The University of Akron Athletics
Sunday, November 30
Akron, Ohio
4:00 PM
University of Akron
vs
Duke
Akron Battles Duke in NCAA Tournament Third Round
November 29 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The 14th-seeded University of Akron men's soccer team continues its quest for its second-ever NCAA Championship on Sunday (Nov. 30) welcoming No. 15 Duke to FirstEnergy Stadium in the third round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. The 4 p.m. match with the Blue Devils will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Chad Welker and Josh Kay on the call.
Tickets for the contest against the Blue Devils 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. Duke | Nov. 30 | 4 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+
HEAD COACHES
Duke: John Kerr (Duke, 1987), Overall Record: 262-173-63 (27th Season), Record at Duke: 181-114-50 (18th Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 204-86-47 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 157-65-39 (13th Season)
SCOUTING DUKE
Duke enters action on Sunday (Nov. 30) at 10-3-6 on the campaign, including 4-2-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, following a 2-1 win at third-seeded Princeton on Sunday (Nov. 23).
The Blue Devils are led by senior Kenan Hot, who owns team-high marks in goals 8), points (20), and game-winners (2), while junior Ulfur Bjornsson paces the squad in shots (56) and shots on goal (20). Redshirt senior GK Eryck Dymora has recorded 40 saves and maintains a 0.80 goals against average on the strength of eight shutouts.
Duke is rated second in the NCAA in corner kicks (7.58), fifth in shots per game (18.42), ninth in shots on goal (7.11), 13th in shutout percentage (.526), 14th in goal differential (24), 16th in team goals against average (.737), 17th in assists per match (2.26), 19th in total assists (43), 20th in points per tilt (6.26), 21st in total points (119), 22nd in scoring offense (2.00), 23rd in total goals (38) and 31st in winning percentage (.684). Individually, Bjornsson is ranked 10th in shots per game (3.50), while Dymora is 19th in shutouts (8), 31st in goals against average (0.80) and 49th in goalie minutes played (1,575:00).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Duke are meeting for the fourth time in program history with the Blue Devils owning an 3-0-0 series advantage, all by 1-0 shutout victories. In the last encounter between the two schools, Duke posted a 1-0 triumph over the Zips on Sept. 14, 1996, as part of the MetLife adidas Classic in Durham, N.C. The two schools are meeting for the second time in NCAA Tournament play as Duke posted a 1-0 victory over the Zips on Dec. 13, 1986, in the NCAA title game in Tacoma, Wash.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 14, 1996 – DURHAM, N.C.)
Duke bested Akron, 1-0, in the opening game of the MetLife adidas Classic on Sept. 14, 1996, in Durham, N.C.
AKRON VERSUS ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference for the second time this season and 94th time overall.
• Akron owns a 48-30-15 (.597) all-time record versus the current 15 members of the ACC.
• In their last encounter with a school from the ACC, the Zips earned a 1-0 triumph over Notre Dame in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 23, 2025, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
ZIPS' NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains a 35-30-9 mark in 74 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 14-7-3 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 26-10-9 ledger.
Fifteen Zips have earned playing time in the NCAA Tournament during their Akron careers, including nine making their tournament debuts versus Notre Dame (Nov. 23). Senior Stefan Dobrijevic, sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) and junior Matthew Paiva (Toronto, Ontario) have recorded a four, three and three shots, respectively, for the Zips, with Paiva owning the lone goal for Akron and Dobrijevic the only assist. Additionally, GK Mitch Budler has pulled in 10 saves for the Zips with two shutouts.
FIVE ZIPS EARN ALL-BIG EAST ACCOLADES
Five Akron men's soccer standouts garnered All-BIG EAST accolades when the league unveiled in 2025 award winners in a vote of the league coaches released on Nov. 12.
Stefan Dobrijevic headlined the Zips' award winners as he named selected as the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous First-Team honoree.
Mitch Budler garnered BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year accolades for the second consecutive campaign and was a First-Team All-Conference selection.
