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Men's team is just five games away from the national championship
By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008
The University of Akron men's soccer team enters today just five games away from a national championship title.
UA was in a similar position last year in the NCAA Tournament, yet the Zips lost a second-round match 1-0 in double overtime to South Florida.
Zips coach Caleb Porter and his players are expecting a positive result from the second-round match tonight when UA (16-1-4) hosts Ohio State (9-8-3) at Lee Jackson Field. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
''We had hoped to get into the tournament in a very strong position, and I think we have accomplished that,'' Porter said. ''Now, our season No. 2 begins and we want to make a run at our ultimate goal.
''I think we are battle-tested and ready. Our regular season prepared us for the tournament, and it also prepared us to face anybody.''
OSU and host Oakland (Mich.) played to a 0-0 tie after two overtimes last Saturday. The Buckeyes advanced after a 4-3 decision in the penalty kick shootout, despite playing without six starters that were suspended by coach John Bluem for a violation of team rules.
''We're not really trying to read too much into the suspensions at this point,'' Porter said. ''We are planning on playing them at full strength.''
OSU, the 2007 national runner-up to champion Wake Forest, started five freshmen in the Oakland match. Seniors Danny Irizarry and Tim Gabel were among the suspended players, and their status for the game is to be determined at game time.
Irizarry is the Buckeyes' top goal scorer with six, and Gabel is a vital defender. Juniors Andrew Magill and Doug Verhoff, sophomores Konrad Warzycha and Julian Sisman and freshman Joshua Breto are key OSU players that played at Oakland.
''They made a great run in the tournament last year,'' Porter said. ''They are a gritty team that
certainly doesn't need any additional motivation to play Akron. We know each other very well and it will come down to who executes better.''
UA defeated host OSU 4-3 in a regular-season match Nov. 7.
''This is the time of year where really, records go out the door,'' Porter said. ''It comes down to who performs better for 90 minutes, who gets the job done and who finds a way to win. We have proven throughout the course of the season that we know how to win.''
Sophomore forward Steve Zakuani paces the UA offense with 20 goals and seven assists. Zakuani leads the nation in goals (20) and points (47). Senior Matt Tutich and junior Ben Zemanski (CVCA) have also been vital to the Zips offense along with sophomores Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Blair Gavin and freshmen Teal Bunbury and Darlington Nagbe.
UA fifth-year senior goal keeper Evan Bush has been solid all season behind a defense that consists of sophomore Chris Korb, freshman Kofi Sarkodie and redshirt freshmen Matt Dagilis (Firestone) and Aaron Henkle. The Zips have shut out 13 opponents this season.
''I have so much confidence in this team and what we can accomplish,'' Porter said. ''We have done all we can do throughout the regular season to prepare ourselves for this. Now we are just looking forward to making our run at the national championship.''
The weather forecasts for tonight indicate a strong chance for snow and temperatures around freezing. While the cold temperatures and snow make things uncomfortable, the Zips have grown accustomed to it.
''The conditions, they were perfect,'' Bush said with a smile after the Zips' 1-0 win amid snow in double overtime over visiting Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game Nov. 16. ''They didn't suit our style very well, but we came out and dealt with them. In these conditions and this type of game it is more of a mental type of thing where you need to stay tuned in at all times.''
The University of Akron men's soccer team enters today just five games away from a national championship title.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Uniontown, OH
Posted 06:46 AM, 11/25/2008
If you're willing to brave the cold and snow, you have to see these young men play. What a treat. Go Zips!
Posted 10:55 AM, 11/25/2008
ill be there along with at least 700 students i know that for sure. If you are an Akron Alum and are not at this game, you should be ashamed, it's going to be real fun.
