The University of Akron Athletics
Friday, August 29
Akron, Ohio
7:00 PM
University of Akron
vs
West Virginia
Top 20 Showdown as No. 16 Akron Hosts No. 8 West Virginia
August 28 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The 16th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team welcomes No. 8 West Virginia to FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday (Aug. 29). The 7 p.m. match with the Mountaineers will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Logan Congrove calling the action.
Tickets for the contest against the Mountaineers are available for purchase at http://www.gozips.com/Tickets. Fans are asked to park in Lots 6, 9 and 10 surrounding InfoCision Stadium and the Stile Athletics Field House. For complete parking information click here.
GAME INFO
Akron vs. No. 8 West Virginia | Aug. 29 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+
HEAD COACHES
West Virginia: Dan Stratford (West Virginia, 2009), Overall Record: 118-22-27 (Ninth Season), Record at WVU: 57-18-22 (Sixth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 194-82-44 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 147-61-36 (13th Season)
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia enters action on Friday (Aug. 29) at 2-0-0 on the campaign following a 4-0 win over La Salle on Monday (Aug. 25).
The Mountaineers are led by senior Marcus Caldeira and junior Pablo Pozos, who each own a team-high three goals this season. Redshirt senior GK Marc Bonnaire has recorded three saves and maintains a 1.00 goals against average in 2025.
The Mountaineers are rated first in the NCAA in winning percentage (1.000), second in total assists (13) and assists per contest (6.50), third in total points (31), points per tilt (15.50) and shots on goal per game (12.00), fourth in total goals (9), fifth in scoring offense (4.50), sixth in goal differential (7), seventh in corner kicks (9.00), 11th in shots per match (20.00) and 30th in shutout percentage (.500).
Individually, Caldeira is ranked first in the NCAA in game-winning goals (2), second in total points (9) and in points per tilt (4.50), third in total assists (3), fifth in assist per game (1.50), sixth in total goals (3) and ninth in goals per match (1.50). Additionally, Pozos is sixth in total goals (3), ninth in goals per game (1.50), 13th in total points (6), 16th in points per match (3.00) and 24th in shots on goal (2.00), while Bonnaire is second in goalie minutes played (180:00) and 19th in shutouts (1).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and West Virginia are meeting for the 25th time in program history with the Zips owning a 18-4-2 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron battled the Mountaineers to a 0-0 draw on Sept. 30, 2021, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 30, 2021 – AKRON, OHIO)
The 14th-rated Akron men's soccer team garnered a result in its league opener as the Zips battled No. 3 West Virginia to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Sept. 30, 2021, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
In a tilt dominated by defense, the Mountaineers finished the evening posting an 11-7 margin in shots, including a 5-1 edge in shots on goal.
Goalkeeper Will Meyer was stellar in net for Akron registering a game-high five saves, including a pair in the double-overtime period, en route to earning the shutout. Dyson Clapier led the Zips with a game-high two shots.
AKRON VERSUS THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Sun Belt Conference for the first time this season and 56th time overall.
• Akron owns a 31-15-9 (.645) all-time record versus the current 10 members of the Sun Belt Conference.
ZIPS GARNER 1-0 TRIUMPH PAST NORTHERN KENTUCKY
Akron garnered a 1-0 shutout victory past Northern Kentucky on Sunday (Aug. 24) at home at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Akron broke the 0-0 tie when sophomore Remi Agunbiade (Toronto, Ontario) scored his first goal of the season in the 56th minute (55:11), assisted by redshirt sophomore Tyler Morck (Bethpage, N.Y.) and junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.). The goal held as the only score in the game.
Redshirt senior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) collected one save for the Zips out of four total Norse shots to earn his second consecutive shutout. Redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) and sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) recorded a game-high three shots apiece for the Zips.
AKRON EARNS 3-0 WIN AT VCU
No. 21 Akron men's soccer team held VCU scoreless and cruised to a 3-0 shutout victory Thursday (Aug. 21) in the season opener for both squads.