Senior Daragh Reilly (Navan, Ireland) rounded out the First-Team All-BIG EAST selections for the Zips.
Pulling in Second-Team All-BIG EAST laurels was junior Matt Dreas (Covington, Ky.), while senior Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) earned Third-Team honors.
Dobrijevic became the 15th Akron player to garner league Player of the Year accolades marking the third consecutive season in which a Zip has been named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. Dobrijevic joins Emil Jaaskelainen (2024) and Jason Shokalook (2023).
Budler is the first player to garner back-to-back Goalkeeper of the Year honors in program history and the first in the BIG EAST Conference since Giannis Nikopolidis from Georgetown in 2019 and 2020.
DOBRIJEVIC NAMED BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Stefan Dobrijevic became the third consecutive Zip to be named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. In eight BIG EAST games for Akron, he recorded six of his eight goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (6), assists (4), points (16), shots (24), shots on goal (14) and game-winners (2). He has delivered multi-goal games in a 3-1 victory at Xavier (Oct. 25) and a 2-0 victory past Marquette (Nov. 1), while adding tallies versus DePaul (Oct. 11) and UConn (Sept. 19) and contributing assists in five of Akron's last seven contests against DePaul (Oct. 11), Seton Hall (Oct. 17), Xavier (Oct. 25), Connecticut (Nov. 13) and Notre Dame (Nov. 23).
Dobrijevic ranks second in the BIG EAST in assists per game (.579), fourth in points per contest (1.42), fifth in shots per tilt (2.58), sixth in goals per outing (.421), game-winners (.158) and in shots on goal (1.11). In league-only affairs, Dobrijevic was second the BIG EAST in points per game (2.00), goals per match (.750) and in game-winners (.250), third in assists per contest (.500) and shots on goal (1.75) and fourth in shots per tilt (3.00).
Individually, Dobrijevic is fourth in the NCAA in total assists (11), fifth in assist per contest (0.58), 17th in total points (27), 22nd in points per game (1.42) and 35th in game-winners (3).
BUDLER CHOSEN AS BIG EAST GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Mitch Budler has been chosen as the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, the conference unveiled on Nov. 12. Budler has posted 43 saves on the campaign en route to recording a 0.632 goals against average on the strength of an NCAA-best 12 shutouts. In league play, Budler collected 18 saves and a 1.13 goals against average and notched three clean sheets in eight games.
AKRON TRIO GARNERS TDS MIDSEASON ACCOLADES
Akron's Mitch Budler, Jack Roman 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 19 games for Akron in 2025 en route to recording an NCAA-best 12 shutouts. He also ranks eighth in goals against average (0.632) and 27th in the nation in goalie minutes played (1,710:00).
The 2025 and 2024 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, Budler has recorded 43 saves this season in net. He ranks first in the BIG EAST Conference in goals against average (0.632), shutouts (12) and second in save percentage (.782).
Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (35), third in goalie minutes played (6,633.85), 15th in goals against average (.878), 25th in saves (178) and 30th in games played (75).
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, Ashton Kamdem and Daragh Reilly as well as manager Yuga Takizawa.
Budler has started all 75 games of his Akron career en route to collecting 178 saves and owning a 0.88 goals against average on the strength of 35 shutouts.
Dobrijevic has appeared in 74 career games as a Zip, including 26 starts, recording 15 goals, 21 assists and 51 points on 103 shots, including 44 on goal, with five game-winning goals.
Kamdem has appeared in 75 career games as a Zip, including 63 starts, recording three goals, 11 assists and 17 points on the strength of registering 26 shots, including seven on frame. His defensive efforts have helped Akron record 38 shutouts over his four-year career.
