The University of Akron men’s soccer team fell behind early and couldn’t catch up in a 1-0 spring exhibition defeat at Butler Sunday afternoon. Experimenting with a new shape and playing without a number of key players, the Zips allowed a counterattack goal in the first minute of the match. UA found its stride shortly thereafter and had the ball for much of the contest – putting together a number of quality moments – but couldn’t find the equalizer. “We wanted to
Akron quickly dispatched Xavier with a 2-0 scoreline Saturday afternoon. It only took three minutes for Zac Portillos to score a goal after breaking away from the Musketeer defense. This was followed by another Akron goal in the second half from Aodhan Quinn. This goal was all about playing together as a team as Saad-Abdul Salaam and Matt Foldesy combined to set up Quinn from 12 yards out. Salaam launched a cross into the box, where it was controlled by Foldesy,
A shorthanded University of Akron men’s soccer team earned a 1-0 exhibition victory at Horizon League champion Cleveland State Friday night at Krenzler Soccer Field. Striker Reinaldo Brenes took a pass from Bryan Gallego and slotted the game winner in the first half for Akron, which was playing without starters Robbie Derschang and Aodhan Quinn due to injuries. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Fernando Pina went the distance in picking up the clean sheet. “It wasn’t a particularly pretty performance at times and we have a lot to improve on,” said UA head coach
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
After leading the Zips back to the NCAA’s Round of 16 for the fifth consecutive season, four members of The University of Akron men’s soccer program earned All-American recognition from the National Soccer Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Friday. Seniors Chad Barson and Scott Caldwell each secured a spot on the 11-man First Team. It is the second straight year Caldwell, the 2012 MAC Player of the Year and Hermann Trophy semifinalist, has earned All-American honors from the NSCAA after
After a dominating 1-0 defeat of Michigan on Tuesday night, attention quickly turned to an even bigger announcement at the University of Akron the next day. Jared Embick was given the reins of the Akron men’s soccer program on December 15, thanks to the departure of Caleb Porter to MLS. Embick was rumored to be the favorite for the job since Porter decided he was leaving for the pros. He would be given a three-year contract, a real commitment to
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
The University of Akron was abuzz this week with news of the hiring of former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. But it was the men’s soccer team that claimed yet another award after yet another successful season under the expert tutelage of Caleb Porter. The team claimed the Collegiate Athlete of the Year award, beating out Cleveland State’s Norris Cole and Kent State’s Dustin Kilgore at the 2011 Greater Cleveland Sports Awards. While the program did not win another national
