The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, December 6
Akron, Ohio
1:00 PM
University of Akron
vs
Saint Louis
Akron Hosts Saint Louis in NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
December 05 | 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 Saturday (Dec. 6) welcoming No. 6 Saint Louis to FirstEnergy Stadium in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship. The 1 p.m. match with the Billikens will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Chad Welker and Josh Kay on the call.
Tickets for the contest against the Billikens 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. Saint Louis | Dec. 6 | 1 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+
HEAD COACHES
Saint Louis: Kevin Kalish (Saint Louis, 1999), Overall Record: 130-79-49 (14th Season), Record at SLU: 81-33-45 (Eighth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 205-86-47 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 158-65-39 (13th Season)
SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS
Saint Louis enters action on Saturday (Dec. 6) at 12-2-8 on the campaign, including 5-0-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, following advancing on penalty kicks, 4-2, in a 2-2 at No. 11 Bryant on Sunday (Nov. 30).
The Billikens are led by freshman Theo Franca, who owns team-high marks in goals (5), points (11), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (3). Redshirt senior GK Jeremi Abonnel has recorded 60 saves and maintains a 0.66 goals against average on the strength of 11 shutouts.
Saint Louis is rated ninth in the NCAA in team goals against average (,684), 14th in shutout percentage (.500), 18th in winning percentage (.727), 20th in save percentage (.800) and 39th in corner kicks (5.82). Individually, Abonnel is second in goalie minutes played (2,033.50), fifth in shutouts (11), 10th in goals against average (.664) and 20th in save percentage (.800).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting Saint Louis for the 14th time in program history with the Billikens leading the all-time series, 7-5-1. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron bested Saint Louis, 3-0, on Sept. 23 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The two schools are meeting for the third time in NCAA Tournament play as the Billikens posted victories over the Zips during the 1970 and 1975 NCAA Tournaments.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 23, 2025 – AKRON, OHIO)
No. 12 Akron men's soccer held No. 8 Saint Louis scoreless and ran away with a 3-0 shutout win on Sept. 23 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Akron grabbed a 1-0 lead when redshirt sophomore Caleb Borneo (Morgantown, W.Va.) scored his third goal of the season in the 34th minute (33:11) on a successful penalty kick.
The Zips increased their lead to 2-0 on a goal from sophomore Remi Agunbiade (Toronto, Ontario) at the 61:01 mark, assisted by senior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) and junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.).
Akron expanded its lead to 3-0 on sophomore Jack Roman's (Canfield, Ohio) 67th-minute goal (66:01), his team-leading fourth on the campaign. Dobrijevic and Agunbiade assisted the goal.
AKRON VERSUS ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Atlantic 10 Conference for third time this season and the 45th time in program history.
• In all, the Zips are 29-11-4 (.705) versus teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference.
ZIPS' NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains a 36-30-9 mark in 75 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 15-7-3 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 27-10-9 ledger.
Seventeen Zips have earned playing time in the NCAA Tournament during their Akron careers, including nine making their tournament debuts versus Notre Dame (Nov. 23). Jack Roman, Stefan Dobrijevic, Remi Agunbiade and junior Matthew Paiva (Toronto, Ontario) have recorded eight, five, four and four shots, respectively, for the Zips, with Agunbiade and Paiva owning two and one goals, respectively, for Akron. Dobrijevic, redshirt sophomore Tyler Morck (Bethpage, N.Y.) and Roman have each garnered an assist. Additionally, redshirt senior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has pulled in 10 saves for the Zips with two shutouts.
AKRON TRIO NAMED TO TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Akron senior Daragh Reilly (Navan, Ireland) and sophomores Remi Agunbiade and Jack Roman garnered national accolades when TopDrawerSoccer.com named the Zips' trio to its National Team of the Week (Dec. 2). Reilly was selected for its National Team of the Week Honor Roll.
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.
Daragh Reilly 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 (.550), third in shots on goal (1.05), fourth in points per contest (1.35), sixth in shots per tilt (2.50) and in goals per outing (.421) and seventh in game-winners (.150) and. 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), eighth in assist per contest (0.55), 18th in total points (27), 31st in points per game (1.35) and 36th 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 0.600 goals against average on the strength of an NCAA-best 13 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 20 games for Akron in 2025 en route to recording an NCAA-best 13 shutouts. He also ranks seventh in goals against average (0.600), 11th in the nation in goalie minutes played (1,800:00) and 32nd in save percentage (.782).
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 (0.600) and shutouts (13) and second in save percentage (.782).
Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (36), third in goalie minutes played (6,753.85), 15th in goals against average (.866), 25th in saves (178), 28th in games played (76) and 47th in save percentage (.733).
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 76 games of his Akron career en route to collecting 178 saves and owning a 0.87 goals against average on the strength of 36 shutouts.
