The University of Akron Athletics
Akron's Budler and Jaaskelainen Earn All-America Accolades
December 13 | Men's Soccer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Akron men's soccer redshirt senior Emil Jaaskelainen (Bolton, England) and redshirt junior Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) garnered All-America accolades when the United Soccer Coaches unveiled its 2024 All-America teams on Friday (Dec. 13).
Jaaskelainen becomes the 20th Akron player to capture first-team honors joining the likes of Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2009), Chad Barson (2012), Ford Brunner (1967), Teal Bunbury (2009), Scott Caldwell (2012), Matt English (1982), Fritz Kungl (1962), Yohann Mauger (2005), Ross McKenzie (2005), Joao Moutinho (2017), Darlington Nagbe (2010), George Nanchoff (1975, 1976), Louie Nanchoff (1976), Aodhan Quinn (2013), Richard Parkinsin (1970, 1971), Shaun Pendleton (1984, 1985), Kofi Sarkodie (2010), Simon Spelling (1983) and Steve Zakuani (2008).
A Third-Team recipient, Budler was recognized as an All-America recipient for the first time and becomes only the fifth Akron goalkeeper to pull in All-America laurels joining Ford Brunner (1966, 1967), Sean Burke (1984), Ed Long (1956) and David Meves (2012).
Budler joins Jaaskelainen as the 47th and 48th Akron players, respectively, to garner United Soccer Coaches All-America accolades and first since Jason Shokalook earned Second-Team All-America honors in 2023.
The United Soccer Coaches All-America citations are the 63rd and 64th in the Zips' storied men's soccer history.
Jaaskelainen, who garnered First-Team All-Region honors this season for the second time, started all 21 games for Akron in 2024 en route to recording an NCAA-best 23 goals and 54 points, while also leading the nation in game-winning goals (6), goals per game (1.10) and points per tilt (2.57). He also ranks fourth in the nation in shots (4.38) and shot on goal (2.14) per match and 34th in total assists (8), while finishing the campaign posting the second-highest single-season goal total in program history en route to be a unanimous choice as BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-BIG EAST selection. Overall, he recorded nine multi-goal affairs on the season.
Jaaskelainen ranked first in the BIG EAST in goals (1.10), points (2.57), shots (4.38), shots on goal (2.14) per game as well as leading the league in total goals (23), shots (92), shots on goal (45), points (54) and game-winning goals (6) and rating fourth in assists (8). In league-only affairs, he led the BIG EAST in total goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), as well as goals (1.50), points (3.50), shots (4.25), shots on goal (2.25) and game-winners (0.50) per contest, while rating third in total assists (4) and fifth in assists per tilt (0.50).
In eight BIG EAST games for Akron, Jaaskelainen recorded 12 of his NCAA-leading 23 goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), while ranking second in assists (4). He delivered a hat trick against Villanova (Oct. 12), while posting league braces versus Marquette (Oct. 26), Creighton (Oct. 23), DePaul (Oct. 19) and Butler (Sept. 20).
Jaaskelainen is first in D1 among active leaders in points (154) and goals (66), second in points per game (1.83) and in goals per tilt (0.79), 13th in assists (22), 22nd in assists per contest (0.26) and 24th in games played (84). Across all divisions, he is rated third in career goals (66) and points (154), 16th in points per contest (1.83) and 18th in goals per tilt (0.79).
The BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, Budler, a First-Team All-Region honoree, started all 21 games for the Zips the season en route to posting 51 saves on the strength of a 0.93 goals against average and a league-high nine shutouts. He ranks fourth in the NCAA in shutouts (9) this season, while also rating 12th in goalkeeper minutes played (1,846:14) and 27th in goals against average (.926). Budler led the BIG EAST in shutouts (9), while ranking fourth in goals against average (.926), sixth in save percentage (.729) and 10th in saves per game (2.43).
2024 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men's All-America Teams
* - Denotes previous selection
Jaaskelainen becomes the 20th Akron player to capture first-team honors joining the likes of Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2009), Chad Barson (2012), Ford Brunner (1967), Teal Bunbury (2009), Scott Caldwell (2012), Matt English (1982), Fritz Kungl (1962), Yohann Mauger (2005), Ross McKenzie (2005), Joao Moutinho (2017), Darlington Nagbe (2010), George Nanchoff (1975, 1976), Louie Nanchoff (1976), Aodhan Quinn (2013), Richard Parkinsin (1970, 1971), Shaun Pendleton (1984, 1985), Kofi Sarkodie (2010), Simon Spelling (1983) and Steve Zakuani (2008).
A Third-Team recipient, Budler was recognized as an All-America recipient for the first time and becomes only the fifth Akron goalkeeper to pull in All-America laurels joining Ford Brunner (1966, 1967), Sean Burke (1984), Ed Long (1956) and David Meves (2012).
Budler joins Jaaskelainen as the 47th and 48th Akron players, respectively, to garner United Soccer Coaches All-America accolades and first since Jason Shokalook earned Second-Team All-America honors in 2023.
The United Soccer Coaches All-America citations are the 63rd and 64th in the Zips' storied men's soccer history.
Jaaskelainen, who garnered First-Team All-Region honors this season for the second time, started all 21 games for Akron in 2024 en route to recording an NCAA-best 23 goals and 54 points, while also leading the nation in game-winning goals (6), goals per game (1.10) and points per tilt (2.57). He also ranks fourth in the nation in shots (4.38) and shot on goal (2.14) per match and 34th in total assists (8), while finishing the campaign posting the second-highest single-season goal total in program history en route to be a unanimous choice as BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-BIG EAST selection. Overall, he recorded nine multi-goal affairs on the season.
Jaaskelainen ranked first in the BIG EAST in goals (1.10), points (2.57), shots (4.38), shots on goal (2.14) per game as well as leading the league in total goals (23), shots (92), shots on goal (45), points (54) and game-winning goals (6) and rating fourth in assists (8). In league-only affairs, he led the BIG EAST in total goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), as well as goals (1.50), points (3.50), shots (4.25), shots on goal (2.25) and game-winners (0.50) per contest, while rating third in total assists (4) and fifth in assists per tilt (0.50).
In eight BIG EAST games for Akron, Jaaskelainen recorded 12 of his NCAA-leading 23 goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (12), points (28), shots (34), shots on goal (18) and game-winners (4), while ranking second in assists (4). He delivered a hat trick against Villanova (Oct. 12), while posting league braces versus Marquette (Oct. 26), Creighton (Oct. 23), DePaul (Oct. 19) and Butler (Sept. 20).
Jaaskelainen is first in D1 among active leaders in points (154) and goals (66), second in points per game (1.83) and in goals per tilt (0.79), 13th in assists (22), 22nd in assists per contest (0.26) and 24th in games played (84). Across all divisions, he is rated third in career goals (66) and points (154), 16th in points per contest (1.83) and 18th in goals per tilt (0.79).
The BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, Budler, a First-Team All-Region honoree, started all 21 games for the Zips the season en route to posting 51 saves on the strength of a 0.93 goals against average and a league-high nine shutouts. He ranks fourth in the NCAA in shutouts (9) this season, while also rating 12th in goalkeeper minutes played (1,846:14) and 27th in goals against average (.926). Budler led the BIG EAST in shutouts (9), while ranking fourth in goals against average (.926), sixth in save percentage (.729) and 10th in saves per game (2.43).
2024 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men's All-America Teams
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| Second Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Third Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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* - Denotes previous selection
Players Mentioned
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