In-State Showdown Ahead as No. 11 Akron Visits No. 16 Ohio State

Friday, September 5

Columbus, Ohio

7:00 PM

University of Akron

Ohio State

Photo by: Tony Davis

In-State Showdown Ahead as No. 11 Akron Visits No. 16 Ohio State

September 04 | Men's Soccer

AKRON, Ohio – The 11th-rated University of Akron men's soccer team travels to Columbus to battle No. 16 Ohio State on Friday (Sept. 5). The 7 p.m. match with the Buckeyes will be broadcast on B1G+.

GAME INFO
Akron at Ohio State | Sept. 5 | 7 PM | Columbus, Ohio | Live Stats | B1G+

HEAD COACHES
Ohio State: Brian Maisonneuve (Indiana, 1995), Overall Record: 52-53-21 (Eighth Season), Record at OSU: 52-53-21 (Eighth Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 195-82-45 (16th Season), Record at Akron: 148-61-37 (13th Season)

SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State enters action on Friday (Sept. 5) at 2-1-0 on the campaign following a 2-1 victory past Temple on Sunday (Aug. 31).

The Buckeyes are led by senior Marko Borkovic and junior Will Arnesan, who each own team-high marks in goals (1), shots (10), shots on goal (4) and game-winners (1). Redshirt senior GK Max Trejo has recorded four saves and maintains a 0.67 goals against average.

Ohio State is ranked 37th in the NCAA in shots per game (15.33) and 39th in goals against average (.667). Individually, sophomore Nick Skubis is rated 38th in total assists (2) and 45th in assists per contest (0.67), while Arnesan is 21st in game-winning goals (1) and 41st in shots per match (3.33) and Trejo 45th in goals against average (0.67).

SERIES HISTORY
Akron and Ohio State are meeting for the 44thd time in program history with the Zips owning a 29-8-6 series advantage with Akron being unbeaten in 13 of the previous 15 games versus the Buckeyes. In the last encounter between the two schools, Ohio State earned a 2-0 victory past the Zips on Aug. 25, 2024, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

IN OUR LAST MEETING (AUG. 25, 2024 – AKRON, OHIO)
Akron dropped a 2-0 decision to in-state rival Ohio State in the squad's home opener at FirstEnergy Stadium on Aug. 25, 2024.

Ohio State garnered a lead its didn't relinquish in the game's third minute (2:41) when David Ajagbe found the back of the net off an assist from Anthony Samways.

The Buckeyes took a 2-0 lead into the half after Luciano Pechota connected on a goal at the 28:48 mark off an assist from Deylen Vellios.

Redshirt senior GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) led Akron with four saves. The Zips registered nine shots in the loss, three of them on goal.

AKRON VERSUS THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE
• The Zips are meeting a team from the Big Ten Conference for the first time this season and 210th time overall. Akron was 0-2-0 against the conference last season as the Zips dropped a 2-0 decision to Ohio State (Aug. 25) and 2-1 in overtime at Indiana (Nov. 24).
• Akron owns a 109-79-21 (.572) all-time record versus the current 18 members of the Big Ten Conference.
• The Zips have gone 26-13-7 against the league since 2012.
• In all, Akron is 43-18-10 (.676) versus teams from the Big Ten since 2007. During that time, the Zips have outscored the competition, 126-73.

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 POST 1-0 TRIUMPH PAST CLEVELAND STATE
The 16th-rated Akron men's soccer team garnered a goal in the 60th minute (59:45) from sophomore Jack Roman (Canfield, Ohio) to lift the Zips to a 1-0 victory past Cleveland State on Monday (Sept. 1) at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Following a tightly-contest battle in the opening half, Akron broke the scoreless contest Roman notched his first career goal, assisted by senior Stefan Dobrijevic (Uniontown, Ohio) and freshman Jose Pedro (Porto, Portugal).

The Zips posted a 15-2 advantage in shots on the evening, including 12-0 in the second half, while holding the Vikings without a shot on goal

Mitch Budler garnered his fourth consecutive shutout to open the campaign

AKRON BATTLES NO. 8 WEST VIRGINIA TO 0-0 DRAW
Akron played No. 8 West Virginia to a 0-0 draw on Aug. 29 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

In a battle of Top 20 teams, Akron and West Virginia waged a match fitting of the program's rankings as neither side was able to find the back of the net on the evening.

Akron totaled nine shots in the draw, three of them on goal. The Zips faced six West Virginia shots, one of them on goal. Mitch Budler led Akron with a key second-half save.

