The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, September 13
Burlington, Vt.
6:00 PM
University of Akron
at
Vermont
No. 3 Akron Visits No. 5 Vermont
September 12 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The third-rated University of Akron men's soccer team travels to Burlington, Vt., for a showdown with No. 5 Vermont on Saturday (Sept. 13). The 6 p.m. match with the Catamounts will be broadcast on ESPN+.
GAME INFO
Akron at Vermont | Sept. 13 | 6 PM | Burlington, Vt. | Live Stats | ESPN+
HEAD COACHES
Vermont: Rob Dow (Maine, 2003), Overall Record: 98-40-19 (Ninth Season), Record at Vermont: 98-40-19 (Ninth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 197-82-45 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 150-61-37 (13th Season)
SCOUTING VERMONT
Vermont enters action on Saturday (Sept. 13) at 3-0-3 on the campaign following a 3-3 draw versus Dartmouth on Tuesday (Sept. 9).
The Catamounts are led by Maximilian Kissel, who owns team-high marks in goals (4), points (10), shots (12) and shots on goal (7). Sophomore GK Niklas Herceg has recorded 16 saves and maintains a 1.00 goals against average.
As the team, Vermont is rated fourth in the NCAA in corner kicks (7.67), seventh in total assists (17), ninth in total points (45), 12th in total goals (14), 13th in assists per contest (2.83), 16th in points per game (7.50), 17th in goal differential (8), 22nd in scoring offense (2.33) and 35th in winning percentage (.750). Individually, Kissel is ranked 14th in total goals (4), 16th in total points (10), 35th in points per game (1.67) and 41st in goals per contest (0.67), while Herceg is second in goalie minutes played (540:00) and 37th in shutouts (2). Additionally, redshirt senior Marcell Papp is 23rd in total assists (3).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Vermont are meeting for the third time in program history. The Zips posted a 1-0 home victory over the Catamounts on Aug. 28, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium, after the two sides battled to a 0-0 draw on Sept. 4, 1987.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (AUG. 28, 2023 – AKRON, OHIO)
A goal in the 61st minute (60:07) from Dyson Clapier propelled 21st-rated Akron to a 1-0 victory past No. 7 Vermont on Aug. 28, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Zips broke the scoreless tie when Clapier scored at the 60:07 mark, assisted by Malik Henry. The lone goal held in the 1-0 match.
AKRON VERSUS THE AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the America East Conference for the first time this season and fifth time overall.
• Akron owns a 3-0-1 (.875) all-time record versus the current eight members of the America East.
• In their last encounter with a school from the America East Conference, the Zips earned a 1-0 victory past Vermont on Aug. 28, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
HONORING LEGENDARY COACH STU PARRY
Akron men's soccer honored legendary men's soccer coach Stu Parry, who passed away peacefully on Aug. 15, prior to the squad's match versus Cleveland State (Sept. 1).
The first head coach in Akron men's program history, Parry began a decorated career guiding the Zips in 1955 and led the squad for 15 seasons en route to posting an enviable 118-43-4 record.
In those 15 years, Parry directed the Zips to nine Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Championships and developed 10 All-America soccer players, including Ed Bender, Fritz Kungl, Pete Milch, Joe Queiroga, Ford Brummer, Jim Malcolm and Eugene Alfred, and numerous All-Ohio and All-Midwest players.
In 1961, the Zips were invited to participate in their first NCAA post-season game. On five more occasions, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1968, Akron earned NCAA invitations. In 1966 and 1968, Parry's fellow coaches honored him for his many years of devotion to and promotion of soccer by voting him the Ohio Soccer Coach of the Year.
ZIPS ROLL PAST WESTERN MICHIGAN, 4-0
Third-rated Akron ran away with a 4-0 shutout victory past Western Michigan on Tuesday (Sept. 9) at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Akron (5-0-1) opened the scoring when sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) notched his second goal of the season in the 17th minute (16:55) finding the back of the net from 15 yards out.
The Zips scored again on a goal from Roman, his third goal on the campaign, and first career brace, at the 19:48 mark, courtesy of assists seniors Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) and Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio).
Akron expanded its lead to 3-0 on Dobrijevic's successful penalty kick in the 53rd-minute (52:36), his first goal of the season.
