[gazip11]

of the 3 losses and 4 ties we are currenly at right now, only 1 of those games (Mich St), which resulted in a loss, was decided in regulation.

what that tells me right there is that this team is not fully capable of finishing games when its most decisive. they seem to lack the all-out scoring ability we've had in years past and centralize around darren, which makes it much easier for defenses to coordinate. as others have mentioned and I have been calling for since the UCSB loss, someone desperately needs to step up to the plate and attack with darren, not wait and attack THROUGH darren.

the upseting part to me is knowing those 6 games that were decided outside of regulation were all games in which we had multiple chances to put away the other team and failed. this has been a repeating theme this year and it bothers me to know that we STILL don't have it figured out. I thought the UCSB loss was going to shake the team, but I was wrong.

I thought Holmes was supposed to provide that additional option. He was supposed to be a scoring machine. What's happened to him?

For Luke to score big goals he needs to be placed central in the area between Scott and Darren, Luke has been used left right and a little in midfield but NEVER in the area of the field were he can cause maximum damage, Darren needs help!

[bisbee]

I hope we're right about getting an at-large bid. If I remember correctly, there are 22 or 24 automatic qualifiers, conference tournament winners, who get in regardless of RPI. So, saying that the top 40 in RPI get in isn't correct. Some of those AQ teams will have the "RPI credentials" as well as the AQ, others will not.

The teams that win their respective conference tournaments almost always have RPIs in the top 40. As it usually works out the "bubble" teams have RPIs around 40-45. I cannot imagine that the Western Michigan loss would drop us from #21 to an RPI much below#30. Remember it counts as a tie for RPI purposes (minus the penalty for a home tie vs a low RPI opponent). Also a bunch of the teams we are competing with for an at large bid had losses yesterday (albeit to teams with much higher RPIs than West Mich). Since the at large bid games are assigned on a geographical basis an Indiana -Akron match up is a possibility. It would be the first time Porter will have played against his former team.

[bisbee]

of the 3 losses and 4 ties we are currenly at right now, only 1 of those games (Mich St), which resulted in a loss, was decided in regulation.

what that tells me right there is that this team is not fully capable of finishing games when its most decisive. they seem to lack the all-out scoring ability we've had in years past and centralize around darren, which makes it much easier for defenses to coordinate. as others have mentioned and I have been calling for since the UCSB loss, someone desperately needs to step up to the plate and attack with darren, not wait and attack THROUGH darren.

the upseting part to me is knowing those 6 games that were decided outside of regulation were all games in which we had multiple chances to put away the other team and failed. this has been a repeating theme this year and it bothers me to know that we STILL don't have it figured out. I thought the UCSB loss was going to shake the team, but I was wrong.

NCAA stats of games played through Nov 8 rank the Zips in the Top ten in both goals scored per game and Least goals allowed per game. The offense has been there and so has the defense. What has not been there has been finishing in the close games as you have pointed out. Would have been great to have been able to'save" some of the goals from the blow out games for the close ones

[GoZips88]

It would be the first time Porter will have played against his former team.

We played and beat Indiana at home last year 2-1 in the third round of the College Cup.

[Zip_ME87]

It would be the first time Porter will have played against his former team.

We played and beat Indiana at home last year 2-1 in the third round of the College Cup.

The Zips also played and defeated Indiana 2 years ago (2009) at home on a Friday night...the first year Infocision Stadium opened because we played Indiana in Football the next day.

[trimmy10]

It would be the first time Porter will have played against his former team.

We played and beat Indiana at home last year 2-1 in the third round of the College Cup.

I think we've played them twice during Porter's tenure and won both times. Though, our record in the all-time series is very much one-sided and not in our favor. Similar in magnitude to OSU's against us. I'd love to draw Northwestern. Last time I checked CollegeSoccerNews, NW was our projection.

[zip37]

At half time I thaught we were not finishing, dominating but not finishing, so I was almost sure we would lose.

[zip37]

At half time I thaught we were not finishing, dominating but not finishing, so I was almost sure we would lose.

[bisbee]

It would be the first time Porter will have played against his former team.

We played and beat Indiana at home last year 2-1 in the third round of the College Cup.

Goes to show what a newbie knows

[Z.I.P.]

It would be the first time Porter will have played against his former team.

We played and beat Indiana at home last year 2-1 in the third round of the College Cup.

