The University of Akron Athletics
Matt Dreas was one of five Zips named to the All-BIG EAST Team.
Photo by: Jeff Harwell
November 11 | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Five Akron men's soccer players were selected to the 2026 All-BIG EAST team.
Matt Dreas and Thomas O'Rourke earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors, while Remi Agunbiade and Matthew Paiva received All-BIG EAST Second Team recognition. Jack Roman was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team.
Dreas earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors last season and has put together a spectacular senior season. The midfielder and team captain has scored twice and added an assist, notching goals against Robert Morris and Providence while starting in 15 matches.
O'Rourke was a vital piece throughout the regular season for the Zips. The redshirt sophomore led the squad in both assists (6) and points (14) while ranking in the top 10 in the conference in assists. The forward has delivered in some big moments, as he notched goals in ranked wins over Cornell and Xavier and played in 14 matches with 13 starts.
Agunbiade tied for the team lead in goals with five and earned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week following his two-goal performance in a win over DePaul in early October. The junior also added two assists and notched the game-winning goal in a ranked victory over Syracuse. At the end of last season, Agunbiade was drafted in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft by San Diego FC.
Paiva has tallied four goals and two assists as a defender during the 2026 campaign. The senior has twice earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week this season, including on November 2 following his game-winner against Xavier. He has also been a key member of the defensive unit for Akron that has notched seven shutouts and has played in more minutes than any non-goalkeeper on the squad.
Roman rounds out the Zips on the All-BIG EAST squad, as he has scored twice with four assists while starting all 16 matches. Earlier this season, the junior forward had the game-winning goal at Saint Louis in a rematch of the 2025 NCAA Quarterfinal.
The Zips earned a share of the BIG EAST Midwest Division crown and the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. They will face off against No. 2 seed Creighton on Thursday, November 12 at 5 p.m. from the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md., outside Washington, D.C.
Matt Dreas and Thomas O'Rourke earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors, while Remi Agunbiade and Matthew Paiva received All-BIG EAST Second Team recognition. Jack Roman was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team.
Dreas earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors last season and has put together a spectacular senior season. The midfielder and team captain has scored twice and added an assist, notching goals against Robert Morris and Providence while starting in 15 matches.
O'Rourke was a vital piece throughout the regular season for the Zips. The redshirt sophomore led the squad in both assists (6) and points (14) while ranking in the top 10 in the conference in assists. The forward has delivered in some big moments, as he notched goals in ranked wins over Cornell and Xavier and played in 14 matches with 13 starts.
Agunbiade tied for the team lead in goals with five and earned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week following his two-goal performance in a win over DePaul in early October. The junior also added two assists and notched the game-winning goal in a ranked victory over Syracuse. At the end of last season, Agunbiade was drafted in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft by San Diego FC.
Paiva has tallied four goals and two assists as a defender during the 2026 campaign. The senior has twice earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week this season, including on November 2 following his game-winner against Xavier. He has also been a key member of the defensive unit for Akron that has notched seven shutouts and has played in more minutes than any non-goalkeeper on the squad.
Roman rounds out the Zips on the All-BIG EAST squad, as he has scored twice with four assists while starting all 16 matches. Earlier this season, the junior forward had the game-winning goal at Saint Louis in a rematch of the 2025 NCAA Quarterfinal.
The Zips earned a share of the BIG EAST Midwest Division crown and the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. They will face off against No. 2 seed Creighton on Thursday, November 12 at 5 p.m. from the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md., outside Washington, D.C.
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