The Zips kept Western Michigan scoreless and took a 4-0 lead on the first career goal from freshman Braxton Hayes (Bowie, Md.) at the 72:12 mark. Junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.) assisted on the goal.
AKRON EARNS 2-0 WIN AT OHIO STATE
No. 11 Akron got a pair of goals from redshirt sophomore Caleb Borneo (Morgantown, W.Va.) in a 2-0 shutout win over No. 16 Ohio State on Sept. 5 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
The Buckeyes nearly cracked into the scoring column at the 14:54 mark of the first half before video review negated a goal due to an offsides call against Ohio State.
The Zips were outshot in the opening stanza, 8-6, before Akron (4-0-1) broke the scoreless tie when Borneo notched his first goal of the season in the 54th minute (53:07), assisted by sophomore Remi Agunbiade (Toronto, Ontario) and junior Matt Dreas (Covington, Ky.).
The Zips extended their lead to 2-0 on the first career brace from Borneo - his second goal of the season - at the 76:33 mark, assisted by freshman Jose Pedro (Porto, Portugal).
Redshirt senior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) collected seven saves for the Zips out of 13 total Buckeye shots to earn his fifth straight shutout to open the campaign.
BUDLER HONORED AS BIG EAST GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK; BORNEO NAMED TO HONOR ROLL
Akron's Mitch Budler was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Caleb Borneo was also named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll.
Budler anchored the defensive efforts for the Zips versus No. 16 Ohio State registering a season-best seven saves to extend the team's shutout streak to five to start the season. He leads in the country with an NCAA-best six shutouts en route to owning a 0.00 GAA and a 1.000 save percentage on the year.
Borneo garnered his first career brace to complete the Zips first victory in Columbus since 2016. He finished the game with two shots, both on goal, connecting on tallies in the 54th (53:07) and 77th (76:33) minutes, respectively.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.740), with an overall record of 260-74-53. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 249-81-51 (.720), Maryland, 238-85-58 (.701), North Carolina, 233-86-64 (.692), Indiana, 257-96-71 (.690) and Georgetown, 231-90-51 (.690). 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.
ZIP TIDBITS
• The Zips are meeting Vermont for the third time in program history with both previous encounters resulting in an Akron shutout, with the Zips leading the series, 1-0-1.
• On the strength of a 4-0 shutout victory past Western Michigan (Sept. 9), Akron equaled its 2010 squad for the most consecutive clean sheets to open the campaign with six.
• Jack Roman garnered his first career multi-goal performance with a grace against Western Michigan (Sept. 9).
• Freshman Dylan Wilkinson (Bradford, England) made his collegiate debut versus Western Michigan (Sept. 9).
• Akron's victory over Western Michigan (Sept. 9) marked the 150th triumph for head coach Jared Embick at Akron.
• Akron junior Matthew Paiva (Toronto, Ontario) was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 2.
• Freshman Farrel Ngongang (Montreal, Quebec) was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Freshman of the Week on Aug. 25.
• Stefan Dobrijevic and Ashton Kamdem were named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll (Aug. 25).
• The Zips are 1-0-1 versus ranked teams this season following a 0-0 draw versus No. 8 West Virginia (Aug. 29) and 2-0 win at No. 16 Ohio State (Sept. 5).
• The Zips recorded a season-best 20 shots at VCU (Aug. 24).
• Akron have posted double-digit shots in five of six tilts in 2025.
• Four different Akron reserves have accounted for goals this season for the Zips in Remi Agunbiade, Dobrijevic, Ngongang and redshirt sophomore Tyler Morck (Bethpage, N.Y.).
• Jack Roman collected his first career goal versus Cleveland State (Sept. 1), while Morck and Ngongang each recorded their first career goals as a Zip at VCU (Aug. 21).
• Akron garnered assists from Caleb Borneo, Dobrijevic, Ngongang and Roman in a 3-0 victory by the Zips over VCU.
• Six different Zips have scored a goal this season, including a pair of newcomers.
• Seventeen Zips have registered a shot this season, including eight newcomers.
• Earning starts in their Akron debut at VCU were juniors Freddy Kossehasse (McKinney, Texas) and Paiva, Jose Pedro and Jack Sullivan.