Akron assumed a 1-0 when senior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) successfully converted a penalty kick in the 40th minute (39:42).
The Zips scored again on a goal from Tyler Morck, his first goal of the season at the 62:27 mark, assisted by sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) and freshman Farrel Ngongang (Montreal, Quebec).
Akron built its lead to 3-0 on Ngongang's 66th-minute (65:47) goal, his first of the season. Earning assists on the play was Dobrijevic and redshirt sophomore Caleb Borneo (Morgantown, W.Va.).
Mitch Budler recorded one save for the Zips out of five total Rams shots, while Akron outshot VCU, 20-5, including 4-1 on goal.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.738), with an overall record of 256-74-52. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 245-81-50 (.718), Maryland, 236-84-57 (.702), North Carolina, 231-85-60 (.694) and Georgetown, 228-90-49 (.688). Akron made 12 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-18), earning a first-round bye in eight seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in eight of their last 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 36 times, including 20 of the past 24 seasons.
BUDLER NAMED TO TDS PRESEASON BEST XI SQUAD
Mitch Budler was named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Preseason Best XI Third-Team squad.
BUDLER CHOSEN AS PRESEASON BIG EAST GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Mitch Budler was chosen as the preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year. Budler posted 51 saves on the campaign en route to recording a 0.93 goals against average on the strength of nine shutouts. In league play, Budler collected 23 saves and a 0.63 goals against average and notched six clean sheets in eight games.
ZIP TIDBITS
• Six of the 15 matches between Akron and West Virginia with head coach Jared Embick on the Zips' sideline have resulted in a shutout, with Akron owning a 5-0-1 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored West Virginia, 41-19 all-time in 16 home games against the Mountaineers and own a 12-3-1 mark in those contests.
• Eleven games Akron has played versus West Virginia have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips holding a 10-0-1 record and outscoring the Mountaineers in those contests by a 25-0 margin.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 17 all-time meetings with West Virginia.
• The Zips recorded a season-best 20 shots at VCU (Aug. 24).
• Akron have posted double-digit shots in two tilts in 2025.
• Four different Akron reserves have accounted for the Zips' four tallies this season in Remi Agunbiade, Stefan Dobrijevic, Farrel Ngongang and Tyler Morck.
• Morck and Ngongang each recorded their first career goals as a Zip at VCU.
• Akron garnered assists from Caleb Borneo, Dobrijevic, Ngongang and Jack Roman in a 3-0 victory by the Zips over VCU.
• Four different Zips have scored a goal this season, including a pair of newcomers.
• Fourteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including six newcomers.
• Earning starts in their Akron debut at VCU were juniors Freddy Kossehasse (McKinney, Texas) and Matthew Paiva (Toronto, Ontario), freshman Jose Pedro (Porto, Portugal) and junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.).
• Budler collected his 100th career save against Butler (Sept. 20, 2024) and enters play versus West Virginia with 137 career stops.
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in goals against average (0.00), save percentage (1.000), shutout percentage (1.000) and winning percentage (1.000), 17th in goal differential (4), 18th in total assists (6), 20th in assists per game (3.00), 21st in shots per tilt (17.00), 29th in total points (14), 33rd in points per contest (7.00) 35th in total goals (4) and in corner kicks (6.50) and 39th in scoring offense (3.00).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (2*), goals against average (0.00*) and save percentage (1.000*) and second in goalie minutes played (180.00*). Dobrijevic and Agunbiade are eighth in game-winning goals (1).
• Budler is rated third among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (25) and goalie minutes played (5,133.85), 11th in goals against average (.929), 28th in saves (137), 33rd in save percentage (.721) and 37th in games played (58). Additionally, Kamdem is 37th in games played (57) and Dobrijevic is 48th in games played (56).
• Through 58 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 137 saves en route to owning a 0.93 goals against average on the strength of 25 shutouts.
