Akron Zips men's soccer

History

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. 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.

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.

After the 2022 season, the MAC, whose men's soccer league had been decimated by conference realignment earlier in the decade, dropped that sport. Akron moved men's soccer to the Big East Conference, making it the only one of the four full MAC members with men's soccer teams that did not move that sport to the Missouri Valley Conference.

Colors and badge

The team uses the school colors of blue and gold.

Stadium

Lee Jackson Field was dedicated on October 22, 1966. Along with the soccer venue, the 23 acre 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.

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.

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.

Supporters

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.

Notable alumni

• USA Niko De Vera (2014–2017) – Currently with Portland Timbers
• USA Conrad Earnest
• USA George Nanchoff (1973–1976) – Retired
• USA Louis Nanchoff (1974–1977) – Retired
• ENG Benny Dargle (1975–1977) – Retired
• ENG Shaun Pendleton (1982–1985) – Retired
• CAN Roderick Scott (1985–88) – Retired
• NZL Cameron Knowles (2001–04) – Retired
• USA Devon McKenney (2003–2007)
• BIH Siniša Ubiparipović (2004–2006) – Retired
• USA Evan Bush (2005–2008) – Currently with Columbus Crew
• USA Justin Sadler (2005)
• USA Ben Zemanski (2006–2009)
• DRC Steve Zakuani (2006–2007) – Retired
• USA Chris Korb (2007–2010)
• USA Michael Nanchoff (2007–2010) – Retired
• USA Blair Gavin (2007–2009) – Retired
• USA Teal Bunbury (2008–2009) – Currently with Nashville SC
• USA Darlington Nagbe (2008–2010) – Currently with Columbus Crew
• THA Anthony Ampaipitakwong (2007–2010) – Currently with Bangkok United
• USA Kofi Sarkodie (2008–2010)
• USA Zarek Valentin (2009–2010) – Currently with the Houston Dynamo
• USA Scott Caldwell (2009–2012) – Currently with the Real Salt Lake
• USA Chad Barson (2009–2012) – Retired
• JAM Darren Mattocks (2010–2011) – Retired
• USA Perry Kitchen (2010) – Currently with LA Galaxy
• USA DeAndre Yedlin (2011–2012) – Currently with FC Cincinnati
• USA Aodhan Quinn (2011–2013) – Currently with Phoenix Rising
• USA Wil Trapp (2011–2012) – Currently with Minnesota United FC
• USA Dillon Serna (2012) – Currently with the Colorado Rapids
• USA Saad Abdul-Salaam (2012–2014) – Currently with Seattle Sounders FC
• CAN Richie Laryea (2014–2015) – Currently with Toronto FC
• USA Adam Najem (2013–2016) – Currently with Bhayangkara
• USA Jonathan Lewis (2016) – Currently with Colorado Rapids
• POR João Moutinho (2018) – 2018 MLS Superdraft First-Overall Draft Pick for Los Angeles FC
• SOM Abdi Mohamed (2018) - Currently with New Mexico United

Previous head coaches

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)

Honours

• NCAA Division I 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

Records

• 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

References

References

1. (November 16, 2022). "BIG EAST Adds Akron For Men’s Soccer". Big East Conference.
2. (September 2019). "Program Timeline". [[University of Akron]].
3. (November 11, 2022). "MAC to Suspend Sponsoring Men’s Soccer Following 2022 Season". Mid-American Conference.
4. (November 11, 2022). "Missouri Valley Conference To Expand in Men's Soccer for 2023". Missouri Valley Conference.
5. "The University of Akron : Color".
6. (September 2019). "Home Field Advantage". 2009 University of Akron Men's Soccer Media Guide.
7. (May 2019). ["Men's Soccer Announces 2011 Fall Schedule"](http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=47176&SPID=4334&DB_OEM_ID=10800&ATCLID=205127144 }}{{Dead link). GoZips.com.
8. "FirstEnergy Stadium–Cub Cadet Field is new name for soccer venue : UA News".
9. Wheeler, Jeff. (2007-11-20). "'Rowdie' for UA sports". College Publisher.
10. Anderson, Jason. (2018-12-11). "FC Cincinnati selects Darren Mattocks in 2018 MLS Expansion Draft".
11. "Aodhan Quinn".
12. (26 February 2019). "seattle-sounders-sign-saad-abdul-salaam-waive-jordan-mccrary".
13. (21 March 2019). "toronto-fc-sign-richie-laryea-former-first-round-superdraft-pick".
14. (2019-02-07). "USL notes: Memphis 901 adds Adam Najem".
15. (8 May 2019). "colorado-rapids-acquire-usmnt-winger-jonathan-lewis-nycfc".