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I finally took a look at the detailed box score and was surprised by what I saw. I can't remember the last time the Zips dominated special teams play like they did against the Flashes. I'm talking kicking, kick returning, punt returning (although punting was pretty much a wash). I believe that if the Zips performed like that in every game odds are they would win more games than they lose. Go special teams.

I've got to agree with you that the Zip boosters have not gotten better as the season progressed. It cannot all be blamed on the loss of Malik and Dyson. We have too much talent to be performing like this. Perhaps there is another run left in them if they get in the playoffs, but if they don't make it I won't be surprised. I hope they get in and a fire is lit in the team.

Credit to Coach Embick....for doing an interview....after a frustrating loss https://www.instagram.com/p/CzQVqWPstL4/

Yep. If Undercuffler's coming out party means doing what he did last Wednesday I'm sure we could all roll with it. I'll bet the coaches could also. Lets see if Moorehead has some more patience. If he tries to throw it all over the field against Miami it could be ugly.

Akron had two great scoring chances and could not finish on either in the 2nd half. Have to finish. The last couple of years Akron has faded at the end of the season. We lost the last 2 NCAA games and now we lose in our first big east playoff. Not sure why this team has been playing so poorly at the end of the season.

was not a straight red card. It was Ashton's 2nd yellow card. In my humble opinion, it was a garbage call. chubby ref has been awful all night. Akron player got mugged at the top of the box (no foul was called) and that led to Xavier goal chubby ref called few fouls in first half. 2nd half, everything is a foul ...with lots of yellows... chubby ref has had huge negative impact tonight on the game.

I know it is early but I am eager to get this season rolling! The Zips head off to Brookings, South Dakota to face the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State on November 6th in what is likely to be a tough opener. As you may recall, the Zips opened last season at the JAR against the Jackrabbits, pulling out an 81-80 overtime win. The Jackrabbits were selected by the Summit League’s head coaches, sports information directors and media to win the upcoming 2023-24 regular season title. 6’4” junior guard Zeke Mayo was selected as Summit League Preseason Player of the Year. Last year, Mayo led the team in points (18.2), rebounds (6.2) and assists (3.4). 6’8” redshirt senior forward Luke Appel was also selected to the Preseason All-Summit League First Team. Appel missed a large portion of last year due to injuries. In 2021-22 he was the Summit League Sixth Man of the Year. The team also has some serious size with 8 players 6’7” or taller including Wyoming Transfer Nate Barnhart. Warning to Zips fans- this is not Cedarville!

XAV 1-0 AKR There is no credible way to sugar coat this. Zips are a worse side now than they were in August. Nothing has grown; nothing has improved. If each season is a journey, then this one has been a bad trip. Xavier is a mediocre team. Their strength is in their back four and GK. (In particular I would single out CB #3 Makel Rasheed.) But offensively, Musketeers scare no one. Zips could not (cannot) unlock the stout Xavier defense. Last night, the passes were consistently telegraphed, late, and without conviction. Seemingly gone are the days of three consecutive one-touch passes in the offensive third. Zips offense has become plodding, methodical and predictable. We are easily frustrated. And our defensive concentration wavers when our offense is stymied. Akron's participation in the NCAA Tournament is now dependent upon the charity of the committee. But it is difficult to argue that the Zips deserve one of the 48 slots. Our last victory was October 10th at Cleveland State, nearly a month ago. Since then, Zips have tied three matches and lost two. Our RPI is 38. We finished 7th in a twelve-team league and then failed to win the first-round match of the conference tournament. Our overall winning percentage is just shy of .700, but we are 1-2-4 away from home. Perhaps others on this forum can make a case for Zips qualifying for the tourney. I cannot. It probably does not matter too much anyway since our likely prospects would be traveling for a Thursday match. Players and Coaches always want one more chance to compete, and rightly so. They should want to prove themselves. But as a fan, it might be better to start looking toward Spring schedule. It is not too early to start gathering information on incoming recruits, and contemplating which current underclassmen will get their chances. I especially anticipate watching Caleb Borneo returning from injury and playing for Zips.

That was the same Ref from the Creighton Game. Absolute Clown…. Game Killer! Either way got to score goals to win games, no excuses. Eat it. Hate it. Learn from it. Move on.

Can we spray paint that thing Akron Blue & Gold? Looks like Kent took a leak all over the spokes, those disrespectful sons of guns...

Wish we were all perfect like you and NEVER said anything incorrect about the Zips. Let’s bow to you

Apart from a very good last drive and some very good offense in the fourth quarter, it was really our defense that stood out to me. They looked pitiful early on in the game handling the option, tackling, and just operating in space in general. Kent's guys were running wide open and all over the place. But in the fourth we were disciplined, tackled well, and got after the QB on the true throwing downs. It was like watching a different team to be honest (at least compared to the first half).

Now wish I had stayed for the whole thing! Offensively, some things really stuck out. Obviously, Lingard is a helluva tough runner. He got better the later in the game and the more he carried. 20+ times I believe. They actually started to wear down KSU's D. Hope Moorehead remembers. Undercuffler, hopefully had a coming out party. He started throwing the ball with more decisiveness and confidence as the game went on. He was hitting some slants and getting the ball out on the sideline patterns. That and the run game kept the rush off of him and let him see the field. No picks.They actually kinda ran a screen also. Hopefully he can ride that for the next 3 games. Lets let him play it out and see what happens. Confidence! Also helps that his receivers were finally getting some separation in the secondary. The D came up big when it had to. I still really like Nunnally. Finally, Moorehead seemed to finally be willing keep going with the run when it was working. That the O stayed on the field and actually score helped the D keep the game somewhat under control. Three tough games coming. Lets see how much everybody has learned.

I like when really good players talk trash. He isn't one of them. His behavior is reckless and dumb.

Youngstown State grad Al Bundy.

Top drawer soccer says that Akron has a new recruit for 2024 midfielder from NYCFC https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-player-profile/thomas-orourke/pid-126333

Prep Soccer currently has Akron’s 2024 class at #12. They are missing a couple commits, but they talk about Held and Buebendorf in their evaluation. This was included in their subscriber content on Aug 24. 12. Akron Verbal commitments (as of August 22): #15 James Buebendorf (St. Louis City SC), #99 Kamden Held (Chicago Fire) Buebendorf is going to end up as one of the top players from this class who plays college soccer. And he is headed to Akron where they have a proven track record for developing professional players. Buebendorf is an outside back and offers a well-rounded game for the position. He has the technique and confidence on the ball to play out of pressure. He has the vision to pick out runs from his teammates. He showed last season how he can hit a variety of passes with accuracy – from the cross field switch to the grass-cutter to the full spring cross. The left back has among the highest ceilings in this class. Kamden Held is an attacking midfielder from Chicago Fire. He was a standout for that academy last season. He has a clean first touch and excellent feel for the game. He should shine in the Akron style of play.

This team is already shaky. They’ll need that easy win after dropping their first two. I can’t believe we took Ali back. Such a disaster.

Xavier seems to have a stout defense; perhaps they have a shot at the BE title.

If anyone thought the Kent game didn't matter, and that we should play the Freshman because we need to see who can contribute next season...they were clearly incorrect.