Akron Zips
Mid-American Conference
Akron has continued to stay towards the top of the rankings since winning the championship in 2010 and they don’t show any signs of slowing down, at least they didn’t this season. Aside from a bog in September which contributed to their only loss to Notre Dame, Akron climbed the ladder to the number 1 spot.
2012 Record: 17-1-2, 7-0-0
Coach: Caleb Porter
Good Results: 9/7 vs Indiana (1-0), 10/10 at Penn State (2-0), 10/20 West Virginia (2-1)
Bad Results: 8/31 at Creighton (1-1), 9/9 at Notre Dame (1-3), 9/14 St. John’s (0-0)
Why They Can Surprise:
Akron’s offense wasn’t necessarily a surprise with Scott Caldwell and Reinaldo Brenes tag teaming in the midfielder spots and scoring a combined 19 goals between them. It’s hard for teams like Akron to continue to surprise in the postseason, but they are like magicians, always hiding something behind their back. With the NCAA tournament on the horizon and new opponents to face, they may be an underdog in a match even after being ranked number one or two for much of the regular season. Zip fans expected a great regular season but no one can predict how things will go in the postseason. Keeper David Meves, with 48 saves and only 6 goals allowed, along with the defense, can make that trip a success and continue the surprise all the way south to Alabama.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Not since that slow week in September, when the Zips lost to Notre Dame followed by a tie to St. John’s, has Akron had anything that would resemble an upset. Akron is yet another team that has little chance to disappoint anyone unless, of course, they suffer early round knockouts in the NCAA tournaments. But that is unlikely as well, given that they are one of the top teams in the nation. The NCAA tournament will pose a threat matching Akron against teams from other conferences that can send Akron home with their heads hung low.
Key Strikers:
Alfred Koroma, Freshman, 3 goals, 2 assists
Key Midfielders:
Scott Caldwell, Senior, 9 goals, 10 assists
Reinaldo Brenes, Junior, 10 goals, 2 assists
Eric Stevenson, Junior, 6 goals, 5 assists
Dillon Serna, Freshman, 2 goals, 8 assists
Aodhan Quinn, Junior, 4 goals, 2 assists
Will Trapp, Sophomore, 1 goal, 2 assists
Key Defenders:
DeAndre Yedlin, Sophomore, 0 goals, 6 assists
Chad Barson, Senior, 2 goals, 0 assists
Bryan Gallego, Sophomore, 1 goal, 1 assist
Key Goalkeepers:
David Meves, Senior, 0.29 goals against average, .889 save percentage, 16 shutouts
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 2.17 (12th in nation, 1st in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 0.33 (2, 1)
Shutout Percentage: 0.78 (1, 1)
Save Percentage: 0.889 (3, 1)
2013 MLS Draft Prospects:
#8 Scott Caldwell
#19 Aodhan Quinn
#32 Bryan Gallego
#33 DeAndre Yedlin
#38 Alfredo Koroma
#45 Will Trapp
#51 Andrew Souders
See All Prospects
Recent Postseason Appearances:
Akron 2011 First Round Defeated Northwestern
Akron 2011 Second Round Defeated SMU
Akron 2011 Third Round Lost to Charlotte
Akron 2010 Second Round Defeated West Virginia
Akron 2010 Third Round Defeated Indiana
Akron 2010 Quarterfinals Defeated California
Akron 2010 National Semifinals Defeated Michigan
Akron 2010 National Finals Defeated Louisville
Akron 2009 Second Round Defeated South Florida
Akron 2009 Third Round Defeated Stanford
Akron 2009 Quarterfinals Defeated Tulsa
Akron 2009 National Semifinals Defeated North Carolina
Akron 2009 National Finals Lost to Virginia
Akron 2008 Second Round Defeated Ohio State
Akron 2008 Third Round Lost to Northwestern
Akron 2007 Second Round Lost to South Florida
Akron 2005 Second Round Defeated West Virginia
Akron 2005 Third Round Defeated Connecticut
Akron 2005 Quarterfinals Lost to Maryland
Akron 2004 First Round Lost to Michigan
Akron 2003 Second Round Defeated Rutgers
Akron 2003 Third Round Lost to Maryland
*all team stats through 11/4
See All Men’s Soccer Postseason Capsules