• Budler collected his 100th career save against Butler (Sept. 20, 2024) and enters play versus Vermont with 146 career stops.
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in goals against average (0.00), save percentage (1.000) and shutout percentage (1.000), seventh in winning percentage (.917), eighth in goal differential (11), 11th in corner kicks (7.00), 15th in total assists (14), 23rd in total points (36) 27th in assists per game (2.33), 28th in total goals (11), 34th in shots per tilt (15.00), 38th in points per match (6.00) and 45th in scoring offense (1.83).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (6), goals against average (0.00), save percentage (1.000) and second in goalie minutes played (540.00). Roman is fifth in game-winning goals (2) and 42nd in total goals (3), Dobrijevic is 23rd in total assists (3) and 43rd in game-winners (1), while Borneo and Agunbiade are ranked 43rd in game-winners (1).
• Budler is rated second among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (29), third in goalie minutes played (5,493.85), seventh in goals against average (.868), 28th in saves (146) and in save percentage (.734) and 34th in games played (62). Additionally, Kamdem is 34th in games played (62) and Dobrijevic is 39th in games played (61).
• Through 62 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 146 saves en route to owning a 0.87 goals against average on the strength of 29 shutouts.
• Budler surpassed 5,000 career minutes in goal at VCU (Aug. 21) having been in net for 5,493:51.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 36-24-11 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dobrijevic is Akron's active career leaders in goals (9), assists (13), points (31), shots (67), shots on goal (27) and game-winners (3). Dobrijevic, Borneo, Kamdem, Roman, Agunbiade and redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) have scored nine, three, three, three, two and two goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 150-61-37 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 150 wins are ranked eighth 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 114 of the squad's last 211 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 50 of its last 99 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 96-18-16 record in its last 130 home matches.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 103-48-33 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, 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 opens BIG EAST Conference play welcoming UConn to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 7 p.m. tilt on Friday (Sept. 19).
GAME INFO
Akron at Vermont | Sept. 13 | 6 PM | Burlington, Vt. | Live Stats | ESPN+
HEAD COACHES
Vermont: Rob Dow (Maine, 2003), Overall Record: 98-40-19 (Ninth Season), Record at Vermont: 98-40-19 (Ninth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 197-82-45 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 150-61-37 (13th Season)
SCOUTING VERMONT
Vermont enters action on Saturday (Sept. 13) at 3-0-3 on the campaign following a 3-3 draw versus Dartmouth on Tuesday (Sept. 9).
The Catamounts are led by Maximilian Kissel, who owns team-high marks in goals (4), points (10), shots (12) and shots on goal (7). Sophomore GK Niklas Herceg has recorded 16 saves and maintains a 1.00 goals against average.
As the team, Vermont is rated fourth in the NCAA in corner kicks (7.67), seventh in total assists (17), ninth in total points (45), 12th in total goals (14), 13th in assists per contest (2.83), 16th in points per game (7.50), 17th in goal differential (8), 22nd in scoring offense (2.33) and 35th in winning percentage (.750). Individually, Kissel is ranked 14th in total goals (4), 16th in total points (10), 35th in points per game (1.67) and 41st in goals per contest (0.67), while Herceg is second in goalie minutes played (540:00) and 37th in shutouts (2). Additionally, redshirt senior Marcell Papp is 23rd in total assists (3).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Vermont are meeting for the third time in program history. The Zips posted a 1-0 home victory over the Catamounts on Aug. 28, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium, after the two sides battled to a 0-0 draw on Sept. 4, 1987.
IN OUR LAST MEETING (AUG. 28, 2023 – AKRON, OHIO)
A goal in the 61st minute (60:07) from Dyson Clapier propelled 21st-rated Akron to a 1-0 victory past No. 7 Vermont on Aug. 28, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Zips broke the scoreless tie when Clapier scored at the 60:07 mark, assisted by Malik Henry. The lone goal held in the 1-0 match.
AKRON VERSUS THE AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the America East Conference for the first time this season and fifth time overall.
• Akron owns a 3-0-1 (.875) all-time record versus the current eight members of the America East.