PAIVA NAMED BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
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 Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Paiva helped lead the defensive efforts for the Zips in a pair of shutouts versus No. 8 West Virginia and Cleveland State to extend the team's shutout streak to four to start the season.

Paiva and the Zips limited the Mountaineers, who came into the game averaging 20.0 shots and 12.0 shots, to only one shot on goal (six overall shots). Paiva then sparked Akron to holding the Vikings without a shot on goal (two overall shots) en route to a 1-0 victory.

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 257-74-53. The Zips are followed by Wake Forest, 246-81-51 (.718), Maryland, 237-84-58 (.702), North Carolina, 232-86-60 (.693) and Georgetown, 229-90-50 (.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.

ZIP TIDBITS
• Twenty of the 43 matches between Akron and Ohio State have resulted in a shutout. Since 2002, the Zips own a 6-4-0 mark in those contests, including a 4-1 ledger at home.
• Akron owns an 11-6-3 all-time record versus Ohio State in Columbus, having outscored the Buckeyes by 48-28 margin.
• Akron is unbeaten in 13 of its last 15 games against Ohio State en route to an 8-2-5 mark in those tilts.
• Eight of the last 13 showdowns between the Zips and Buckeyes have been decided by a goal or less.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in 28 all-time meetings with Ohio State.
• 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 senior Ashton Kamdem (West Chester, Ohio) were named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll (Aug. 25).
• The Zips are 0-0-1 versus ranked teams this season following a 0-0 draw versus No. 8 West Virginia (Aug. 29).
• The Zips recorded a season-best 20 shots at VCU (Aug. 24).
• Akron have posted double-digit shots in three of four tilts in 2025.
• Four different Akron reserves have accounted for the Zips' four tallies this season in sophomore Remi Agunbiade (Toronto, Ontario), Stefan Dobrijevic, Farrel 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 redshirt sophomore Caleb Borneo (Morgantown, W.Va.), Stefan Dobrijevic, Ngongang and Jack Roman in a 3-0 victory by the Zips over VCU.
• Five different Zips have scored a goal this season, including a pair of newcomers.
• Sixteen Zips have registered a shot this season, including seven newcomers.
• Earning starts in their Akron debut at VCU were juniors Freddy Kossehasse (McKinney, Texas) and Matthew Paiva, Jose Pedro and junior Jack Sullivan (Potomac, Md.)
• Budler collected his 100th career save against Butler (Sept. 20, 2024) and enters play versus Ohio State with 138 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), sixth in corner kicks (8.00), 19th in winning percentage (.875), 24th in goal differential (5), 33rd in total assists (8), 40th in assists per game (2.00) and 46th in shots per tilt (14.50).
• Individually, Budler is rated first in the NCAA in shutouts (4), goals against average (0.00), save percentage (1.000) and in goalie minutes played (360.00). Dobrijevic, Agunbiade and Roman are 21st in game-winning goals (1), while Dobrijevic is 38th in total assists (2).
• Budler is rated second among NCAA D1 active leaders in career shutouts (27), third in goalie minutes played (5,313.85), eighth in goals against average (.898), 31st in saves (138), 34th in games played (60) and 36th in save percentage (.723). Additionally, Kamdem is 34th in games played (60) and Dobrijevic is 44th in games played (59).
• Through 60 career games, Budler has been dominant in net for Akron having recorded 138 saves en route to owning a 0.898 goals against average on the strength of 27 shutouts.
• Budler surpassed 5,000 career minutes in goal at VCU (Aug. 21) having been in net for 5,313:51.
• Since the start of the 2015 campaign, the Zips own a 35-24-11 mark against ranked opponents.
• Dobrijevic is Akron's active career leaders in goals (8), assists (12), points (28), shots (63), shots on goal (25) and game-winners (3). Dobrijevic, Kamdem and redshirt sophomore Nathan Ferguson (Glen Carbon, Ill.) have scored eight, three and two goals, respectively.
• The Zips own a 148-61-37 mark over the last 13 seasons under Embick. Akron's 148 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 209 matches.
• Akron has held opponents scoreless in 49 of its last 98 home contests at FirstEnergy Stadium.
• Akron owns a 95-18-16 record in its last 129 home matches.
• Since Oct. 1, 2015, Akron owns a 101-48-33 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 (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 hosts Western Michigan in a 7 p.m. tilt on Tuesday (Sept. 9).