• Budler surpassed 5,000 career minutes in goal at VCU (Aug. 21) having been in net for 5,133:51.
• The Zips were 2-2-2 versus ranked teams last season following a 2-1 overtime loss at No. 6 Indiana, 1-0 victory past No. 8 Princeton as well as a 2-1 overtime setback against No. 24 Georgetown, a 1-1 draw at No. 2 Notre Dame, a 1-1 tie at No. 5 Western Michigan and a 4-0 triumph past No. 13 VCU.
• Since 2021, the Zips own 31-4-8 record in regular season home games at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Since 2010, the Zips are 34-5-5 at FirstEnergy Stadium in regular season conference games. Overall, during that span, including postseason, Akron boasts a 50-8-6 mark versus league foes at home.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 35-24-10 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dobrijevic is Akron's active career leaders in goals (8), assists (11), points (27), shots (57), shots on goal (25) and game-winners (3). Dobrijevic, Kamdem and Ferguson have scored eight, three and two goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 147-61-36 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 147 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• Under Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 30-14-7.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 112 of the squad's last 207 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 47 of its last 96 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 9418-15 record in its last 127 home matches.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 100-48-32 record.
BIG EAST PRESEASON POLL
The University of Akron men's soccer program opens its 71st season of intercollegiate soccer tabbed to finish as the top team in the Midwest Division of the BIG EAST Conference, including earning 10 first-place votes in the division.
ZIPS IN THE CLASSROOM
Academic success has been a staple for the Zips under head coach Jared Embick. Akron has posted a cumulative team GPA's of 3.0 or better in 23 of 25 semesters overall under Embick, including registering cumulative marks of 3.11, 3.39, 3.01, 3.05, 3.40, 3.316, 3.21, 3.02, 3.09, 3.20 and 3.37 during the 2024-25, 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15 campaigns, respectively.
AKRON UNVEILS TALENTED 15-MEMBER RECRUITING CLASS
Akron under the leadership of 13th-year head coach Jared Embick, boast a talented 15-member signing class for 2025.
Donning the Akron uniform this fall will be Ignacio Alem (Potomac, Md.), Abdi Bahur (Toronto, Ontario), Gavin Crane (Hinckley, Ohio), Braxton Hayes (Bowie, Md.), Logan LaMaina (Sellersville, Pa.), Farrel Ngongang, Matthew Paiva, Malte Schmaus (Hammersbach, Germany) and Dylan Wilkinson (Bradford, England).
The nine players are part of Akron's 2025 signing class joining six members in Aljaz Dodig (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Freddy Kossehasse, Tyler Morck, Jose Pedro, Jamai Royer (Markham, Ontario) and Jack Sullivan, that signed with the Zips prior to the spring semester.
DID YOU KNOW
• Zippy is just one of eight female-gendered college mascots in Division I athletics. Do you know the other seven? (YoUDee, the Delaware Blue Hen; Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State; Lucy Lobo of New Mexico; Sue E. Pig of Arkansas; Miss Pawla of South Alabama, Kate the Lion of Hofstra; and Wilma Wildcat of Arizona).
• One of the unique nicknames in collegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron.
• Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth "Red" Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams.
• Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers.
• The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for Zippers, a $6 pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company.
• The evolution of Zippy, UA's mascot, began 40 years ago when the student council decided the University needed a mascot.
• "Zippy" the kangaroo was officially declared the school's mascot on May 1, 1953. The first known printed reference to the mascot as "Zippy" was a 1965 Zip football press brochure. The Buchtelite's first use of the name "Zippy" came Sept. 24, 1965, in an identification of a photo of the cheerleaders listing "Mascot - 'Zippy' - Charles Huettner."
• In 2007, Zippy was named the Capital One National Mascot of the Year.
UP NEXT
Akron welcomes Cleveland State to FirstEnergy Stadium on Monday (Sept. 1) at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the contest against the Mountaineers are available for purchase at http://www.gozips.com/Tickets. Fans are asked to park in Lots 6, 9 and 10 surrounding InfoCision Stadium and the Stile Athletics Field House. For complete parking information click here.
