The Akron Zips men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of the University of Akron. As of the 2023 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, the Zips play in the Big East Conference.[1] This move followed Akron's full-time home of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) shutting down its men's soccer league after the 2022 season. Akron is regularly ranked in the Top 10 NSCAA collegiate men's soccer poll. They have been ranked No. 1 previously in 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2016. The Zips have played their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field, formerly named Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field and Cub Cadet Field, since 1966. They won their first national championship in 2010.
| Akron Zips men's soccer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Founded | 1954 | ||
| University | University of Akron | ||
| Athletic director | Charles Guthrie | ||
| Head coach | Jared Embick (9th season) | ||
| Conference | Big East | ||
| Location | Akron, Ohio | ||
| Stadium | FirstEnergy Stadium (Capacity: 4,000+standing room) | ||
| Nickname | Zips | ||
| Colors | Navy and white | ||
| |||
| NCAA Tournament championships | |||
| 2010 | |||
| NCAA Tournament runner-up | |||
| 1986, 2009, 2018 | |||
| NCAA Tournament College Cup | |||
| 1986, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018 | |||
| NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals | |||
| 1967, 1986, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018 Division II – 1972 | |||
| NCAA Tournament Round of 16 | |||
| 1966, 1967, 1983, 1986, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018 Division II – 1972 | |||
| NCAA Tournament appearances | |||
| 1966, 1967, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024 Division II – 1972 | |||
| Conference Tournament championships | |||
| 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | |||
| Conference Regular Season championships | |||
| 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022 | |||
History
editIn 1954, an Oberlin College transfer named Stu Parry started the soccer team at Akron. That year, they finished the season with two wins and one tie. The next year, men's soccer was officially offered by the university and after starting the season with two losses, they ended with a 2–4–1 record, with the team's first win coming against rival Kent State.
Parry eventually led the team to nine Ohio College Soccer Association titles as well as six NCAA playoff appearances.[2] In 1986, the men's soccer team gained the most exposure in the NCAA tournament, finishing second to Duke by a score of 1–0. A Duke player, Ken Lolla, took over the program in 1993 and then became Akron's all-time winningest coach, with a record of 160–68–25. He also led the team to their first No. 1 ranking, which was also the first ever MAC team in any sport to be ranked No. 1.[2]
In 2006, Caleb Porter became head coach, leading the team to first-place finishes in the conference every year from 2007 to 2012, an appearance in the final of the national championship (the College Cup) in 2009, and a national championship in 2010.
Jared Embick succeeded Porter as head coach after the 2012 season. The team has finished first in the conference every year since, and reached the national semi-final in 2015.
After the 2022 season, the MAC, whose men's soccer league had been decimated by conference realignment earlier in the decade, dropped that sport.[3] Akron moved men's soccer to the Big East Conference, making it the only one of the four full MAC members with men's soccer teams that did not move that sport to the Missouri Valley Conference.[4]
Colors and badge
editThe team uses the school colors of blue and gold.[5]
Stadium
editLee Jackson Field was dedicated on October 22, 1966. Along with the soccer venue, the 23-acre (93,000 m2) complex also includes fields for the school's baseball, softball, and track and field competition areas along with a practice field for the football team. The fields are located towards the southeast corner of the University of Akron campus, just west of InfoCision Stadium.