Reilly has appeared in 50 career games as a Zip, including 20 starts, recording a goal on the strength of 10 shots, including three on net, while defensively sparking Akron to 31 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 GARNERS 1-0 WIN OVER NOTRE DAME
Matthew Paiva netted the game-winning goal in the 88th minute (87:26) to lift 14th-seeed Akron to a dramatic 1-0 victory past Notre Dame in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 23 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The two sides battled through a scoreless opening stanza where Akron outshot Notre Dame, 8-5, with both sides registering three shots on goal. The defensive showdown continued into the second half with both teams battling for a go-ahead tally.
That goal came at the 87:26 mark when Paiva delivered his first career goal as a Zip striking a ball into the corner of the net off a corner kick. Stefan Dobrijevic tapped the corner to redshirt freshman Thomas O'Rourke (East Patchogue, N.Y.), who passed back to Dobrijevic, who delivered a strike into the box knocking off a Notre Dame defender that Paiva redirected into the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal. The assist was the team-leading 11th of the season for Dobrijevic.
ZIPS FALL 2-1 TO CONNECTICUT IN BIG EAST SEMIFINALS
No. 14 Akron was unable to solve Connecticut for a second time this season as the Huskies rallied with a pair of second-half goals to stun the second-seeded Zips, 2-1, in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Tournament on Nov. 13 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.
The two sides battled through a scoreless opening half in which the Zips posted a 5-1 advantage in shots, including 2-1 on goal.
Akron assumed a 1-0 lead at the 48:16 mark when Thomas O'Rourke found the back of the net for the second consecutive game off assists from Jack Roman and Stefan Dobrijevic.
The Huskies netted the equalizer in the 60th minute (59:02) on a tally from Austin Brummett. Preston Alessio connected on what proved to be the game-winner at the 70:40 mark to advance the Huskies to Sunday's title match.
The Zips registered an 11-8 advantage in shots, including 5-4 on goal. O'Rourke posted a team-high three shots with a pair falling on frame. Dobrijevic and Roman each collected a pair of shots for Akron.
Mitch Budler pulled in a pair of saves for Akron.
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 267-78-55. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 252-85-56 (.712), Maryland, 247-86-61 (.704), North Carolina, 239-90-70 (.687), Indiana, 264-102-71 (.685) and Georgetown, 242-91-53 (.696). 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 37 times, including 20 of the past 25 seasons.
ZIP TIDBITS
• All three matches between Akron and Duke have resulted in a shutout with the Blue Devils owning a 3-0-0 mark in those contests.
• Akron is seeking its first-ever goal against Duke.
• Akron is playing the Blue Devils in the postseason for the second time in program history.
• The match for the Zips versus Notre Dame marked the 400th career game for Jared Embick as a head coach.
• Akron owns a 6-2-3 mark versus Top 100 teams in the latest NCAA RPI poll.
• Akron is rated No. 15 in the latest NCAA men's soccer RPI report on Nov. 24.
• The Zips' victory at Xavier (Oct. 25) represented the 800th triumph in program history as Akron enters its showdown versus Connecticut with an 802-305-123 (.702) overall record.
• Mitch Budler and Stefan Dobrijevic appeared in their 75th career games as a Zip against Notre Dame (Nov. 23), while Daragh Reilly marked this 50th appearance for Akron.
• Stefan Dobrijevic recorded his 50th career point and 100th career shot versus Connecticut (Nov. 13), while Matt Dreas played in his 50th career contest against the Huskies.
• 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 17 of 19 tilts in 2025.
• The Zips have allowed only three first-half goals this season.
• Twelve different Zips have scored a goal this season, including five 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 Duke with 178 career stops.
• The Zips are rated third in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.632) and in corner kicks (7.47), seventh in goals against average (0.632), 22nd in winning percentage (.711), 25th in total assists (39), 26th in goal differential (17), 27th in assists per game (2.05), 32nd in save percentage (.782) and 50th in total points (97).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (12), eighth in goals against average (0.632) and 27th in goalie minutes played (1,710:00). Additionally, Dobrijevic is fourth in total assists (11), fifth in assist per contest (0.58), 17th in total points (27), 22nd in points per game (1.42) and 35th in game-winners (3).
• Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (35), third in goalie minutes played (6,663.85), 15th in goals against average (.878), 25th in saves (178) and 30th in games played (75). Additionally, Kamdem is 30th in games played (75) and Dobrijevic is 15th in total assists (21), 21st in assists per game (0.28), 37th in games played (74), 43rdh in total points (51) and 49th in points per match (0.69).
• Through 75 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 178 saves en route to owning a 0.878 goals against average on the strength of 35 shutouts.
• Since 2021, the Zips own 36-6-9 record in regular season home games at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Since 2010, the Zips are 36-7-5 at FirstEnergy Stadium in regular season conference games. Overall, during that span, including postseason, Akron boasts a 52-10-6 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 (15), assists (21), points (51), shots (103), shots on goal (44) and game-winners (5). Dobrijevic, Agunbiade, Roman, Kamdem and redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) have scored 15, six, five, four, three and three goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 157-65-39 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 157 wins are ranked eighth in all of Division I.
• Under Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 32-15-8.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 118 of the squad's last 224 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 53 of its last 105 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 100-20-16 record in its last 136 home matches.
• The Zips average attendance in 2025 is 1,622 to rank 17th 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 84-16-17 (.791) 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 110-52-35 record.
FIVE ZIPS EARN CSC ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS
The 2025 Academic All-District® men's soccer team, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognized five University of Akron men's soccer players in Stefan Dobrijevic, Matt Dreas, Freddy Kossehasse, Nathan Ferguson and Jack Roman for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA — for each gender. Institutions are limited to six nominees per gender for the sport of soccer with each qualifying nominee being selected to the all-district squad.
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 95-18-19 (.792) ledger in the month, including a 53-8-7 (.831) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium.
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 junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.) 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
The advancing team between Akron and Duke will play the advancing squad between No. 11 Bryant and Saint Louis on either Dec. 5 or Dec. 6.
Tickets for the contest against the Blue Devils 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. Duke | Nov. 30 | 4 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+
HEAD COACHES
Duke: John Kerr (Duke, 1987), Overall Record: 262-173-63 (27th Season), Record at Duke: 181-114-50 (18th Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 204-86-47 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 157-65-39 (13th Season)
SCOUTING DUKE
Duke enters action on Sunday (Nov. 30) at 10-3-6 on the campaign, including 4-2-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, following a 2-1 win at third-seeded Princeton on Sunday (Nov. 23).
The Blue Devils are led by senior Kenan Hot, who owns team-high marks in goals 8), points (20), and game-winners (2), while junior Ulfur Bjornsson paces the squad in shots (56) and shots on goal (20). Redshirt senior GK Eryck Dymora has recorded 40 saves and maintains a 0.80 goals against average on the strength of eight shutouts.
Duke is rated second in the NCAA in corner kicks (7.58), fifth in shots per game (18.42), ninth in shots on goal (7.11), 13th in shutout percentage (.526), 14th in goal differential (24), 16th in team goals against average (.737), 17th in assists per match (2.26), 19th in total assists (43), 20th in points per tilt (6.26), 21st in total points (119), 22nd in scoring offense (2.00), 23rd in total goals (38) and 31st in winning percentage (.684). Individually, Bjornsson is ranked 10th in shots per game (3.50), while Dymora is 19th in shutouts (8), 31st in goals against average (0.80) and 49th in goalie minutes played (1,575:00).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Duke are meeting for the fourth time in program history with the Blue Devils owning an 3-0-0 series advantage, all by 1-0 shutout victories. In the last encounter between the two schools, Duke posted a 1-0 triumph over the Zips on Sept. 14, 1996, as part of the MetLife adidas Classic in Durham, N.C. The two schools are meeting for the second time in NCAA Tournament play as Duke posted a 1-0 victory over the Zips on Dec. 13, 1986, in the NCAA title game in Tacoma, Wash.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 14, 1996 – DURHAM, N.C.)