Dobrijevic has appeared in 75 career games as a Zip, including 27 starts, recording 15 goals, 21 assists and 51 points on 104 shots, including 44 on goal, with five game-winning goals.
Kamdem has appeared in 76 career games as a Zip, including 64 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 39 shutouts over his four-year career.
Reilly has appeared in 51 career games as a Zip, including 21 starts, recording a goal on the strength of 10 shots, including three on net, while defensively sparking Akron to 32 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 ADVANCE WITH 2-0 VICTORY PAST DUKE
A pair of goals from Remi Agunbiade propelled 14th-seeded Akron past No. 15 Duke, 2-0, in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 on Sunday (Nov. 30) at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The brace was the first multi-goal match for Agunbiade and represents the first multi-goal tilt for a Zip in the NCAA Tournament since Marcel Zajac netted a pair of tallies in a 3-2 victory at Stanford in the Round of Eight during the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
Akron opened the scoring when Agunbiade recorded his sixth goal of the season in the 11th minute (10:26), assisted by Tyler Morck.
The Zips outshot the Blue Devils in the opening stanza, on the strength of a 9-3 edge in shots, including 2-0 on goal, and led 1-0 at the intermission.
The Zips went up 2-0 on a goal from Agunbiade, his seventh tally on the campaign, at the 51:13 mark, assisted by Jack Roman.
Mitch Budler recorded his NCAA-leading 13th shutout of the season without needing to make a save.
AKRON GARNERS 1-0 WIN OVER NOTRE DAME
Matthew Paiva netted the game-winning goal in the 88th minute (87:26) to lift 14th-seeded 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.
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
• The Zips are meeting Saint Louis for the 14th time in program history with Akron 4-0-1 in the last five encounters.
• Akron is hosting the Billikens at FirstEnergy Stadium for the second time this season after registering a 3-0 triumph past the Billikens at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sept. 23, 2025.
• Akron has outscored Saint Louis by a 14-7 margin in six previous home matches with the Billikens, including 10-2 since 2009, owning a 4-2 mark in those contests.
• Akron is playing the Billikens in the postseason for the third time in program history.
• The Zips are playing in the Elite Eight for the eighth time in program history and first at FirstEnergy Stadium since recording a 3-2 double-overtime triumph past Creighton on Dec. 5, 2015.
• Akron is hosting an Elite Eight showdown for the fifth time in program history (1986, 2009, 2010 and 2015) with the Zips owning three wins in the previous four encounters.
• The match for the Zips versus Notre Dame marked the 400th career game for Jared Embick as a head coach.
• Akron owns a 7-2-3 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 3-1-2 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), a 0-0 draw at No. 13 Cornell (Oct. 7) and a 2-0 victory over No. 15 Duke (Nov. 30).
• The Zips recorded a season-best 20 shots at VCU (Aug. 24).
• Akron have posted double-digit shots in 18 of 20 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 Saint Louis with 178 career stops.
• The Zips are rated third in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.650) and in corner kicks (7.35), fifth in goals against average (0.600), 19th in winning percentage (.725), 23rd in goal differential (19), 26th in total assists (41), 29th in assists per game (2.05), 32nd in save percentage (.782) and 41st in total points (103).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (13), seventh in goals against average (0.600), 11th in the nation in goalie minutes played (1,800:00) and 32nd in save percentage (.782). Additionally, Dobrijevic is fourth in the NCAA in total assists (11), eighth in assist per contest (0.55), 18th in total points (27), 31st in points per game (1.35) and 36th in game-winners (3).
• Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (36), third in goalie minutes played (6,753.85), 15th in goals against average (.866), 25th in saves (178), 28th in games played (76) and 47th in save percentage (.733). Additionally, Kamdem is 28th in games played (76) and Dobrijevic is 15th in total assists (21), 21st in assists per game (0.28), 32nd in games played (75), 43rd in total points (51) and 49th in points per match (0.68).
• Through 76 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 178 saves en route to owning a 0.866 goals against average on the strength of 36 shutouts.
• Budler surpassed 6,000 career minutes in goal vs. Cornell (Oct. 7) and has been in net for 6,723:51.
• 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 38-25-12 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dobrijevic is Akron's active career leaders in goals (15), assists (21), points (51), shots (104), shots on goal (44) and game-winners (5). Dobrijevic, Agunbiade, Roman, Kamdem and redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) have scored 15, eight, five, four, three and three goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 158-65-39 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 158 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 119 of the squad's last 225 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 54 of its last 106 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 101-20-16 record in its last 137 home matches.
• The Zips average attendance in 2025 is 1,596 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 111-52-35 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 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
The advancing team between Akron and Saint Louis will play the advancing squad between No. 7 Georgetown and No. 15 North Carolina State on Dec. 12.
