AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer team will wrap up the regular-season this week with a pair of home contests starting Wednesday night against Michigan State and concluding Saturday versus Hartwick.
The Zips and Spartans will kick off at 7:30 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast live locally on 1350 AM and on the Internet via the Zips Zone subscription package.
GAME 17: No. 1/1 Akron (16-0-0, 5-0-0 MAC) vs. Michigan State (10-4-2, 2-3-0 Big Ten)
Wednesday, Nov. 4 • 7:30 p.m. (EST) • Lee Jackson Field • Akron, Ohio
Radio: 1350 AM (WARF) • Steve French (Play-byPlay) • Audio/Video Streaming and Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
GAME 18: No. 1/1 Akron (16-0-0, 5-0-0 MAC) vs. Hartwick (8-2-4, 3-0-2 MAC)
Saturday, Nov. 7 • 7:30 p.m. (EST) •Lee Jackson Field • Akron, Ohio
Radio: None • Audio/Video Streaming and Live Stats: www.GoZips.com
Special Events Planned for Final Home Games
For Wednesday night's game against Big Ten Conference foe Michigan State, fans are encouraged to bring a used soccer ball to donate to underprivileged children as part of "Kick It Forward Night." At halftime, all fans who bring a soccer ball will be invited to sign and toss it onto the field. Any fan who successfully tosses their ball into the center circle will win a free Akron men's soccer T-shirt.
Fans without soccer balls may also donate $5 to receive one to toss at the marketing table just inside the southeast gate at Lee Jackson Field.
The Zips will then honor their four seniors prior to the final home game of the regular season Saturday night when Hartwick comes to town. Come early to help the UA Athletics Department recognize seniors C.J. Kaufman, Stefan Ostergren, Ivan Sandoval and team co-captain Ben Zemanski for their countless contributions to the men's soccer program.
Michigan State Series Side Notes
• Akron, which leads Michigan State 22-10-1 in an all-time series dating back to the 1962 campaign, is undefeated in its last 22 matches (21 wins and one tie) with the Spartans.
• Wednesday night's game will mark the first meeting between the schools since a 2-2 tie in East Lansing, Mich., in 1993.
• Akron is 12-5-0 all-time versus Michigan State at Lee Jackson Field where it has won its last 11 meetings dating back to the 1970 season. The last time UA was defeated by MSU at home was a 1-0 setback during the NCAA Midwest Playoffs in 1968.
Scouting the Spartans
Michigan State (10-4-2, 2-3-0 Big Ten) will enter play Wednesday night riding a five-game undefeated streak (four wins, one tie) following last weekend's 1-1 deadlock against San Diego State. The Spartans' tie against the Aztecs put the finishing touches on an impressive four-game homestand that saw MSU post victories over Notre Dame (2-1), Michigan (2-1) and Bowling Green (2-1).
Michigan State boasts an impressive 2-0-1 record versus ranked opponents this season and enters play with a national RPI of 22 following wins over Indiana (1-0) and Loyola Marymount (3-0) and a scoreless tie against UIC in September. In league play, the Spartans suffered setbacks to Penn State (0-1), Ohio State (0-1) and Wisconsin (1-2, 2OT).
As a team, MSU, which is 4-2-1 in away and neutral site contests, is ranked 14th in the country with a goals-against-average of 0.66 and 17th with a save percentage of 0.849. Junior goalkeeper Avery Steinlage is ranked 11th individually with a GAA of 0.606 while sophomore forward Rubin Bega paces the Spartans' attack with nine goals on the campaign (30th nationally), including three game-winners.
Hartwick Series Side Notes
• Akron and Hartwick will be facing off for the eighth time in the all-time series Saturday. UA currently leads 4-1-2 and is undefeated in its last six meetings.
• The Zips are 1-0-2 vs. the Hawks all-time at Lee Jackson Field, including last year's thrilling 1-1 tie in double overtime match-up in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament.
Scouting the Hawks
• Hartwick (8-2-4, 3-0-2 MAC) comes to Akron following back-to-back ties against Bowling Green (2-2) and Western Michigan (1-1) that ultimately cost the Hawks a shot at the MAC regular-season title and the right to host the MAC Tournament.
• HC has been defeated just twice all season. The Hawks suffered setbacks in back-to-back games against Cornell (0-1) and Bucknell (0-1) in early September.
• Hartwick goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo is eighth in the nation with a goals-against-average of 0.53. The junior has logged all 1,350:00 in goal for the Hawks this season.