GAME INFO
Akron vs. No. 8 West Virginia | Aug. 29 | 7 PM | FirstEnergy Stadium | Live Stats | ESPN+
HEAD COACHES
West Virginia: Dan Stratford (West Virginia, 2009), Overall Record: 118-22-27 (Ninth Season), Record at WVU: 57-18-22 (Sixth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 194-82-44 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 147-61-36 (13th Season)
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia enters action on Friday (Aug. 29) at 2-0-0 on the campaign following a 4-0 win over La Salle on Monday (Aug. 25).
The Mountaineers are led by senior Marcus Caldeira and junior Pablo Pozos, who each own a team-high three goals this season. Redshirt senior GK Marc Bonnaire has recorded three saves and maintains a 1.00 goals against average in 2025.
The Mountaineers are rated first in the NCAA in winning percentage (1.000), second in total assists (13) and assists per contest (6.50), third in total points (31), points per tilt (15.50) and shots on goal per game (12.00), fourth in total goals (9), fifth in scoring offense (4.50), sixth in goal differential (7), seventh in corner kicks (9.00), 11th in shots per match (20.00) and 30th in shutout percentage (.500).
Individually, Caldeira is ranked first in the NCAA in game-winning goals (2), second in total points (9) and in points per tilt (4.50), third in total assists (3), fifth in assist per game (1.50), sixth in total goals (3) and ninth in goals per match (1.50). Additionally, Pozos is sixth in total goals (3), ninth in goals per game (1.50), 13th in total points (6), 16th in points per match (3.00) and 24th in shots on goal (2.00), while Bonnaire is second in goalie minutes played (180:00) and 19th in shutouts (1).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and West Virginia are meeting for the 25th time in program history with the Zips owning a 18-4-2 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron battled the Mountaineers to a 0-0 draw on Sept. 30, 2021, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (SEPT. 30, 2021 – AKRON, OHIO)
The 14th-rated Akron men's soccer team garnered a result in its league opener as the Zips battled No. 3 West Virginia to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Sept. 30, 2021, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
In a tilt dominated by defense, the Mountaineers finished the evening posting an 11-7 margin in shots, including a 5-1 edge in shots on goal.
Goalkeeper Will Meyer was stellar in net for Akron registering a game-high five saves, including a pair in the double-overtime period, en route to earning the shutout. Dyson Clapier led the Zips with a game-high two shots.
AKRON VERSUS THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Sun Belt Conference for the first time this season and 56th time overall.
• Akron owns a 31-15-9 (.645) all-time record versus the current 10 members of the Sun Belt Conference.
ZIPS GARNER 1-0 TRIUMPH PAST NORTHERN KENTUCKY
Akron garnered a 1-0 shutout victory past Northern Kentucky on Sunday (Aug. 24) at home at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Akron broke the 0-0 tie when sophomore Remi Agunbiade (Toronto, Ontario) scored his first goal of the season in the 56th minute (55:11), assisted by redshirt sophomore Tyler Morck (Bethpage, N.Y.) and junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.). The goal held as the only score in the game.
Redshirt senior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) collected one save for the Zips out of four total Norse shots to earn his second consecutive shutout. Redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) and sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) recorded a game-high three shots apiece for the Zips.
AKRON EARNS 3-0 WIN AT VCU
No. 21 Akron men's soccer team held VCU scoreless and cruised to a 3-0 shutout victory Thursday (Aug. 21) in the season opener for both squads.
Akron assumed a 1-0 when senior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) successfully converted a penalty kick in the 40th minute (39:42).
The Zips scored again on a goal from Tyler Morck, his first goal of the season at the 62:27 mark, assisted by sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) and freshman Farrel Ngongang (Montreal, Quebec).