Duke bested Akron, 1-0, in the opening game of the MetLife adidas Classic on Sept. 14, 1996, in Durham, N.C.
AKRON VERSUS ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference for the second time this season and 94th time overall.
• Akron owns a 48-30-15 (.597) all-time record versus the current 15 members of the ACC.
• In their last encounter with a school from the ACC, the Zips earned a 1-0 triumph over Notre Dame in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 23, 2025, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
ZIPS' NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains a 35-30-9 mark in 74 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 14-7-3 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 26-10-9 ledger.
Fifteen Zips have earned playing time in the NCAA Tournament during their Akron careers, including nine making their tournament debuts versus Notre Dame (Nov. 23). Senior Stefan Dobrijevic, sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) and junior Matthew Paiva (Toronto, Ontario) have recorded a four, three and three shots, respectively, for the Zips, with Paiva owning the lone goal for Akron and Dobrijevic the only assist. Additionally, GK Mitch Budler has pulled in 10 saves for the Zips with two shutouts.
FIVE ZIPS EARN ALL-BIG EAST ACCOLADES
Five Akron men's soccer standouts garnered All-BIG EAST accolades when the league unveiled in 2025 award winners in a vote of the league coaches released on Nov. 12.
Stefan Dobrijevic headlined the Zips' award winners as he named selected as the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous First-Team honoree.
Mitch Budler garnered BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year accolades for the second consecutive campaign and was a First-Team All-Conference selection.
Senior Daragh Reilly (Navan, Ireland) rounded out the First-Team All-BIG EAST selections for the Zips.
Pulling in Second-Team All-BIG EAST laurels was junior Matt Dreas (Covington, Ky.), while senior Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) earned Third-Team honors.
Dobrijevic became the 15th Akron player to garner league Player of the Year accolades marking the third consecutive season in which a Zip has been named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. Dobrijevic joins Emil Jaaskelainen (2024) and Jason Shokalook (2023).
Budler is the first player to garner back-to-back Goalkeeper of the Year honors in program history and the first in the BIG EAST Conference since Giannis Nikopolidis from Georgetown in 2019 and 2020.
DOBRIJEVIC NAMED BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Stefan Dobrijevic became the third consecutive Zip to be named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. In eight BIG EAST games for Akron, he recorded six of his eight goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (6), assists (4), points (16), shots (24), shots on goal (14) and game-winners (2). He has delivered multi-goal games in a 3-1 victory at Xavier (Oct. 25) and a 2-0 victory past Marquette (Nov. 1), while adding tallies versus DePaul (Oct. 11) and UConn (Sept. 19) and contributing assists in five of Akron's last seven contests against DePaul (Oct. 11), Seton Hall (Oct. 17), Xavier (Oct. 25), Connecticut (Nov. 13) and Notre Dame (Nov. 23).
Dobrijevic ranks second in the BIG EAST in assists per game (.579), fourth in points per contest (1.42), fifth in shots per tilt (2.58), sixth in goals per outing (.421), game-winners (.158) and in shots on goal (1.11). In league-only affairs, Dobrijevic was second the BIG EAST in points per game (2.00), goals per match (.750) and in game-winners (.250), third in assists per contest (.500) and shots on goal (1.75) and fourth in shots per tilt (3.00).
Individually, Dobrijevic is fourth in the NCAA in total assists (11), fifth in assist per contest (0.58), 17th in total points (27), 22nd in points per game (1.42) and 35th in game-winners (3).
BUDLER CHOSEN AS BIG EAST GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Mitch Budler has been chosen as the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, the conference unveiled on Nov. 12. Budler has posted 43 saves on the campaign en route to recording a 0.632 goals against average on the strength of an NCAA-best 12 shutouts. In league play, Budler collected 18 saves and a 1.13 goals against average and notched three clean sheets in eight games.
