 edge in shots.

Xavier was whistled for a foul in the box in the 66th minute (65:27) that resulted in Akron being awarded a penalty kick. Jaaskelainen stepped to the line and converted on the scoring chance sending the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 Zips' lead.

Highlighted by six saves from redshirt senior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.).

AKRON TRIO GARNERS TDS MIDSEASON ACCOLADES
Mitch Budler, sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) and freshman Jose Pedro (Porto, Portugal) were recognized for their stellar campaigns when TopDrawerSoccer.com named its 2025 Men's National Top 100 Midseason Upperclassmen and Freshmen lists.

Budler and Roman were tabbed No. 36 and No. 71, respectively, on the midseason ranking, while Pedro was rated No. 11 on the freshmen list.

BUDLER NAMED TO MIDSEASON HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Mitch Budler, the nation's leader in shutouts, was named to the 2025 Midseason Hermann Trophy Award Watch List the United Soccer Coaches announced on Oct. 10.

Budler has started all 14 games for Akron in 2025 en route to recording an NCAA-best nine shutouts. He also ranks third in the nation in shutouts (9) and 17th in the nation in goalie minutes played (1,260:00) and in goals against average (0.643).

The 2025 BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year and 2024 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, Budler has recorded 30 saves this season in net. He ranks first in the BIG EAST Conference in goals against average (0.643), shutouts (9) and third in save percentage (.769).

Budler is also first in D1 among active leaders in career shutouts (32), third in goalie minutes played (6,213.85), 13th in goals against average (.898), 26th in saves (165) and 45th in save percentage (.727).

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 70 games of his Akron career en route to collecting 165 saves and owning a 0.90 goals against average on the strength of an NCAA-best 32 shutouts.

Dobrijevic has appeared in 69 career games as a Zip, including 21 starts, recording 11 goals, 18 assists and 40 points on 91 shots, including 36 on goal, with three game-winning goals.

Kamdem has appeared in 70 career games as a Zip, including 58 starts, recording three goals, 10 assists and 16 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 45 career games as a Zip, including 15 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.

ZIPS COLLECT 1-1 DRAW AT SETON HALL
No. 24 Akron played Seton Hall to a 1-1 draw on the road on Oct. 17 in South Orange, N.J.

Akron started the scoring when sophomore Remi Agunbiade (Toronto, Ontario) notched his fourth goal of the season in the seventh minute (6:05), assisted by Stefan Dobrijevic and Ashton Kamdem.

The Pirates responded to tie things up on a goal from Mikkel Lejbowicz in the 39th minute (38:23). The tally was initially ruled on the field as an offsides call before the officials reversed the call after a VAR review.

Akron recorded an 11-8 edge in shots on the evening, including a 3-2 margin in shots on goal. Jack Roman registered a game-high four shots, while Agunbiade, Dobrijevic and Jose Pedro each tallied a pair of shots.

AKRON EARNS COME-FROM-BEHIND 3-2 WIN PAST DEPAUL
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 at the 23:52 mark assisted by Jack Roman and redshirt sophomore Tyler Morck (Bethpage, N.Y.).

Akron then went ahead 2-1 on Roman's 26th-minute goal (25:05). 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.

A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.735), with an overall record of 263-77-55. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 251-84-55 (.714), Maryland, 244-85-60 (.704), North Carolina, 238-87-67 (.693), Indiana, 263-99-71 (.689) and Georgetown, 237-91-52 (.692). 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 94-18-19 (.790) ledger in the month, including a 53-8-7 (.831) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Seven of the 11 matches between Akron and Xavier have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips owning a 4-2-1 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored Xavier, 9-6, in seven road games against the Musketeers.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in six all-time meetings with Xavier.
• Akron owns a 2-3-3 mark versus Top 100 teams in the latest NCAA RPI poll.
• Akron is rated No. 14 in the latest NCAA men's soccer RPI report on Oct. 24.
• The next victory for the Zips will represent the 800th triumph in program history as Akron enters its showdown at Xavier with a 799-305-123 (.701) overall record.
• Stefan Dobrijevic was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll (Oct. 13).
• Mitch Budler was tabbed as the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week (Sept. 29) and Daragh Reilly was honored as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 29).
• Remi Agunbiade was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll (Sept. 29).
• Reilly was honored by College Soccer News as its National Defensive Player of the Week, (Sept. 29) while Agunbiade was tabbed by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its National Team of the Week (Sept. 29).
• Akron's Jack Roman was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as a member of its Men's Soccer Honor Roll, the league announced on Sept. 15.
• Budler was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week on Sept. 8, while Caleb Borneo was selected to the BIG EAST Honor Roll.
• Akron junior Matthew Paiva (Toronto, Ontario) was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 2.
• Freshman Farrel Ngongang (Montreal, Quebec) was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Freshman of the Week on Aug. 25.
• Dobrijevic and Ashton Kamdem were named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll (Aug. 25).
• 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 13 of 14 tilts in 2025.
• The Zips have allowed only two first-half goals 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 Xavier with 165 career stops.
• The Zips are rated fourth in the NCAA in corner kicks (7.43), fifth in shutout percentage (.643), 13th in goals against average (0.643), 19th in total assists (31), 24th in assists per game (2.21), 35th in goal differential (12), 37th in shots per tilt (14.36), 40th in winning percentage (.679) and 49th in total points (73) and in save percentage (.769).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (9), 17th in the nation in goalie minutes played (1,260:00) and in goals against average (0.643). Additionally, Agunbiade, Borneo and Roman are 49th in game-winning goals (2) and Dobrijevic is sixth in total assists (8) and 11th in assist per contest (0.57).
• Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (32), third in goalie minutes played (6,213.85), 13th in goals against average (.898), 26th in saves (165), 34th in games played (70) and 45th in save percentage (.727). Additionally, Kamdem is 34th in games played (70) and Dobrijevic is 38th in games played (69).
• Through 70 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 165 saves en route to owning a 0.90 goals against average on the strength of 32 shutouts.
• Budler surpassed 6,000 career minutes in goal vs. Cornell (Oct. 7) and has been in net for 6,213:51.
• 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 (18), points (40), shots (91), shots on goal (36) and game-winners (3). Dobrijevic, Roman, Borneo, Agunbiade, Kamdem and Nathan Ferguson have scored 10, five, five, four, three and three goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 153-64-39 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 219 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 81-16-17 (.785) 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 106-51-35 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 hosts Marquette in the regular season home finale on Saturday (Nov. 1) at 6 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium.