The University of Akron Athletics
Thursday, August 20
Akron, Ohio
7:00 PM
University of Akron
vs
Dayton
No. 8/12 Zips Host Dayton Flyers for 2026 Season Opener at FirstEnergy Stadium
August 20 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio - The No. 8/12 ranked Akron men's soccer team begins its 2026 campaign against Dayton at First Energy Stadium on Thursday, August 20, at 7 p.m.
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GAME INFORMATION
Akron vs. Dayton | Aug. 20 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+
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SCOUTING REPORT
The Zips welcome the Dayton Flyers for the season opener that finished with an 8-2-8 overall record (4-1-3 A10) in 2025. The Flyers  were selected to finish second in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll, placing three players on the 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team as a pair of midfielders Braden Seel and Miles Bonham and defender Mikkel Madsen earned preseason honors. In 2025, Madsen was named to the A10 All-Rookie Team, while Seel and Bonham both scored a pair of goals for Dayton in 2025. Sell added four assists.
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ZIPS IN THE BIG EAST
Akron was selected by the league's men's soccer coaches to finish as the top team in the Midwest Division, while No. 5/5 Georgetown was tabbed to win the East Division. Akron had two players tabbed on the preseason All-BIG EAST Preseason team as forward Remi Agunbiade and midfielder Matt Dreas were selected among the 12-member group. Dreas was also selected for the 2026 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List. In 2025, Dreas was a second team United Soccer Coaches All-East Region recipient and second team All-BIG EAST selection. He started all 21 matches for Akron as the Zips advanced to the Quarterfinal Round of the NCAA Tournament. He netted one goal and tallied one assist, totaling three points for the Blue and Gold. Dreas was key contributor in the midfield unit that limited opponents to 0.71 goals per game. Agunbiade was selected in second round of MLS SuperDraft (No. 58 overall) by San Diego FC and named to TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week twice (Dec. 2, Sept. 29) in 2025. He appeared in 20 matches, including 16 starts and scored seven goals and added a pair of assists on the strength of 30 shots with 15 on goal, earning 16 points for the Blue & Gold. Akron advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals in 2025, finishing the season with a 13-5-3 overall record. The Zips received 66 points and 11 first-place votes to lead the Midwest Division. Creighton earned the remaining first-place vote and 56 points to rank second, followed by Xavier with 43 points. Marquette was selected fourth with 34 points, DePaul fifth with 27 and Butler sixth with 20.
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IN THE POLLS
Akron enterers the 2026 campaign ranked No. 8 in the Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) preseason poll and  No. 12 in the United Soccer Coaches 2026 preseason poll.
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UP NEXT
The Zips will be back on the pitch at FirstEnergy Stadium on Monday, Aug. 24 against Army at 7 p.m. before hosting Wake Forest on Friday, Aug. 28 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
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GAME INFORMATION
Akron vs. Dayton | Aug. 20 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+
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SCOUTING REPORT
The Zips welcome the Dayton Flyers for the season opener that finished with an 8-2-8 overall record (4-1-3 A10) in 2025. The Flyers  were selected to finish second in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll, placing three players on the 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team as a pair of midfielders Braden Seel and Miles Bonham and defender Mikkel Madsen earned preseason honors. In 2025, Madsen was named to the A10 All-Rookie Team, while Seel and Bonham both scored a pair of goals for Dayton in 2025. Sell added four assists.
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ZIPS IN THE BIG EAST
Akron was selected by the league's men's soccer coaches to finish as the top team in the Midwest Division, while No. 5/5 Georgetown was tabbed to win the East Division. Akron had two players tabbed on the preseason All-BIG EAST Preseason team as forward Remi Agunbiade and midfielder Matt Dreas were selected among the 12-member group. Dreas was also selected for the 2026 Missouri Athletic Club's (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List. In 2025, Dreas was a second team United Soccer Coaches All-East Region recipient and second team All-BIG EAST selection. He started all 21 matches for Akron as the Zips advanced to the Quarterfinal Round of the NCAA Tournament. He netted one goal and tallied one assist, totaling three points for the Blue and Gold. Dreas was key contributor in the midfield unit that limited opponents to 0.71 goals per game. Agunbiade was selected in second round of MLS SuperDraft (No. 58 overall) by San Diego FC and named to TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week twice (Dec. 2, Sept. 29) in 2025. He appeared in 20 matches, including 16 starts and scored seven goals and added a pair of assists on the strength of 30 shots with 15 on goal, earning 16 points for the Blue & Gold. Akron advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals in 2025, finishing the season with a 13-5-3 overall record. The Zips received 66 points and 11 first-place votes to lead the Midwest Division. Creighton earned the remaining first-place vote and 56 points to rank second, followed by Xavier with 43 points. Marquette was selected fourth with 34 points, DePaul fifth with 27 and Butler sixth with 20.
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IN THE POLLS
Akron enterers the 2026 campaign ranked No. 8 in the Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) preseason poll and  No. 12 in the United Soccer Coaches 2026 preseason poll.
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UP NEXT
The Zips will be back on the pitch at FirstEnergy Stadium on Monday, Aug. 24 against Army at 7 p.m. before hosting Wake Forest on Friday, Aug. 28 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
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Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerMonday, August 17
Monday, August 17
Wednesday, April 22
Wednesday, April 22
