Ezana Kahsay

Photo by: John Ashley

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

Height:
6-2
Weight:
178
Class:
Fifth Year
Hometown:
Asmeras, Eritrea
High School:
International Prepratory School at Grover

2018: Appeared in 23 matches, including earning five starts…registered four goals and five assists on the strength of 33 shots, including 14 shots on goal…ranked third on the squad in assists (5), points (13), shots (33), shots on goal (14) and game-winners (2)…recorded first-ever career multi-goal effort, including scoring the game-winning tally, collecting a hat trick in a 10-0 victory past Canisius (Sept. 15)…named an honorable mention selection by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its National Team of the Week (Sept. 18) after his performance against Canisius…posted a pair of game-winning goals on the campaign…notched game-winning tally in a 3-1 victory over 12th-rated West Virginia in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament…also added an assist on Marcel Zajac’s goal in a 3-0 win over Western Michigan in the title game of the MAC Tournament to earn all-tournament honors…tabbed by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its National Team of the Week (Dec. 4) after registering an assist while defensively limiting three-time defending NCAA Champion Stanford as Akron registered a 3-2 victory against the Cardinal in the Elite Eight…reached the College Cup for the third time in his career…rated ninth in the MAC in league-only assists per game (0.25)…finished 2018 among active D1 players in career games played (80)...ranked 10th in the MAC in assists (5).

2018 ACCOLADES: Chosen by TopDrawerSoccer.com as an honorable mention selection to its National Team of the Week (Sept. 18)…named to the MAC All-Tournament Team…tabbed by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its National Team of the Week (Dec. 4).

2017: Appeared in 22 contests and earned four starts...garnered two goals and a trio of assists on 22 shots, including five on goal...posted a pair of game-winning goals...scored game-winning tally in a 1-0 victory at Syracuse (Oct. 3)...connected on golden goal in a 2-1 overtime decision past Bowling Green (Oct. 21)...tallied game-winning assist on Stuart Holthusen’s golden goal in a 2-1 double-overtime triumph over SIU Edwardsville (Nov. 10) in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament...registered two shots in seven games...rated third in the league in conference-only game-winning goals (1), seventh in goals (1) and 10th in assist (1), points (3) and shots (8).

PRIOR HONORS:
Academic All-MAC (2015)

2016: Appeared in 21 contests for Akron, including earning four starts…key spark off the Zips’ bench, he recorded four goals and added a pair of assists on 35 shots, including 13 on frame…registered goals versus No. 5 UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 12), at Tulsa (Sept. 16) and versus Western Michigan (Nov. 5 and Nov. 11)…scored game-winning tally in a 2-1 victory at Tulsa (Sept. 16)…earned assist on Brad Ruhaak’s game-winning goal in a 1-0 win past No. 7 Georgetown (Aug. 26)…netted an assist on Stuart Holthusen’s golden goal to spark Akron to a 3-2 decision over Grand Canyon (Nov. 2)…named by College Soccer News to its National Team of the Week (Sept. 19) as well as being selected as the Mid-American Conference Athlete of the Week (Sept.19)…ranked eighth in the MAC in goals (4) and ninth in shots (35).

2015: Appeared in 14 contests for the Zips recording six shots...registered shots at VCU (Aug. 28) and Old Dominion (Aug. 30) and in home games versus Ohio State (Sept. 16), Northern Illinois (Oct. 17) and Bowling Green (Nov. 7)...notched one shot in the semifinals of the College Cup versus eventual national champion Stanford (Dec. 11)...an academic All-MAC honoree.

2014: Did not appear in a match for Akron in 2014.

PRIOR TO AKRON: Scored 55 goals and totaled 45 assists as a four-year captain at The International Preparatory School at Grover...found the back of the net 26 times, including six game winners as a sophomore...finished his high school career with a four-year record of 63-7-1...was a sectional champion and regional finalist as a senior.

PERSONAL: Majoring in sports management…son of Besrat Araya...father played professional soccer in Eritrea...uncle played for the Eritrea National Team.