Last Year versus Hartwick
The Zips defeated the Hawks 2-1 in Oneonta, N.Y., during the regular season then advanced on penalty kicks against Hartwick during the semifinals of the MAC Tournament. Steve Zakuani accounted for both goals in the first meeting with one score coming in each half. Just 13 days later, a goal by Chris Korb in the 87th minute tied the game at 1-all and thwarted Hartwick's upset in the postseason. After two overtime periods, UA advanced to the MAC title game after earning a 3-0 margin on penalty kicks.
Poll Position
For the sixth straight week, the Zips are the consensus No. 1 team in the nation according to all five polls. UA owns the top spot according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), Soccer America, Top Drawer Soccer, College Soccer News and the Soccer Times.
While all five polls are reputable, it is important to note that the NCAA recognizes the NSCAA/adidas and Soccer America polls in its final standings.
Zips Recap
Sophomore Teal Bunbury found the net twice before halftime and the Zips' defense took care of the rest in UA's 3-0 victory over Penn State last Wednesday night at Lee Jackson Field. It was Bunbury's fourth multiple-goal performance of the season and the Zips' 13th shutout in 16 contests.
Goalkeeper David Meves turned in his best performance of the year with a season-high five saves as UA kept its perfect season intact. Sophomore Darlington Nagbe provided the game's final margin with his eighth goal of campaign.
MAC Tournament Preview
UA officially clinched the Mid-American Conference regular season championship and the right to host the league tournament on Nov. 13 and 15 following Hartwick's 1-1 tie against Western Michigan Saturday night.
For the Zips, it is their fifth straight MAC regular-season title and 12th overall since joining the league in 1993.
As the No. 1 seed, Akron will once again be the host site for the MAC Tournament. Unlike last year's format, however, when all six schools qualified, this year's postseason has been trimmed down to the league's top four teams.
As a result, Lee Jackson Field will be the host of two semifinal games on Friday, Nov. 13, as well as the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 15. The No. 2 seed will face the No. 3 seed in the first semifinal match-up at 3 p.m. with the Zips taking on the No. 4 seed in the nightcap, starting at 6 p.m. The championship game is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m.
The other three participating schools have also been determined as well as Hartwick (8-2-4, 3-0-2), Northern Illinois (10-6-1, 3-2-0) and Western Michigan (6-8-1, 2-1-1) will also make the trip to Akron.
Akron: Big Ten Bullies?
Akron is 4-0 versus schools from the Big Ten Conference this year with one regular-season match-up remaining Wednesday. In their victories against Indiana (1-0), Ohio State (3-0), Michigan (5-1) and Penn State (3-0), the Zips have outscored their opponents 12-1. UA is 71-58-10 (.547) against Big Ten schools all-time. Moreover, Akron is 8-1-3 (.792) against the Big Ten since 2007.
Bunbury Named National Player of the Week
Sophomore Teal Bunbury was named National Player of the Week by College Soccer News Monday following his two-goal performance against Penn State.
It is the second time an Akron player has been named national player of the week this season after Michael Nanchoff first earned that distinction from Soccer America on Sept. 22.
Bunbury scored a pair of goals - including the game-winner - to lead the Zips to a 3-0 victory over the visiting Nittany Lions last Wednesday. The forward from Prior Lake, Minn., who has scored at least one goal in nine in his last 11 in games, found the net in the fifth minute and again in the 24th minute to record his fourth multiple-goal performance of the year and sixth of his young career. Bunbury leads the Zips with 14 goals in 16 contests this fall.
For his efforts, Bunbury was also named to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week Monday and Mid-American Conference Player of the Week. It is the second time Bunbury has received recognition from TDS - after also being named to the publication's national team of the week on Sept. 21 - and the third time he has received POTW honors from the league.
Record Watch
Ben Zemanski and Kofi Sarkodie have been named to CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team for their achievements on the field and in the classroom.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.3 cumulative grade-point average, participate in at least 50 percent of their team's games and be of at least sophomore athletic eligibility. By being named to the All-District First Team, both Zemanski and Sarkodie are eligible for Academic All-American status.
Zemanski, an Academic All-Mid-American Conference honoree and All-MAC Second Team performer in 2008, is a senior co-captain for the Zips, who are off to their best start in school history with a perfect 16-0 record. The midfielder has started every game this fall and scored goals in back-to-back wins against Bowling Green and No. 15 Ohio State. He also played a key role in two significant victories over Big Ten opponents recently with assists against Michigan and Penn State.
Zemanski carries a cumulative GPA of 3.510 as a mechanical engineering major at UA.