Goes to show what a newbie knows

Biz, because of the circumstances of our coach's background, and the caliber of the teams, I consider Indiana Akron's' biggest rival. There's a team from down in Suth'n Ohi'a that some folks place in that slot, but they would have to have a shot at beating us before I would even consider them.

We once had a football rival like that... Sorry for bringing that up.

[Zip_ME87]

It would be the first time Porter will have played against his former team.

We played and beat Indiana at home last year 2-1 in the third round of the College Cup.

Goes to show what a newbie knows

bisbee, since you are clearly among those of us who still believe, a little additional history... in 1986, an unseeded Akron Zips Mens Soccer Team went all the way to the College Cup in Tacoma, Washington and brought home the runner up trophy.

GO ZIPS!

[dogzips11]

I agree....Holmes needs to be allowed to express himself and play in the hole. If he is allowed to do this he will destroy teams....!

[Ando]

I tend to agree that in terms of creating, we actually played pretty well against WMU, but I'd be a little more concerned than Porter was in his post game interview with the finishing. I mean, the misses by Caldwell and Schmitt were just appalling. Those were complete sitters, not to mention the probably half-dozen or so half chances we had as well - The post-game highlights are a reel of horrors in terms of the number of misses

Other than not putting the ball into the back of the net, I thought Darren played really well. I'm not going to clamor for him to get a strike partner, because I definitely think he can operate as a lone center forward; in fact, it's probably important to remember that this is soccer at a developmental level and playing as a target man instead of just a poacher has forced Darren to add things to his game that just weren't there last year. For him, that's more important than getting results - And he was the one who put Tommy and Scotty in on what should have both been goals, hands down.

So while I was calling for a change for to a 442 about halfway through the season, I don't want that now because (1) 442 doesn't really lend itself toward possession soccer in and of itself and the players aren't used to playing with each other in that shape, and (2) it's probably better for Darren (who, let's be honest, is above and away the player on this team with the highest ceiling) in the long run, even if he's best going back to the 'Welbeck role' at the next level and (3), I don't think we have the same quality candidates that we had last year to play wide midfield positions

[fknbuflobo]

I tend to agree that in terms of creating, we actually played pretty well against WMU, but I'd be a little more concerned than Porter was in his post game interview with the finishing. I mean, the misses by Caldwell and Schmitt were just appalling. Those were complete sitters, not to mention the probably half-dozen or so half chances we had as well - The post-game highlights are a reel of horrors in terms of the number of misses

Other than not putting the ball into the back of the net, I thought Darren played really well. I'm not going to clamor for him to get a strike partner, because I definitely think he can operate as a lone center forward; in fact, it's probably important to remember that this is soccer at a developmental level and playing as a target man instead of just a poacher has forced Darren to add things to his game that just weren't there last year. For him, that's more important than getting results - And he was the one who put Tommy and Scotty in on what should have both been goals, hands down.

So while I was calling for a change for to a 442 about halfway through the season, I don't want that now because (1) 442 doesn't really lend itself toward possession soccer in and of itself and the players aren't used to playing with each other in that shape, and (2) it's probably better for Darren (who, let's be honest, is above and away the player on this team with the highest ceiling) in the long run, even if he's best going back to the 'Welbeck role' at the next level and (3), I don't think we have the same quality candidates that we had last year to play wide midfield positions

I agree to your points, with a few caveats regarding Mattocks.

While he has certainly grown as a player, it is my opinion that Mattocks could use another year at Akron before turning professional. His passing has improved, but it still is not at the level of an all-purpose Forward. (Yes, he should have had two assists vs. WMU.) An inveterate poacher, Mattocks is not yet physically strong enough to be a first rate target/post-up man. Nagbe was a consummate target man during the last two seasons, but he has found the going rough in the MLS where there are truly strong players. The transition from collegiate soccer to the pros is significant. A strong boy does not equal a strong man. Mattocks is really not physically strong even in comparison to collegiate players. Another year at Akron will allow him to fill out his frame, gain 5-10 pounds.

Judging by the progress made this year, Mattocks could easily be the first player selected in the 2013 draft. It would only make sense for Mattocks to turn professional this year if Generation Adidas came a calling. That deal is simply too good to pass up. Porter will provide valuable guidance and advice. I hope Darren Mattocks remains a Zip for another year.