• In their last encounter with a school from the America East Conference, the Zips earned a 1-0 victory past Vermont on Aug. 28, 2023, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
HONORING LEGENDARY COACH STU PARRY
Akron men's soccer honored legendary men's soccer coach Stu Parry, who passed away peacefully on Aug. 15, prior to the squad's match versus Cleveland State (Sept. 1).
The first head coach in Akron men's program history, Parry began a decorated career guiding the Zips in 1955 and led the squad for 15 seasons en route to posting an enviable 118-43-4 record.
In those 15 years, Parry directed the Zips to nine Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Championships and developed 10 All-America soccer players, including Ed Bender, Fritz Kungl, Pete Milch, Joe Queiroga, Ford Brummer, Jim Malcolm and Eugene Alfred, and numerous All-Ohio and All-Midwest players.
In 1961, the Zips were invited to participate in their first NCAA post-season game. On five more occasions, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, and 1968, Akron earned NCAA invitations. In 1966 and 1968, Parry's fellow coaches honored him for his many years of devotion to and promotion of soccer by voting him the Ohio Soccer Coach of the Year.
ZIPS ROLL PAST WESTERN MICHIGAN, 4-0
Third-rated Akron ran away with a 4-0 shutout victory past Western Michigan on Tuesday (Sept. 9) at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Akron (5-0-1) opened the scoring when sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) notched his second goal of the season in the 17th minute (16:55) finding the back of the net from 15 yards out.
The Zips scored again on a goal from Roman, his third goal on the campaign, and first career brace, at the 19:48 mark, courtesy of assists seniors Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) and Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio).
Akron expanded its lead to 3-0 on Dobrijevic's successful penalty kick in the 53rd-minute (52:36), his first goal of the season.
The Zips kept Western Michigan scoreless and took a 4-0 lead on the first career goal from freshman Braxton Hayes (Bowie, Md.) at the 72:12 mark. Junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.) assisted on the goal.
AKRON EARNS 2-0 WIN AT OHIO STATE
No. 11 Akron got a pair of goals from redshirt sophomore Caleb Borneo (Morgantown, W.Va.) in a 2-0 shutout win over No. 16 Ohio State on Sept. 5 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
The Buckeyes nearly cracked into the scoring column at the 14:54 mark of the first half before video review negated a goal due to an offsides call against Ohio State.
The Zips were outshot in the opening stanza, 8-6, before Akron (4-0-1) broke the scoreless tie when Borneo notched his first goal of the season in the 54th minute (53:07), assisted by sophomore Remi Agunbiade (Toronto, Ontario) and junior Matt Dreas (Covington, Ky.).
The Zips extended their lead to 2-0 on the first career brace from Borneo - his second goal of the season - at the 76:33 mark, assisted by freshman Jose Pedro (Porto, Portugal).
Redshirt senior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) collected seven saves for the Zips out of 13 total Buckeye shots to earn his fifth straight shutout to open the campaign.
BUDLER HONORED AS BIG EAST GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK; BORNEO NAMED TO HONOR ROLL
Akron's Mitch Budler was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Caleb Borneo was also named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll.
Budler anchored the defensive efforts for the Zips versus No. 16 Ohio State registering a season-best seven saves to extend the team's shutout streak to five to start the season. He leads in the country with an NCAA-best six shutouts en route to owning a 0.00 GAA and a 1.000 save percentage on the year.
Borneo garnered his first career brace to complete the Zips first victory in Columbus since 2016. He finished the game with two shots, both on goal, connecting on tallies in the 54th (53:07) and 77th (76:33) minutes, respectively.
A LEGACY OF SUCCESS
Since 2007, the Akron men's soccer program has posted the highest winning percentage in the nation (.740), with an overall record of 260-74-53. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 249-81-51 (.720), Maryland, 238-85-58 (.701), North Carolina, 233-86-64 (.692), Indiana, 257-96-71 (.690) and Georgetown, 231-90-51 (.690). 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.
ZIP TIDBITS
• The Zips are meeting Vermont for the third time in program history with both previous encounters resulting in an Akron shutout, with the Zips leading the series, 1-0-1.
• On the strength of a 4-0 shutout victory past Western Michigan (Sept. 9), Akron equaled its 2010 squad for the most consecutive clean sheets to open the campaign with six.