Tickets for the contest against the Billikens 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. Saint Louis | Dec. 6 | 1 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+
HEAD COACHES
Saint Louis: Kevin Kalish (Saint Louis, 1999), Overall Record: 130-79-49 (14th Season), Record at SLU: 81-33-45 (Eighth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 205-86-47 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 158-65-39 (13th Season)
SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS
Saint Louis enters action on Saturday (Dec. 6) at 12-2-8 on the campaign, including 5-0-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, following advancing on penalty kicks, 4-2, in a 2-2 at No. 11 Bryant on Sunday (Nov. 30).
The Billikens are led by freshman Theo Franca, who owns team-high marks in goals (5), points (11), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (3). Redshirt senior GK Jeremi Abonnel has recorded 60 saves and maintains a 0.66 goals against average on the strength of 11 shutouts.
Saint Louis is rated ninth in the NCAA in team goals against average (,684), 14th in shutout percentage (.500), 18th in winning percentage (.727), 20th in save percentage (.800) and 39th in corner kicks (5.82). Individually, Abonnel is second in goalie minutes played (2,033.50), fifth in shutouts (11), 10th in goals against average (.664) and 20th in save percentage (.800).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is meeting Saint Louis for the 14th time in program history with the Billikens leading the all-time series, 7-5-1. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron bested Saint Louis, 3-0, on Sept. 23 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The two schools are meeting for the third time in NCAA Tournament play as the Billikens posted victories over the Zips during the 1970 and 1975 NCAA Tournaments.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 23, 2025 – AKRON, OHIO)
No. 12 Akron men's soccer held No. 8 Saint Louis scoreless and ran away with a 3-0 shutout win on Sept. 23 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Akron grabbed a 1-0 lead when redshirt sophomore Caleb Borneo (Morgantown, W.Va.) scored his third goal of the season in the 34th minute (33:11) on a successful penalty kick.
The Zips increased their lead to 2-0 on a goal from sophomore Remi Agunbiade (Toronto, Ontario) at the 61:01 mark, assisted by senior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) and junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.).
Akron expanded its lead to 3-0 on sophomore Jack Roman's (Canfield, Ohio) 67th-minute goal (66:01), his team-leading fourth on the campaign. Dobrijevic and Agunbiade assisted the goal.
AKRON VERSUS ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Atlantic 10 Conference for third time this season and the 45th time in program history.
• In all, the Zips are 29-11-4 (.705) versus teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference.
ZIPS' NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains a 36-30-9 mark in 75 matches in NCAA Championship history, including capturing the school's first national championship in any sport in 2010. The Zips are 15-7-3 under head coach Jared Embick. Since 2005, Akron owns a 27-10-9 ledger.
Seventeen Zips have earned playing time in the NCAA Tournament during their Akron careers, including nine making their tournament debuts versus Notre Dame (Nov. 23). Jack Roman, Stefan Dobrijevic, Remi Agunbiade and junior Matthew Paiva (Toronto, Ontario) have recorded eight, five, four and four shots, respectively, for the Zips, with Agunbiade and Paiva owning two and one goals, respectively, for Akron. Dobrijevic, redshirt sophomore Tyler Morck (Bethpage, N.Y.) and Roman have each garnered an assist. Additionally, redshirt senior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has pulled in 10 saves for the Zips with two shutouts.
AKRON TRIO NAMED TO TOPDRAWERSOCCER.COM NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Akron senior Daragh Reilly (Navan, Ireland) and sophomores Remi Agunbiade and Jack Roman garnered national accolades when TopDrawerSoccer.com named the Zips' trio to its National Team of the Week (Dec. 2). Reilly was selected for its National Team of the Week Honor Roll.
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.
Daragh Reilly 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 (.550), third in shots on goal (1.05), fourth in points per contest (1.35), sixth in shots per tilt (2.50) and in goals per outing (.421) and seventh in game-winners (.150) and. 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), eighth in assist per contest (0.55), 18th in total points (27), 31st in points per game (1.35) and 36th 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 0.600 goals against average on the strength of an NCAA-best 13 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 20 games for Akron in 2025 en route to recording an NCAA-best 13 shutouts. He also ranks seventh in goals against average (0.600), 11th in the nation in goalie minutes played (1,800:00) and 32nd in save percentage (.782).
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 (0.600) and shutouts (13) and second in save percentage (.782).
Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (36), third in goalie minutes played (6,753.85), 15th in goals against average (.866), 25th in saves (178), 28th in games played (76) and 47th in save percentage (.733).
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 76 games of his Akron career en route to collecting 178 saves and owning a 0.87 goals against average on the strength of 36 shutouts.
Dobrijevic has appeared in 75 career games as a Zip, including 27 starts, recording 15 goals, 21 assists and 51 points on 104 shots, including 44 on goal, with five game-winning goals.