Akron built its lead to 3-0 on Ngongang's 66th-minute (65:47) goal, his first of the season. Earning assists on the play was Dobrijevic and redshirt sophomore Caleb Borneo (Morgantown, W.Va.).
Mitch Budler recorded one save for the Zips out of five total Rams shots, while Akron outshot VCU, 20-5, including 4-1 on goal.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.738), with an overall record of 256-74-52. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 245-81-50 (.718), Maryland, 236-84-57 (.702), North Carolina, 231-85-60 (.694) and Georgetown, 228-90-49 (.688). Akron made 12 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2007-18), earning a first-round bye in eight seasons. The Zips have advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 in eight of their last 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. Since 1961, the Zips have advanced to the NCAA postseason 36 times, including 20 of the past 24 seasons.
BUDLER NAMED TO TDS PRESEASON BEST XI SQUAD
Mitch Budler was named by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Preseason Best XI Third-Team squad.
BUDLER CHOSEN AS PRESEASON BIG EAST GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Mitch Budler was chosen as the preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year. Budler posted 51 saves on the campaign en route to recording a 0.93 goals against average on the strength of nine shutouts. In league play, Budler collected 23 saves and a 0.63 goals against average and notched six clean sheets in eight games.
ZIP TIDBITS
• Six of the 15 matches between Akron and West Virginia with head coach Jared Embick on the Zips' sideline have resulted in a shutout, with Akron owning a 5-0-1 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored West Virginia, 41-19 all-time in 16 home games against the Mountaineers and own a 12-3-1 mark in those contests.
• Eleven games Akron has played versus West Virginia have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips holding a 10-0-1 record and outscoring the Mountaineers in those contests by a 25-0 margin.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 17 all-time meetings with West Virginia.
• The Zips recorded a season-best 20 shots at VCU (Aug. 24).
• Akron have posted double-digit shots in two tilts in 2025.
• Four different Akron reserves have accounted for the Zips' four tallies this season in Remi Agunbiade, Stefan Dobrijevic, Farrel Ngongang and Tyler Morck.
• Morck and Ngongang each recorded their first career goals as a Zip at VCU.
• Akron garnered assists from Caleb Borneo, Dobrijevic, Ngongang and Jack Roman in a 3-0 victory by the Zips over VCU.
• Four different Zips have scored a goal this season, including a pair of newcomers.
• Fourteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including six newcomers.
• Earning starts in their Akron debut at VCU were juniors Freddy Kossehasse (McKinney, Texas) and Matthew Paiva (Toronto, Ontario), freshman Jose Pedro (Porto, Portugal) and junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.).
• Budler collected his 100th career save against Butler (Sept. 20, 2024) and enters play versus West Virginia with 137 career stops.
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in goals against average (0.00), save percentage (1.000), shutout percentage (1.000) and winning percentage (1.000), 17th in goal differential (4), 18th in total assists (6), 20th in assists per game (3.00), 21st in shots per tilt (17.00), 29th in total points (14), 33rd in points per contest (7.00) 35th in total goals (4) and in corner kicks (6.50) and 39th in scoring offense (3.00).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (2*), goals against average (0.00*) and save percentage (1.000*) and second in goalie minutes played (180.00*). Dobrijevic and Agunbiade are eighth in game-winning goals (1).
• Budler is rated third among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (25) and goalie minutes played (5,133.85), 11th in goals against average (.929), 28th in saves (137), 33rd in save percentage (.721) and 37th in games played (58). Additionally, Kamdem is 37th in games played (57) and Dobrijevic is 48th in games played (56).
• Through 58 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 137 saves en route to owning a 0.93 goals against average on the strength of 25 shutouts.
• Budler surpassed 5,000 career minutes in goal at VCU (Aug. 21) having been in net for 5,133:51.
• The Zips were 2-2-2 versus ranked teams last season following a 2-1 overtime loss at No. 6 Indiana, 1-0 victory past No. 8 Princeton as well as a 2-1 overtime setback against No. 24 Georgetown, a 1-1 draw at No. 2 Notre Dame, a 1-1 tie at No. 5 Western Michigan and a 4-0 triumph past No. 13 VCU.
