UA soccer team is heading to Spain

The University of Akron men's soccer team will be making a nine-day trip to Madrid, Spain, in March as part of its upcoming spring schedule.

UA coach Caleb Porter announced the trip and the remainder of the spring schedule, which features three home matches, on Wednesday.

UA will be guests at the City of Football complex, the Spanish national team training center from March 11-20. The Zips will train and play against reserve teams of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Getafe.

‘‘This is an opportunity of a lifetime for the Akron soccer program to spend our spring break in Spain, the top soccer country in the world right now,’’ Porter said. ‘‘To be able to immerse ourselves in the game as well as take in the Spanish culture will make for a unique experience unlike anything our team has done before.’’

A split-squad matchup against Michigan and Oakland in Pontiac, Mich., follows on March 26 for UA.

UA hosts Maryland at 2 p.m. April 2, Xavier at 2 p.m. April 16 and Valparaiso at 7:30 p.m. April 27. All three home matches will be full, 90-minute matches and are open to the public at no charge.

UA will take part in the Athletes in Action showcase in Xenia on April 10. The Zips will play against Wright State, Notre Dame and Cincinnati.

All away matches will be abbreviated in time.

The 2010 Zips finished with a record of 22-1-2. The 2010 team will feature four returning starters – Darren Mattocks, Chad Barson, David Meves and Scott Caldwell.

2011 Akron Spring Schedule
Mar. 11-20, Madrid Trip
Mar. 26 vs. Michigan, Pontiac, Mich., 1:30 p.m.
Mar. 26 at Oakland, Pontiac, Mich., 3:15 p.m.
Apr. 2 vs. Maryland, Akron, Ohio, 2 p.m.
Apr. 10 vs. Wright State, Xenia, Ohio, Noon
Apr. 10 vs. Notre Dame, Xenia, Ohio, 2 p.m.
Apr. 10 vs. Cincinnati, Xenia, Ohio, 3 p.m.
Apr. 16 vs. Xavier, Akron, Ohio, 2 p.m.
Apr. 27 vs. Valparaiso, Akron, Ohio, 7:30 p.m.