Akron Zips men's soccer

In 1954, an Oberlin College transfer named Stu Parry started the soccer team at Akron. That year, they finished the season with two wins and one tie. The next year, men's soccer was officially offered by the university and after starting the season with two losses, they ended with a 2–4–1 record, with the team's first win coming against rival Kent State.

Parry eventually led the team to nine Ohio College Soccer Association titles as well as six NCAA playoff appearances.[1] In 1986, the men's soccer team gained the most exposure in the NCAA tournament, finishing second to Duke by a score of 1–0. A Duke player, Ken Lolla, took over the program in 1993 and then became Akron's all-time winningest coach, with a record of 160–68–25. He also led the team to their first No. 1 ranking, which was also the first ever MAC team in any sport to be ranked No. 1.[1]

In 2006, Caleb Porter became head coach, leading the team to first-place finishes in the conference every year from 2007 to 2012, an appearance in the final of the national championship (the College Cup) in 2009, and a national championship in 2010.

Jared Embick succeeded Porter as head coach after the 2012 season. The team has finished first in the conference every year since, and reached the national semi-final in 2015.

The team uses the school colors of blue and gold.[2]

Lee Jackson Field was dedicated on October 22, 1966. Along with the soccer venue, the 23-acre (93,000 m²) complex also includes fields for the school's baseball, softball, and track and field competition areas along with a practice field for the football team. The fields are located towards the southeast corner of the University of Akron campus, just west of InfoCision Stadium.

Other expansions and upgrades for the stadium have included a grandstand with seating capacity of 2,200, berm seating around the stadium with a capacity of 2,600, and lighting which meets national television specifications.[3]

Announced in March 2011 was a partnership between The University of Akron and Cub Cadet, the premier brand of Cleveland-based MTD Products, which will rename the Zips' new, state-of-the-art grass soccer field Cub Cadet Field.[4]

In June 2011, the field was renamed FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet field after Cub Cadet as well as First Energy plans were announced to build 300 new bleacher seats, permanent restrooms, and a concession stand along with the renaming.[5]

The AK-ROWDIES are a student organization which cheer on sports teams in various sports at the university. The ROWDIES were formed as an official student organization in 2005. During the soccer games, they can be found behind the goal area, heckling the opponent's goalie.[6]

As of March 27, 2017[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  GER Ben Lundt 2 MF  USA Jackson Crawford 3 DF  USA Nick Hinds 4 DF  USA Niko de Vera 5 DF  USA Danilo Radjen 7 FW  ENG Sam Gainford 9 FW  NZL Stuart Holthusen 12 MF  CAN Reggie Laryea 13 MF  ESP Pau Belana 14 FW  CAN Marcel Zajac 15 FW  ERI Ezana Kahsay 16 MF  MAS Wan Kuzri

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 DF  USA Nate Shultz 19 MF  USA Tyler Sanda 20 DF  USA Brad Ruhaak 21 MF  USA Skye Harter 23 DF  CMR Barth-Luther Mouafo 26 MF  POR Manuel Cordeiro 27 MF  USA Alex Mapp 28 GK  USA Nick Costa 29 MF  BRA Dener Dos Santos 30 GK  USA Tor Saunders 31 MF  USA Joe Korb

Coaching staff

2016–2017 Coaching Staff[8]

Position	Staff
Head Coach	Jared Embick
Assistant Coaches	T.J. Kolba, Leo Chappel
Goalkeepers Coach	Ger Coppinger

• Niko De Vera (2014-2017) - Currently with Portland Timbers
• Conrad Earnest
• George Nanchoff (1973–1976) – Retired
• Louis Nanchoff (1974–1977) – Retired
• Benny Dargle (1975–1977) – Retired
• Shaun Pendleton (1982–1985) – Retired
• Roderick Scott (1985–88) – Retired
• Cameron Knowles (2001–04) – Retired
• Devon McKenney (2003–2007)
• Siniša Ubiparipović (2004–2006) – Retired
• Evan Bush (2005–2008) – Currently with Columbus Crew SC
• Justin Sadler (2005)
• Ben Zemanski (2006–2009)
• Steve Zakuani (2006–2007) – Retired
• Chris Korb (2007–2010)
• Michael Nanchoff (2007–2010) – Retired
• Blair Gavin (2007–2009) – Retired
• Teal Bunbury (2008–2009) – Currently with New England Revolution
• Darlington Nagbe (2008–2010) – Currently with Columbus Crew SC
• Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2007–2010) – Currently with Bangkok United
• Kofi Sarkodie (2008–2010)
• Zarek Valentin (2009–2010)- Currently with the Portland Timbers
• Scott Caldwell (2009–2012) – Currently with the New England Revolution
• Chad Barson (2009–2012) – Retired
• Darren Mattocks (2010–2011) – Currently with FC Cincinnati[9]
• Perry Kitchen (2010) – Currently with LA Galaxy
• DeAndre Yedlin (2011–2012) – Currently with Newcastle United
• Wil Trapp (2011–2012) – Currently with Inter Miami
• Dillon Serna (2012) – Currently with the Colorado Rapids
• Saad Abdul-Salaam (2012–2014) – Currently with Seattle Sounders[10]
• Richie Laryea (2014–2015) – Currently with Toronto FC[11]
• Adam Najem (2013–2016) – Currently with Memphis 901[12]
• Jonathan Lewis (2016) – Currently with Colorado Rapids[13]
• João Moutinho (2018) - 2018 MLS Superdraft First-Overall Draft Pick for Los Angeles FC

Listed according to when they became head coach for Akron (year in parentheses):

• 1950s–1960s: Stu Parry (1955)
• 1970s–1980s: Bill Killen (1970), Robert Dowdy (1974), Steve Parker (1982)
• 1990s–2000s (decade): Ken Lolla (1993), Caleb Porter (2006)

• NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship:
  • Winners (1): 2010
  • Runners-up (3): 1986, 2009, 2018
• Mid-American Conference Tournament:
  • Winners (15): 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
  • Runners-up (4): 1995, 1997, 2001, 2006
• Mid-American Conference Regular Season:
  • Winners (17): 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
  • Runners-up (5): 1994, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004
• Ohio College Soccer Association:
  • Winners (19): 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987
• Mid-Continent Conference Regular Season:
  • Winners (1): 1991

• Most Goals in a game: 14 (12–2) vs. Cleveland State, September 9, 2005
• Most Goals in a half: 8 vs. Green Bay, 1986
• Lee Jackson Field attendance: 4,744 vs. Tulsa, September 22, 2010
• FirstEnergy Stadium–Cub Cadet Field attendance: 5,819 vs. Ohio State, September 28, 2011

• Akron Zips football
• Akron Zips men's basketball
• Collegiate soccer
• 2010 Akron Zips men's soccer team

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akron Zips men's soccer.

• Official website