Kamdem has appeared in 76 career games as a Zip, including 64 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 39 shutouts over his four-year career.
Reilly has appeared in 51 career games as a Zip, including 21 starts, recording a goal on the strength of 10 shots, including three on net, while defensively sparking Akron to 32 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 ADVANCE WITH 2-0 VICTORY PAST DUKE
A pair of goals from Remi Agunbiade propelled 14th-seeded Akron past No. 15 Duke, 2-0, in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 on Sunday (Nov. 30) at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The brace was the first multi-goal match for Agunbiade and represents the first multi-goal tilt for a Zip in the NCAA Tournament since Marcel Zajac netted a pair of tallies in a 3-2 victory at Stanford in the Round of Eight during the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
Akron opened the scoring when Agunbiade recorded his sixth goal of the season in the 11th minute (10:26), assisted by Tyler Morck.
The Zips outshot the Blue Devils in the opening stanza, on the strength of a 9-3 edge in shots, including 2-0 on goal, and led 1-0 at the intermission.
The Zips went up 2-0 on a goal from Agunbiade, his seventh tally on the campaign, at the 51:13 mark, assisted by Jack Roman.
Mitch Budler recorded his NCAA-leading 13th shutout of the season without needing to make a save.
AKRON GARNERS 1-0 WIN OVER NOTRE DAME
Matthew Paiva netted the game-winning goal in the 88th minute (87:26) to lift 14th-seeded 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.
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
• The Zips are meeting Saint Louis for the 14th time in program history with Akron 4-0-1 in the last five encounters.
• Akron is hosting the Billikens at FirstEnergy Stadium for the second time this season after registering a 3-0 triumph past the Billikens at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sept. 23, 2025.
• Akron has outscored Saint Louis by a 14-7 margin in six previous home matches with the Billikens, including 10-2 since 2009, owning a 4-2 mark in those contests.
• Akron is playing the Billikens in the postseason for the third time in program history.
• The Zips are playing in the Elite Eight for the eighth time in program history and first at FirstEnergy Stadium since recording a 3-2 double-overtime triumph past Creighton on Dec. 5, 2015.
• Akron is hosting an Elite Eight showdown for the fifth time in program history (1986, 2009, 2010 and 2015) with the Zips owning three wins in the previous four encounters.
• The match for the Zips versus Notre Dame marked the 400th career game for Jared Embick as a head coach.
• Akron owns a 7-2-3 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 3-1-2 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), a 0-0 draw at No. 13 Cornell (Oct. 7) and a 2-0 victory over No. 15 Duke (Nov. 30).
• The Zips recorded a season-best 20 shots at VCU (Aug. 24).
• Akron have posted double-digit shots in 18 of 20 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 Saint Louis with 178 career stops.
• The Zips are rated third in the NCAA in shutout percentage (.650) and in corner kicks (7.35), fifth in goals against average (0.600), 19th in winning percentage (.725), 23rd in goal differential (19), 26th in total assists (41), 29th in assists per game (2.05), 32nd in save percentage (.782) and 41st in total points (103).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (13), seventh in goals against average (0.600), 11th in the nation in goalie minutes played (1,800:00) and 32nd in save percentage (.782). Additionally, Dobrijevic is fourth in the NCAA in total assists (11), eighth in assist per contest (0.55), 18th in total points (27), 31st in points per game (1.35) and 36th in game-winners (3).
• Budler is rated first among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (36), third in goalie minutes played (6,753.85), 15th in goals against average (.866), 25th in saves (178), 28th in games played (76) and 47th in save percentage (.733). Additionally, Kamdem is 28th in games played (76) and Dobrijevic is 15th in total assists (21), 21st in assists per game (0.28), 32nd in games played (75), 43rd in total points (51) and 49th in points per match (0.68).
• Through 76 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 178 saves en route to owning a 0.866 goals against average on the strength of 36 shutouts.
• Budler surpassed 6,000 career minutes in goal vs. Cornell (Oct. 7) and has been in net for 6,723:51.
• 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 38-25-12 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dobrijevic is Akron's active career leaders in goals (15), assists (21), points (51), shots (104), shots on goal (44) and game-winners (5). Dobrijevic, Agunbiade, Roman, Kamdem and redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) have scored 15, eight, five, four, three and three goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 158-65-39 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 158 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 119 of the squad's last 225 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 54 of its last 106 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 101-20-16 record in its last 137 home matches.
• The Zips average attendance in 2025 is 1,596 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 111-52-35 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 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
The advancing team between Akron and Saint Louis will play the advancing squad between No. 7 Georgetown and No. 15 North Carolina State on Dec. 12.
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/ Men's Soccer2025 NCAA Men's Soccer Third Round Post-Game Press Conference (Duke) - 11/30/25
Monday, December 01
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Duke (NCAA Third Round) - 11/30/25
Monday, December 01
2025 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