• Since 2021, the Zips own 31-4-8 record in regular season home games at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Since 2010, the Zips are 34-5-5 at FirstEnergy Stadium in regular season conference games. Overall, during that span, including postseason, Akron boasts a 50-8-6 mark versus league foes at home.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 35-24-10 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dobrijevic is Akron's active career leaders in goals (8), assists (11), points (27), shots (57), shots on goal (25) and game-winners (3). Dobrijevic, Kamdem and Ferguson have scored eight, three and two goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 147-61-36 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 147 wins are ranked seventh in all of Division I.
• Under Embick, Akron's record following a loss is 30-14-7.
• The Zips have scored two or more goals in 112 of the squad's last 207 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 47 of its last 96 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 9418-15 record in its last 127 home matches.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 100-48-32 record.
BIG EAST PRESEASON POLL
The University of Akron men's soccer program opens its 71st season of intercollegiate soccer tabbed to finish as the top team in the Midwest Division of the BIG EAST Conference, including earning 10 first-place votes in the division.
ZIPS IN THE CLASSROOM
Academic success has been a staple for the Zips under head coach Jared Embick. Akron has posted a cumulative team GPA's of 3.0 or better in 23 of 25 semesters overall under Embick, including registering cumulative marks of 3.11, 3.39, 3.01, 3.05, 3.40, 3.316, 3.21, 3.02, 3.09, 3.20 and 3.37 during the 2024-25, 2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15 campaigns, respectively.
AKRON UNVEILS TALENTED 15-MEMBER RECRUITING CLASS
Akron under the leadership of 13th-year head coach Jared Embick, boast a talented 15-member signing class for 2025.
Donning the Akron uniform this fall will be Ignacio Alem (Potomac, Md.), Abdi Bahur (Toronto, Ontario), Gavin Crane (Hinckley, Ohio), Braxton Hayes (Bowie, Md.), Logan LaMaina (Sellersville, Pa.), Farrel Ngongang, Matthew Paiva, Malte Schmaus (Hammersbach, Germany) and Dylan Wilkinson (Bradford, England).
The nine players are part of Akron's 2025 signing class joining six members in Aljaz Dodig (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Freddy Kossehasse, Tyler Morck, Jose Pedro, Jamai Royer (Markham, Ontario) and Jack Sullivan, that signed with the Zips prior to the spring semester.
DID YOU KNOW
• Zippy is just one of eight female-gendered college mascots in Division I athletics. Do you know the other seven? (YoUDee, the Delaware Blue Hen; Mrs. Wuf of N.C. State; Lucy Lobo of New Mexico; Sue E. Pig of Arkansas; Miss Pawla of South Alabama, Kate the Lion of Hofstra; and Wilma Wildcat of Arizona).
• One of the unique nicknames in collegiate athletics belongs to The University of Akron.
• Originally Zippers, athletic director Kenneth "Red" Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to the Zips in 1950. Twenty-five years earlier a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the University's athletics teams.
• Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers.
• The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for Zippers, a $6 pair of rubber overshoes and a brand name of the BF Goodrich Company.
• The evolution of Zippy, UA's mascot, began 40 years ago when the student council decided the University needed a mascot.
• "Zippy" the kangaroo was officially declared the school's mascot on May 1, 1953. The first known printed reference to the mascot as "Zippy" was a 1965 Zip football press brochure. The Buchtelite's first use of the name "Zippy" came Sept. 24, 1965, in an identification of a photo of the cheerleaders listing "Mascot - 'Zippy' - Charles Huettner."
• In 2007, Zippy was named the Capital One National Mascot of the Year.
UP NEXT
Akron welcomes Cleveland State to FirstEnergy Stadium on Monday (Sept. 1) at 7 p.m.
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/ Men's Soccer2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Cleveland State - 9/1/2025
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