SANTA BARBERA, CALIF.: Even with what the University of Akron thought was the national championship-winning goal from sophomore Scott Caldwell in hand, the Zips were forced to survive a frenzied final minute.
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MARK J. TERRILL - ASSOCIATED PRESS
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.: A breakthrough for the University of Akron brought a celebration unlike any other. After securing Akron's first national team championship in a current sport with a 1-0 victory over Louisville Sunday in the Division I men's soccer final, the Zips headed for the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean.
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SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.: Akron sophomore defender Zarek Valentin checked his cell phone more than usual this season, but he was looking for inspiration, not conversation. The phone's background photo was a shot of the national championship ring his brother Julian earned playing soccer for Wake Forest in 2007.
Style matters to the University of Akron men's soccer team. Don't take Zips coach Caleb Porter wrong. A victory will be foremost in his mind Friday against the University of Michigan in a national semifinal in Santa Barbara, Calif.
PHIL MASTURZO - AKRON BEACON JOURNAL
The University of Akron men's soccer team gets to rid itself of the cold weather and snowflakes that continue to fall in Northeast Ohio this week.
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University of Akron men's soccer fans are accustomed to hearing the voice of Perry Kitchen at Lee Jackson Soccer Field. Kitchen, a freshman midfielder, is quite chatty during matches, shouting out instructions to his teammates about alignment and spacing on the pitch.
Snow flurries and cold temperatures sound like a perfect pair to give the University of Akron an advantage today in its home soccer match against the University of California. Zips leading scorer Darren Mattocks isn't so sure. Mattocks, a Portmore, Jamaica, native, saw snow for the first time in his life this week.
Caleb Porter will face his alma mater today. Though he is grateful and embraces his past with the Indiana University men's soccer team, his primary focus is on the present. Porter, 35, carries with him a high level of respect and appreciation to former legendary IU coach Jerry Yeagley and his son Todd Yeagley, who is in his first year as Hoosiers coach.
Kofi Sarkodie is a charmer with a dazzling smile and a gift of gab, a charismatic leader on the University of Akron men's soccer team. But would you expect any less from an African prince? The son of a princess and grandson of a queen from the village of Kumasi, Ghana, Sarkodie laughs about the jokes he's heard and his ''Prince'' nickname. He might try to avoid another trip to Burger King, where his teammates pilfered a cardboard crown for him.
Both are builders and both are dreamers, although Ken Lolla might lean more toward the former and Caleb Porter more toward the latter. The goal that consumes them feels especially tangible today as the two coaches begin pursuit of their schools' first NCAA Division I men's soccer championship.
PAUL TOPLE - AKRON BEACON JOURNAL
The weather conditions surrounding the University of Akron campus Sunday were not pretty, with snow and below freezing temperatures greeting people that ventured outdoors.
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PAUL TOPLE - AKRON BEACON JOURNAL
There are two banners hanging in front of the grandstand at Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field. The banners say ''THIS IS AKRON'' and are located just outside the home and visiting team rooms.
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Kofi Sarkodie was oblivious to falling snowflakes and below-freezing temperatures as he stood 12 yards from the goal with a chance to be a hero.
The east end of Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field seems to be a comfort zone for the University of Akron men's soccer team.
Order was successfully restored in the University of Akron men's soccer universe Friday at Lee Jackson Field.
There was no doubt who the took the role of aggressor Friday night in college soccer's matchup of the top two men's teams in the nation.
ED SUBA JR. - AKRON BEACON JOURNAL
The tradition from the old Lee Jackson Field carried over to the new and improved facility Friday night. Three first-half goals and another stingy defensive performance allowed the No. 1 ranked University of Akron men's soccer team to defeat Cal State Northridge 3-0 before a capacity crowd of 4,200 at the home opener in the renovated on-campus venue.
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