Sarkodie, a 2009 preseason College Soccer News All-American and 2008 Soccer America All-Freshman Team honoree, has been the anchor of a Zips' defensive unit that is threatening the break a pair of NCAA records.
With just three goals allowed in 1,440:00 of play and a team goals-against-average of 0.19 the Zips are on pace to break to previous mark of 0.24, set by Evansville in 1990. Also, with 13 shutouts in 16 games and a shutout percentage of .813, Akron has the opportunity to rewrite the Division I mark of .783 currently held by Indiana (1979).
Moreover, Sarkodie has also been a force offensively this fall and is also fourth on the team with 11 points. He found the net in a win against High Point and recorded the gamewinner at UIC while also assisting a career-high seven goals throughout the season. In fact, the native of Huber Heights, Ohio, has recorded assists in his last two matches and at least one in four of his last six.
Sarkodie carries a cumulative GPA of 4.0 as a microbiology major at UA.
Record Watch
• Akron has allowed just three goals all season in 1,440:00 minutes of play for a goals-against-average (GAA) of 0.19. The NCAA's record is held by Evansville, which set the standard with a 0.24 mark (7 goals allowed in 2,580 minutes) during the 1990 campaign.
• The Zips are also making a run at another NCAA record. Akron has shutout 13 of 16 opponents this season for a shutout percentage of .813. Indiana set the Division I record in 1979 by shutting out 18 foes in 23 games (.783).
• The school record for most shutouts in a season at UA currently stands at 15, set in 2005.
• Individually speaking, true freshman goalkeeper David Meves owns a GAA of 0.191 (the top mark in the nation) with three goals allowed in 1391:16. Northern Illinois' Joe Zimka set the Division I record with a 0.21 mark (three goals allowed in 1,304 min.) in 2006.
Defending the Homefront
• The Zips are undefeated in their last 30 (28-0-2) regular-season matches at Lee Jackson Field, including its 6-0 mark in 2009. In fact, the last regular-season foe to defeat UA at home was Indiana (0-2), which was ranked No. 20 in the nation at the time, during the 2006 campaign.
• Since 2005, the Zips are 46-2-4 (.923) at Lee Jackson Field.
Tracking the Zips
Akron entered the week ranked No. 1 in the nation in several major categories, including scoring offense (2.81 goals/game), team goals-against-average (0.19), shutout percentage (.813) and winning percentage (1.000). The Zips are also ranked second in save percentage (.900). Akron has boasted the nation's No. 1-ranked offense and defense for five weeks now.
Akron: On The Attack
• Sophomore Teal Bunbury has scored at least one goal in three straight games and nine of his last 11 contests overall. The forward, who leads the team with 14 goals on the season, has also displayed a flair for dramatics lately as he has netted the game winner in three of UA's last five matches.
• Bunbury is ranked third in the nation with an average of 0.88 goals per game and fourth with an average of 1.94 points per contest.
• Akron has out-shot its opponents, 272-76, in 2009 including a 144-30 margin in the first half.
• Despite losing the nation's leading scorer from a year ago in MLS No. 1 overall draft pick Steve Zakuani, the Zips have actually improved their offensive attack in 2009. In fact, Akron has already scored 45 goals through 16 games (2.81/game) this fall after totaling 47 in 23 (2.04/game) a year ago.
And this year's version has already proven to be much more diverse with six players owning three or more goals and seven different players recording at least one game-winner. Last season, Zakuani accounted for 42.5 percent (20 of 47) of UA's goals and seven of 17 game-winners.
• In all, UA has received goals from 10 different players in 2009. Of those players, nine have found the net two or more times.
Holding The Line
• The Zips have yet to allow a goal in the first half this season, out-scoring opponents 25-0 before the intermission. In fact, the last UA opponent to score in the first half was Oakland (in a game eventually won by Akron, 2-1) on Oct. 8, 2008. Since then, Akron has gone 28 games without allowing a goal in the opening period.
• Along those lines, the last time the Zips trailed at the intermission was against Ohio State on Sept. 26, 2007 in a game that ended in a 1-1 tie. In fact, Akron has gone 52 games since it trailed at half. The Zips are 42-0-0 when leading at the break under head coach Caleb Porter.
• Akron's defense has held its opponent to one or fewer shots on goal six times in 2009 and have allowed just 30 shots on goal for the season.
• The Zips are limiting foes to an average of 4.8 shots and 2.6 corner kicks per game.
Courtesy: Mike Wise Photography