AKRON TRIO GARNERS TDS MIDSEASON ACCOLADES
Akron's Mitch Budler, Jack Roman 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 19 games for Akron in 2025 en route to recording an NCAA-best 12 shutouts. He also ranks eighth in goals against average (0.632) and 27th in the nation in goalie minutes played (1,710:00).
The 2025 and 2024 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, Budler has recorded 43 saves this season in net. He ranks first in the BIG EAST Conference in goals against average (0.632), shutouts (12) and second in save percentage (.782).
Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (35), third in goalie minutes played (6,633.85), 15th in goals against average (.878), 25th in saves (178) and 30th in games played (75).
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, Ashton Kamdem and Daragh Reilly as well as manager Yuga Takizawa.
Budler has started all 75 games of his Akron career en route to collecting 178 saves and owning a 0.88 goals against average on the strength of 35 shutouts.
Dobrijevic has appeared in 74 career games as a Zip, including 26 starts, recording 15 goals, 21 assists and 51 points on 103 shots, including 44 on goal, with five game-winning goals.
Kamdem has appeared in 75 career games as a Zip, including 63 starts, recording three goals, 11 assists and 17 points on the strength of registering 26 shots, including seven on frame. His defensive efforts have helped Akron record 38 shutouts over his four-year career.
Reilly has appeared in 50 career games as a Zip, including 20 starts, recording a goal on the strength of 10 shots, including three on net, while defensively sparking Akron to 31 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 GARNERS 1-0 WIN OVER NOTRE DAME
Matthew Paiva netted the game-winning goal in the 88th minute (87:26) to lift 14th-seeed Akron to a dramatic 1-0 victory past Notre Dame in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 23 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The two sides battled through a scoreless opening stanza where Akron outshot Notre Dame, 8-5, with both sides registering three shots on goal. The defensive showdown continued into the second half with both teams battling for a go-ahead tally.
That goal came at the 87:26 mark when Paiva delivered his first career goal as a Zip striking a ball into the corner of the net off a corner kick. Stefan Dobrijevic tapped the corner to redshirt freshman Thomas O'Rourke (East Patchogue, N.Y.), who passed back to Dobrijevic, who delivered a strike into the box knocking off a Notre Dame defender that Paiva redirected into the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal. The assist was the team-leading 11th of the season for Dobrijevic.
ZIPS FALL 2-1 TO CONNECTICUT IN BIG EAST SEMIFINALS
No. 14 Akron was unable to solve Connecticut for a second time this season as the Huskies rallied with a pair of second-half goals to stun the second-seeded Zips, 2-1, in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Tournament on Nov. 13 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.
The two sides battled through a scoreless opening half in which the Zips posted a 5-1 advantage in shots, including 2-1 on goal.
Akron assumed a 1-0 lead at the 48:16 mark when Thomas O'Rourke found the back of the net for the second consecutive game off assists from Jack Roman and Stefan Dobrijevic.
The Huskies netted the equalizer in the 60th minute (59:02) on a tally from Austin Brummett. Preston Alessio connected on what proved to be the game-winner at the 70:40 mark to advance the Huskies to Sunday's title match.
The Zips registered an 11-8 advantage in shots, including 5-4 on goal. O'Rourke posted a team-high three shots with a pair falling on frame. Dobrijevic and Roman each collected a pair of shots for Akron.
Mitch Budler pulled in a pair of saves for Akron.
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 267-78-55. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 252-85-56 (.712), Maryland, 247-86-61 (.704), North Carolina, 239-90-70 (.687), Indiana, 264-102-71 (.685) and Georgetown, 242-91-53 (.696). 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 37 times, including 20 of the past 25 seasons.
ZIP TIDBITS
• All three matches between Akron and Duke have resulted in a shutout with the Blue Devils owning a 3-0-0 mark in those contests.
• Akron is seeking its first-ever goal against Duke.
• Akron is playing the Blue Devils in the postseason for the second time in program history.
