Zip_ME87

You make it sound as if the Zips were a complete disaster last night. LOL Not even close. They played a good game. Just needed that bit extra to finish...perhaps fresher legs, more experience. You watched a different game than I did if you saw the team playing either expecting to get a great chance or for Army to make a mistake and give us one. For most of the game, the Zips were pressing and attacking while not giving up much the other way. "I'm in my mid-40s and still play multiple 90 minute games in a week at a high level"...curious, against whom?

Often the Zips wear teams down. However, it's not a stretch to believe that Army cadets are well-conditioned. Especially tough to wear them down when they used 6 subs for a total of 177 minutes. The Zips, on the other hand, used 5 subs for 68 minutes. Our guys were attacking to the end, but given 2 games in 4 days and 3 games in 8 days, I trust that our deep bench can lighten the load a bit more.

Watching it occur live in front of me, I didn't think it was even a foul, but the Dayton player sold it, and the ref was behind the play. When the ref went to VAR for possible red, I thought he would rescind the yellow, which he upheld (too prideful to admit his mistake). Looking at it again on ESPN+ On Demand, it should not have even been a foul. GREAT sliding tackle. I'll reiterate your statement ... Keep up the strong work, Matthew! That was beautiful!!

Apparently so. Over the past weekend, I noticed the link on ESPN+ for Akron v Dayton Men's Soccer when specifically searching soccer.

2026 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Preseason Preview with Coach Embick - 08.17.2026

Thanks.

Edit: https://gozips.com/news/2026/8/11/mens-soccer-akron-selected-to-win-big-east-midwest-division-agunbiade-and-dreas-earn-preseason-accolades

Edit: https://gozips.com/news/2026/8/11/mens-soccer-akron-selected-to-win-big-east-midwest-division-agunbiade-and-dreas-earn-preseason-accolades

Hoping we can use this thread throughout the season to list all of the polls and RPI updates. Zips at #12 in the United Soccer Coaches Pre-Season Poll. https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/college-rankings/ncaa-di-men/

AGREED

Bad news...Venezuela U21 won 3-2 yesterday. So the Dominican Republic U21 did not advance to the semifinals. Great news...Thomas O'Rourke will be returning to Akron soon...hopefully in time to be available for the August 8th exhibition match. Go Zips!!!

will include in first post as well as here.

Those kits are SICK!!!

Roster is updated on GoZips.com. https://gozips.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster

New addition, Benjamin Atiabou (D), on roster on GoZips.com.

Another goal for Stefan Dobrijevic who has “had himself a summer of scoring” 😊

Dominican Republic U21 1-1 draw with Mexico U21. Thomas O'Rourke got 30+ minutes in the 2nd half. DR and Mexico are tied for group lead with 4 pts each. Venezuela has 3 pts. Guatemala has 0 pts. DR can advance with a draw or win v Venezuela Monday night (tonight) at 7 pm. Unfortunately, Vermont Green won the USL2 Championship 2-1 on an own goal and a pk caused by the Flint GK. Matthew Paiva scored the Flint City goal on a header.

Nice service / assist from Wil Trapp. (14th MLS season.)

4 Zips players will be in action tonight. 7 pm EDT Thomas O'Rourke with the Dominican Republic U21 MNT v Mexico U21 MNT on YouTube (Centro Caribe Sports Channel) 7:30 pm EDT Matthew Paiva, Jack Roman, and Remi Agunbiade with the Flint City Bucks v Vermont Green for the USL2 2026 Championship on SportsEngine Play (https://sportsengineplay.com/leagues/USL-League-Two-205499?viewType=list) https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/news_article/show/1364426

For others who may be interested in watching Zips Men's Soccer's midfielder Thomas O'Rourke with the Dominican Republic U21 MNT, the remaining group stage games are as follows (Group A): Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 7:00 pm EDT v Mexico U21 Monday, August 3, 2026 at 7 pm EDT v Venezuela U21 The matches are streamed free on YouTube, and can be found be searching “Centro Caribe Sports Channel”. I think the stream became available last night ~5 minutes before kickoff. As I read the schedule (https://jcc2026.org/en/juegos/calendarios, select August and Football on the Sport pulldown), the top 2 teams from each group will play in the semifinals on Wednesday, August 5th (3 pm and 7 pm EDT) with the 3rd place and final games on Friday, August 7th (3 pm and 7 pm EDT).