2019 Akron Zips men's soccer team
The 2019 Akron Zips men's soccer team represented The University of Akron during the 2019 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The Zips, played in the Mid-American Conference.
| 2019 Akron Zips men's soccer | |
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MAC Regular Season Champions | |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| 2019 record | 6–9–2 (4–0–1 MAC) |
| Head coach | Jared Embick (7th season) |
| Assistant coaches |
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| Home stadium | FirstEnergy Stadium–Cub Cadet Field |
| 2019 Mid-American Conference men's soccer standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Akron | 4 | – | 0 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Michigan | 2 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 6 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SIUE | 2 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 5 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 10 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling Green | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 13 | – | 7 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia ‡ | 0 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 9 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: MAC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2019 season was one of the most infamous starts to the season in program history.[1] After being ranked atop the nation and projected to win the Mid-American Conference, Akron lost the first seven matches of the season, a program worst, and the most losses since 2001.[2] It was the first time in the program's 65-year history, the team lost more than three games in a row to start the season.[1] Following the seven-match losing streak, Akron earned its first win against VCU, and subsequently went on a 6–2–2 run, ultimately winning the Mid-American regular season championship. The Zips were eliminated in the first round of the 2019 MAC Men's Soccer Tournament, and failed to qualify for the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, the first year since 2003 they missed the tournament.
Background
Akron finished the 2018 season by reaching the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship Game for the third time in program history, and for the first time since their College Cup triumph in 2010. Akron began the season ranked fourth in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches poll and second in the nation in the TopDrawer Soccer poll. A slow start to the season saw the Zips fall to a 1–3–1 record and slip out of the national rankings. Following the early skid, the Zips rebounded to win their next three straight matches. This was hallmarked by a 10–0 victory of Canisius, making it the program's largest win in history. Akron earned a pair of subsequent road wins at Grand Canyon and at VCU. Akron began conference play with a scoreless draw at Bowling Green. A chain of inconsistent performances saw the Zips lose at home to West Virginia and Syracuse, but nab victories against Michigan State and Creighton, who were both ranked in the USC Top 10 at the time.
Akron finished the Mid-American Conference regular season in fourth place, making it the programs poorest regular season performance in MAC play since joining the conference. In the MAC Tournament, the Zips had a resurgence in form, winning all three of their tournament matches, en route to their 7th straight Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Tournament title, and their 11th MAC title in the last 14 years. The championship was a rematch of last year's championship, where the Zips took on Western Michigan. The win guaranteed that the Zips would return to the NCAA Tournament, where their chances prior to the tournament had been on the bubble.
The Zips did not earn a seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. In the first round, Akron hosted Rider, where they won 3–1. The victory led to a rematch against Syracuse. The match, played at nearby Colgate University, was a triumph for Akron, as they won by the same 3–1 score. The Zips then took on top-seed Wake Forest in the Sweet Sixteen, and earned a 1–0 away victory. In the Elite Eight, Akron took on Stanford, the three-time defending NCAA champions.[3] Akron had been eliminated in penalties for the last 2 tournaments by Stanford.[4] In the match, Akron avenged their losses, and won 3–2 at Stanford booking their spot in the College Cup.[5][6] There, the Zips prevailed 5–1 against Michigan State,[7] making it the most lopsided semifinal match in nearly 20 years.[8]
In the NCAA Championship match, Akron took on 11th-seeded Maryland, where they lost 0–1 in regulation thanks to a 57th-minute penalty kick from Amar Sejdič. Following the 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Akron goalkeeper, Ben Lundt was drafted by FC Cincinnati in the 2nd round, 37th pick of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.[9] Defender Abdi Mohamed was drafted by New York City FC in the second round as well with the 43rd pick.[10] Striker Marcel Zajac signed a pro contract with Canadian Premier League outfit, Forge FC.[11]
Ahead of the 2019 season, Leo Chappell and T.J. Kolba left the program, while Jared Embick's contract was extended.[12] To replace Chappell, Michael Nanchoff was hired as an assistant coach. Ger Coppinger remained on Embick's coaching staff and Drew Crawford was promoted to the Director of Soccer Operations.