Other expansions and upgrades for the stadium have included a grandstand with seating capacity of 2,200, berm seating around the stadium with a capacity of 2,600, and lighting which meets national television specifications.[6]
Announced in March 2011 was a partnership between The University of Akron and Cub Cadet, the premier brand of Cleveland-based MTD Products, which will rename the Zips' new, state-of-the-art grass soccer field Cub Cadet Field.[7]
In June 2011, the field was renamed FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet field after Cub Cadet as well as First Energy plans were announced to build 300 new bleacher seats, permanent restrooms, and a concession stand along with the renaming.[8]
Supporters
editThe AK-ROWDIES are a student organization which cheer on sports teams in various sports at the university. The ROWDIES were formed as an official student organization in 2005. During the soccer games, they can be found behind the goal area, heckling the opponent's goalie.[9]
Notable alumni
edit
Niko De Vera (2014–2017) – Currently with Portland Timbers- Conrad Earnest
- George Nanchoff (1973–1976) – Retired
- Louis Nanchoff (1974–1977) – Retired
Benny Dargle (1975–1977) – Retired- Shaun Pendleton (1982–1985) – Retired
Roderick Scott (1985–88) – Retired
Cameron Knowles (2001–04) – Retired- Devon McKenney (2003–2007)
Siniša Ubiparipović (2004–2006) – Retired- Evan Bush (2005–2008) – Currently with Columbus Crew
- Justin Sadler (2005)
- Ben Zemanski (2006–2009)
Steve Zakuani (2006–2007) – Retired- Chris Korb (2007–2010)
- Michael Nanchoff (2007–2010) – Retired
- Blair Gavin (2007–2009) – Retired
- Teal Bunbury (2008–2009) – Currently with Nashville SC
- Darlington Nagbe (2008–2010) – Currently with Columbus Crew
Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2007–2010) – Currently with Bangkok United- Kofi Sarkodie (2008–2010)
- Zarek Valentin (2009–2010) – Currently with the Houston Dynamo
- Scott Caldwell (2009–2012) – Currently with the Real Salt Lake
- Chad Barson (2009–2012) – Retired
Darren Mattocks (2010–2011) – Retired[10]- Perry Kitchen (2010) – Currently with LA Galaxy
- DeAndre Yedlin (2011–2012) – Currently with FC Cincinnati
- Aodhan Quinn (2011–2013) – Currently with Phoenix Rising[11]
- Wil Trapp (2011–2012) – Currently with Minnesota United FC
- Dillon Serna (2012) – Currently with the Colorado Rapids
- Saad Abdul-Salaam (2012–2014) – Currently with Seattle Sounders FC[12]
- Richie Laryea (2014–2015) – Currently with Toronto FC[13]
- Adam Najem (2013–2016) – Currently with Bhayangkara[14]
- Jonathan Lewis (2016) – Currently with Colorado Rapids[15]
João Moutinho (2018) – 2018 MLS Superdraft First-Overall Draft Pick for Los Angeles FC
Abdi Mohamed (2018) - Currently with New Mexico United
Previous head coaches
editListed according to when they became head coach for Akron (year in parentheses):
- 1950s–1960s: Stu Parry (1955)
- 1970s–1980s: Bill Killen (1970), Robert Dowdy (1974), Steve Parker (1982)
- 1990s–2000s (decade): Ken Lolla (1993), Caleb Porter (2006)
Honours
edit- NCAA Division I Championship:
- Winners (1): 2010
- Runners-up (3): 1986, 2009, 2018
- Mid-American Conference tournament:
- Mid-American Conference regular season:
- Winners (17): 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Runners-up (5): 1994, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004
- Ohio College Soccer Association:
- Winners (19): 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987
- Mid-Continent Conference Regular Season:
- Winners (1): 1991
Records
edit- Most Goals in a game: 14 (12–2) vs. Cleveland State, September 9, 2005
- Most Goals in a half: 8 vs. Green Bay, 1986
- Lee Jackson Field attendance: 4,744 vs. Tulsa, September 22, 2010
- FirstEnergy Stadium–Cub Cadet Field attendance: 5,819 vs. Ohio State, September 28, 2011
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "BIG EAST Adds Akron For Men's Soccer" (Press release). Big East Conference. November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
- ^ a b "Program Timeline" (PDF). 2009 University of Akron Men's Soccer Media Guide. University of Akron. 2009. p. 37. Retrieved 21 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "MAC to Suspend Sponsoring Men's Soccer Following 2022 Season" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "Missouri Valley Conference To Expand in Men's Soccer for 2023" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- ^ "The University of Akron : Color". Archived from the original on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
- ^ "Home Field Advantage" (PDF). 2009 University of Akron Men's Soccer Media Guide. pp. 4–5.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Men's Soccer Announces 2011 Fall Schedule". GoZips.com.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "FirstEnergy Stadium–Cub Cadet Field is new name for soccer venue : UA News". www.uakron.edu.
- ^ Wheeler, Jeff (2007-11-20). "'Rowdie' for UA sports". The Buchtelite. College Publisher. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
- ^ Anderson, Jason (2018-12-11). "FC Cincinnati selects Darren Mattocks in 2018 MLS Expansion Draft". Black And Red United. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
- ^ "Aodhan Quinn". uslchampionship.com. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
- ^ "seattle-sounders-sign-saad-abdul-salaam-waive-jordan-mccrary". MLS Soccer. 26 February 2019.
- ^ "toronto-fc-sign-richie-laryea-former-first-round-superdraft-pick". MLS Soccer. 21 March 2019.
- ^ Northam, Mitchell; USA, Pro Soccer (2019-02-07). "USL notes: Memphis 901 adds Adam Najem". Pro Soccer USA. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
- ^ "colorado-rapids-acquire-usmnt-winger-jonathan-lewis-nycfc". MLS Soccer. 8 May 2019.
External links
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