• Jack Roman garnered his first career multi-goal performance with a grace against Western Michigan (Sept. 9).
• Freshman Dylan Wilkinson (Bradford, England) made his collegiate debut versus Western Michigan (Sept. 9).
• Akron's victory over Western Michigan (Sept. 9) marked the 150th triumph for head coach Jared Embick at Akron.
• Akron junior Matthew Paiva (Toronto, Ontario) was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Sept. 2.
• Freshman Farrel Ngongang (Montreal, Quebec) was honored by the BIG EAST Conference as its Men's Soccer Freshman of the Week on Aug. 25.
• Stefan Dobrijevic and Ashton Kamdem were named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll (Aug. 25).
• The Zips are 1-0-1 versus ranked teams this season following a 0-0 draw versus No. 8 West Virginia (Aug. 29) and 2-0 win at No. 16 Ohio State (Sept. 5).
• The Zips recorded a season-best 20 shots at VCU (Aug. 24).
• Akron have posted double-digit shots in five of six tilts in 2025.
• Four different Akron reserves have accounted for goals this season for the Zips in Remi Agunbiade, Dobrijevic, Ngongang and redshirt sophomore Tyler Morck (Bethpage, N.Y.).
• Jack Roman collected his first career goal versus Cleveland State (Sept. 1), while Morck and Ngongang each recorded their first career goals as a Zip at VCU (Aug. 21).
• Akron garnered assists from Caleb Borneo, Dobrijevic, Ngongang and Roman in a 3-0 victory by the Zips over VCU.
• Six different Zips have scored a goal this season, including a pair of newcomers.
• Seventeen Zips have registered a shot this season, including eight newcomers.
• Earning starts in their Akron debut at VCU were juniors Freddy Kossehasse (McKinney, Texas) and Paiva, Jose Pedro and Jack Sullivan.
• Budler collected his 100th career save against Butler (Sept. 20, 2024) and enters play versus Vermont with 146 career stops.
• The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in goals against average (0.00), save percentage (1.000) and shutout percentage (1.000), seventh in winning percentage (.917), eighth in goal differential (11), 11th in corner kicks (7.00), 15th in total assists (14), 23rd in total points (36) 27th in assists per game (2.33), 28th in total goals (11), 34th in shots per tilt (15.00), 38th in points per match (6.00) and 45th in scoring offense (1.83).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (6), goals against average (0.00), save percentage (1.000) and second in goalie minutes played (540.00). Roman is fifth in game-winning goals (2) and 42nd in total goals (3), Dobrijevic is 23rd in total assists (3) and 43rd in game-winners (1), while Borneo and Agunbiade are ranked 43rd in game-winners (1).
• Budler is rated second among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (29), third in goalie minutes played (5,493.85), seventh in goals against average (.868), 28th in saves (146) and in save percentage (.734) and 34th in games played (62). Additionally, Kamdem is 34th in games played (62) and Dobrijevic is 39th in games played (61).
• Through 62 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 146 saves en route to owning a 0.87 goals against average on the strength of 29 shutouts.
• Budler surpassed 5,000 career minutes in goal at VCU (Aug. 21) having been in net for 5,493:51.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 36-24-11 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dobrijevic is Akron's active career leaders in goals (9), assists (13), points (31), shots (67), shots on goal (27) and game-winners (3). Dobrijevic, Borneo, Kamdem, Roman, Agunbiade and redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) have scored nine, three, three, three, two and two goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 150-61-37 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 150 wins are ranked eighth 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 114 of the squad's last 211 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 50 of its last 99 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 96-18-16 record in its last 130 home matches.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 103-48-33 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, 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 opens BIG EAST Conference play welcoming UConn to FirstEnergy Stadium for a 7 p.m. tilt on Friday (Sept. 19).
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
MF/F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Western Michigan - 9/9/2025
Wednesday, September 10
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Post-Game Press Conference vs. Cleveland State - 9/1/2025
Tuesday, September 02
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer - Post-Game Press Conference vs Northern Kentucky - 8/24/25
Monday, August 25
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer - Season Preview with Student-Athletes - 8/19/25
Tuesday, August 19