Player movement
Departures
Recruits
Transfers
Squad
First team roster
- As of September 30, 2019[13]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff
| Front office | |
|---|---|
| Athletic Director | Larry Williams |
| Associate Athletic Director | Mary Lu Gribschaw |
| Associate Athletic Director | George Van Horne |
| Coaching staff | |
| Head coach | Jared Embick |
| Assistant coach | Ger Coppinger |
| Assistant coach | Michael Nanchoff |
| Director of Operations | Drew Crawford |
Last updated: September 30, 2019
Source: UAkron Athletics
Schedule
| Date Time, TV |
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | Site City, State | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preseason | |||||||||||
| August 18* 2:00 p.m. |
No. 3 | Evansville | W 1–0 | Cub Cadet Field (1,108) Akron, OH | |||||||
| August 21* 7:00 p.m. |
No. 3 | Charleston (WV) | W 4–1 | Cub Cadet Field (1,377) Akron, OH | |||||||
| August 23* 3:30 p.m. |
No. 3 | No. 24 Michigan | W 3–2 | Cub Cadet Field (1,630) Akron, OH | |||||||
| Non-conference regular season | |||||||||||
| August 30* 7:00 p.m., GoXavier.com |
No. 3 | at No. 14 Xavier | L 0–2 | 0–1–0 |
XU Soccer Complex (922) Cincinnati, OH | ||||||
| September 1* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
No. 3 | No. 4 Stanford | L 1–2 | 0–2–0 |
Cub Cadet Field (3,617) Akron, OH | ||||||
| September 6* 8:30 p.m., Jays Video |
No. 9 | at No. 24 Creighton | L 1–2 | 0–3–0 |
Morrison Stadium (4,818) Omaha, NE | ||||||
| September 13* 6:30 p.m., BTN |
No. 21 | at No. 14 Maryland | L 0–1 | 0–4–0 |
Ludwig Field (4,403) College Park, MD | ||||||
| September 16* 7:00 p.m., ACCN |
at Pittsburgh | L 0–1 | 0–5–0 |
Ambrose Urbanic Field (576) Pittsburgh, PA | |||||||
| September 21* 7:00 p.m., Herd Vision |
at Marshall | L 1–2 | 0–6–0 |
Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex (653) Huntington, WV | |||||||
| September 28* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
Cornell | L 2–3 2OT | 0–7–0 |
Cub Cadet Field (1,544) Akron, OH | |||||||
| October 2* 7:00 p.m., ESPN3 |
VCU | W 2–0 | 1–7–0 |
Cub Cadet Field (1,372) Akron, OH | |||||||
| October 5* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
No. 13 FIU | T 1–1 2OT | 1–7–1 |
Cub Cadet Field (1,520) Akron, OH | |||||||
| October 8* 7:00 p.m., FBL |
at Butler | L 0–1 2OT | 1–8–1 |
Sellick Bowl (502) Indianapolis, IN | |||||||
| Mid-American Conference regular season | |||||||||||
| October 12 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
Bowling Green | W 2–1 | 2–8–1 (1–0–0) |
Cub Cadet Field (1,628) Akron, OH | |||||||
| October 15* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
Michigan State | W 2–0 | 3–8–1 |
Cub Cadet Field (1,763) Akron, OH | |||||||
| October 20 2:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at No. 25 Western Michigan | T 1–1 2OT | 3–8–2 (1–0–1) |
WMU Soccer Complex (804) Kalamazoo, MI | |||||||
| October 25 7:00 p.m., ESPN3 |
SIUE | W 3–0 | 4–8–2 (2–0–1) |
Cub Cadet Field (1,386) Akron, OH | |||||||
| October 29* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
at Cleveland State | L 1–3 | 4–9–2 |
Krenzler Field (616) Cleveland, OH | |||||||
| November 2 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
Northern Illinois | W 3–2 | 5–9–2 (3–0–1) |
Cub Cadet Field (1,327) Akron, OH | |||||||
| November 7 7:00 p.m., B12N |
at West Virginia | W 1–0 | 6–9–2 (4–0–1) |
Dick Dlesk Stadium (507) Morgantown, WV | |||||||
| MAC Tournament | |||||||||||
| November 15 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ |
(1) | (4) Bowling Green Semifinals |
L 0–1 | 6–10–2 |
Cub Cadet Field (828) Akron, OH | ||||||
| *Non-conference game. #Rankings from United Soccer Coaches. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. | |||||||||||
References
- Bournival, Brad (September 27, 2019). "University of Akron soccer: Zips hoping for fresh start at home after 0-6 start". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
- "University of Akron men's soccer: Zips fall 3-2 in double overtime to Cornell".
- Alexander, Elton (November 27, 2018). "Akron men's soccer once again must get by Stanford to advance in NCAA Tournament". The Plain Dealer. cleveland.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- "Zips End Stanford's Reign With 3-2 Victory to Advance to Sixth College Cup". gozips.com. University of Akron Athletics. November 30, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- Natalizi Baldi, Didier (December 5, 2018). "Stanford men's soccer season cut short by Zips". Stanford Daily. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- "Stanford Cardinal vs. Akron Zips Recap". ESPN. November 30, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- Crawford, Kirkland (December 7, 2018). "Game recap: MSU men's soccer falls to Akron, 5-1, in national semis". Detroit Free Press. freep.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- Punzal, Barry (December 7, 2018). "College Cup: Akron routs Michigan State, 5–1, in NCAA tournament national semifinals". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- Hatch, Charlie (January 16, 2019). "Ben Lundt: Excited To Stay 'Home" In Ohio". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
- Butler, Dylan (March 9, 2019). "NYCFC sign draft pick Abdi Mohamed, loan him to Memphis 901 FC". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
- "'Standout attacker' Marcel Zajac leaves University of Akron to join Forge FC". Canadian Premier League. January 8, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
- "Akron Extends Embick's Contract". gozips.com. February 15, 2019.
- "2019 Akron Men's Soccer Roster". University of Akron Men's Soccer. September 30, 2019.