• The match for the Zips versus Notre Dame marked the 400th career game for Jared Embick as a head coach.
• Akron owns a 6-2-3 mark versus Top 100 teams in the latest NCAA RPI poll.
• Akron is rated No. 15 in the latest NCAA men's soccer RPI report on Nov. 24.
• The Zips' victory at Xavier (Oct. 25) represented the 800th triumph in program history as Akron enters its showdown versus Connecticut with an 802-305-123 (.702) overall record.
• Mitch Budler and Stefan Dobrijevic appeared in their 75th career games as a Zip against Notre Dame (Nov. 23), while Daragh Reilly marked this 50th appearance for Akron.
• Stefan Dobrijevic recorded his 50th career point and 100th career shot versus Connecticut (Nov. 13), while Matt Dreas played in his 50th career contest against the Huskies.
• 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 17 of 19 tilts in 2025.
• The Zips have allowed only three first-half goals this season.
• Twelve different Zips have scored a goal this season, including five 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 Duke with 178 career stops.
• The Zips are rated third in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.632) and in corner kicks (7.47), seventh in goals against average (0.632), 22nd in winning percentage (.711), 25th in total assists (39), 26th in goal differential (17), 27th in assists per game (2.05), 32nd in save percentage (.782) and 50th in total points (97).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (12), eighth in goals against average (0.632) and 27th in goalie minutes played (1,710:00). Additionally, Dobrijevic is fourth in total assists (11), fifth in assist per contest (0.58), 17th in total points (27), 22nd in points per game (1.42) and 35th in game-winners (3).
• Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (35), third in goalie minutes played (6,663.85), 15th in goals against average (.878), 25th in saves (178) and 30th in games played (75). Additionally, Kamdem is 30th in games played (75) and Dobrijevic is 15th in total assists (21), 21st in assists per game (0.28), 37th in games played (74), 43rdh in total points (51) and 49th in points per match (0.69).
• Through 75 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 178 saves en route to owning a 0.878 goals against average on the strength of 35 shutouts.
• Since 2021, the Zips own 36-6-9 record in regular season home games at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Since 2010, the Zips are 36-7-5 at FirstEnergy Stadium in regular season conference games. Overall, during that span, including postseason, Akron boasts a 52-10-6 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 (15), assists (21), points (51), shots (103), shots on goal (44) and game-winners (5). Dobrijevic, Agunbiade, Roman, Kamdem and redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) have scored 15, six, five, four, three and three goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 157-65-39 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 157 wins are ranked eighth in all of Division I.
• Under Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 32-15-8.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 118 of the squad's last 224 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 53 of its last 105 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 100-20-16 record in its last 136 home matches.
• The Zips average attendance in 2025 is 1,622 to rank 17th 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 84-16-17 (.791) 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 110-52-35 record.
FIVE ZIPS EARN CSC ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS
The 2025 Academic All-District® men's soccer team, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognized five University of Akron men's soccer players in Stefan Dobrijevic, Matt Dreas, Freddy Kossehasse, Nathan Ferguson and Jack Roman for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA — for each gender. Institutions are limited to six nominees per gender for the sport of soccer with each qualifying nominee being selected to the all-district squad.
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 95-18-19 (.792) ledger in the month, including a 53-8-7 (.831) mark in matches at FirstEnergy Stadium.
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 junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.) 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
The advancing team between Akron and Duke will play the advancing squad between No. 11 Bryant and Saint Louis on either Dec. 5 or Dec. 6.
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/ Men's Soccer2025 NCAA Men's Soccer Second Round Post-Game Press Conference Notre Dame Coach Riley - 11/23/25
Sunday, November 23
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer - Post-Game Press Conference vs Notre Dame (NCAA 2nd Round) - 11/23/25
Sunday, November 23
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Selection Show Comments - 11/17/25
Monday, November 17
Akron Zips Men's Soccer - Stu Parry Tribute - Chapter 7 - Bill Parry
Saturday, November 08
