Four matches against NCAA Tournament qualifiers, including home games versus Kentucky and Xavier, highlight the 2013 University of Akron men’s soccer spring exhibition schedule, as announced by head coach Jared Embick Wednesday.
The Zips will first take the field on March 8, when they travel to Horizon League champion Cleveland State for a 7:30 p.m. kick off. The Vikings advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980 last fall and were defeated by Michigan State in the first round.
Akron will then have nearly a month off before facing two more postseason qualifiers when Kentucky and Xavier make the trip to FirstEnergy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field on April 6th and 14th, respectively. Coincidentally, the Wildcats and Musketeers last faced off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with XU advancing by way of a 1-0 result before falling to eventual national champion Indiana.
UA will kick off against Kentucky at 5 p.m. and Xavier at 4 p.m. Both matches are open to the public and free of charge.
A trip to Butler on April 21 precedes a much-anticipated match-up at NCAA College Cup qualifier Maryland in College Park on April 27. The Terrapins captured the regular-season and tournament titles in the ACC before falling in penalty kicks to Georgetown in the NCAA semifinals. Game times are scheduled for 3 p.m. at Butler and 2:30 p.m. at Maryland.
The Zips, who swept the Mid-American Conference regular-season and tournament titles for the fifth time in six years in 2012, claimed the nation’s No. 1-ranking in the final poll of the regular season and advanced to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.
UA will return nine letterwinners and five starters this fall, including leading goal scorer Reinaldo Brenes and center back Bryan Gallego. It will mark the first season at the helm for Embick, who served the previous six years as an assistant on the Zips’ staff.
2013 Spring Schedule
Fri., March 8, at Cleveland State, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., April 6, vs. Kentucky, 5 p.m.
Sun., April 14, vs. Xavier, 4 p.m.
Sun., April 21, at Butler, 3 p.m.
Sat., April 27, at Maryland, 2:30 p.m.
