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
Two former members of the University of Akron women’s soccer program have found success in their post-collegiate careers in the professional ranks, as they begin their first year in professional soccer in Germany. Jordan Clark and Kara Cooper were teammates on the Zips soccer team in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Clark joined the Akron roster as a freshman in 2007, while Cooper transferred into Akron in 2010. Clark and Cooper were able to be teammates in 2010 and 2011 due
U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Tab Ramos completed the team’s 20-player roster with the addition of midfielder Dillon Serna as the group prepares for the 2013 CONCACAF U-20 Championship that starts on Feb. 18 in Puebla, Mexico. The Brighton, Colo., native was signed by Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids as a homegrown player after being part of the club’s U-15/16 and U-17/18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams. Serna played in
The Columbus Crew announced on Thursday it has agreed to a Homegrown contract with Lewis Center native and University of Akron standout Chad Barson. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, details of the contract were not disclosed. Barson’s signature makes him the fifth Homegrown player in club history after his Akron teammate Wil Trapp signed with the Black & Gold last month. The Lewis Center native recently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Akron with a 3.99
The New England Revolution has signed Braintree, Mass., product Scott Caldwell as a Homegrown player. The two-time All-American has played the last four seasons at collegiate powerhouse Akron while training with the Revolution’s first team each summer. He is the team’s second Homegrown player, joining Diego Fagundez, who was the team’s first-ever Homegrown signing in 2010. “We’re very pleased to add Scott to our roster as our second Homegrown player signing,” General Manager Michael Burns said. “He’s had a very successful
The Columbus Crew has agreed to terms with United States U-20 National Team midfielder and Gahanna native Wil Trapp to make the 19-year-old the fourth Homegrown signing in franchise history, the club announced this morning. Trapp joins Matt Lampson, Ben Speas and Aaron Horton as the only players to make the transition from the Crew Soccer Academy to the First Team. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, details of the contract were not disclosed. Trapp becomes a professional following
The University of Akron (18-1-2) is quite possibly facing their most challenging match of 2012. Fresh off an electric 2-1 win over Michigan last week, the Zips now head to their next opponent, the Bluejays of Creighton University (16-3-2). Creighton had four players drafted in January 2012, including Crew winger Ethan Finlay, a speedster that has a bright future in MLS. But like every other top program, Creighton reloaded nicely for the fall season. Bolstered by incoming freshmen and elite transfers
Saying Caleb Porter is going to be difficult to replace is a bit of a simplistic statement. Porter, one of the top coaches in collegiate soccer history, has made The University of Akron a soccer school in the middle of American football country. Hiring someone to take over for Porter is a historic move for Akron AD Tom Wistrcill, who must carefully weigh all the options on the table. The options are many and the university appears to be investigating
University of Akron striker Thomas Schmitt scored the equalizing goal in the 86th minute to propel AFC Cleveland to a 1-1 road draw with Detroit City FC. Cleveland found themselves down 1-0 at the half after a goal from Detroit’s Stefan St. Louis in the 23rd minute. AFC fought back and claimed a goal of their own in the final moments of the game. Fellow Akron teammate Andrian McAdams was impressive in goal, claiming 6 saves for Cleveland. Detroit did well
