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This is why the roster was not released until today. He is a direct replacement for Shooky(maybe better). A gamechanger for the team. Big get for Embick.

There is still a good possibility that he could end up on the roster. By signing this contract he can now participate in all team events and training.

Funny you mention them. Read on. Speaking as a college basketball scheduling nerd in general and early-season tournament nerd in particular, I have some bad news: these school-hosted four-team tournaments never "pave the way" for more legitimate opposition down the road. Omaha, Alabama State, and Lamar are about the level of opposition even when Power 5 schools host them. UTEP's Sun Bowl tournament probably comes closest to bringing in tough foes, and it's not like we had to get through Duke and Kansas to win that. Example 1: Ohio State's tourney will have Evansville, UW-Green Bay and Campbell (granted, a notch better than ours, but only a notch). Example 2: Missouri's tourney will have Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Pacific, and they're still trying to fill the fourth. I don't really understand the point of these, unless it's to give the host a confidence boost and a trophy. Here's my source, which is a great resource: https://www.bloggingthebracket.com/2024/5/13/24140186/2024-25-mens-college-basketball-exempt-multi-team-events-mte-thanksgiving-early-season-tournaments

I had not previously heard anything about the transfer from LIU...... sounds very encouraging... A native of Bolton, England, Emil Jaaskelainen, a forward arrives at Akron following a distinguished career at Long Island where he was a four-time All-NEC selection, three-time All-Region honoree and a two-time NEC Player of the Year. He garnered United Soccer Coaches All-Region accolades for the third consecutive campaign a season ago and was named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List en route to being invited to the adidas MLS College Showcase. As a freshman, he was selected as the NEC Rookie of the Year. He capped his career at Long Island registering 43 goals, 14 assists, 100 points and 15 game-winners on the strength of 275 shots, including 129 on net.

He ditched playing for his dad to join the Zips! Another good pickup by Embick.

I am not sure if this article......about January 2024 addition Maximus Barboto....had ever been posted here https://njithighlanders.com/news/2023/12/20/mens-soccer-maximus-barboto-named-to-the-topdrawersoccer-com-mens-national-top-100-postseason-list.aspx

The first exhibition match is now 48 hours away. Gozips.com still has yet to update MSOC roster. We have 10 new players. This would not occur in a first rate Athletic Department.

We had a couple of opponents back out at the last minute. The schedule should be released soon.

Not saying anyone is falling down on the job. Not at all. This has been a Zips schedule pattern going back to Hipsher. The Zips best schedules, IMO, were during the BracketBuster years when the Zips faced really good BBuster competition. But even that wasn't 2 or more power conference teams. I haven't looked, but I doubt there have been more than 3 or so years since the turn of the century Akron has played two non-con power conference teams in the same year. Yes, that means you have to play them on the road, unless you get lucky enough to catch one in a pre-season tournament. Understand, this is not unique to Akron. But you have to first, commit to playing these games. Then you have to lock them in. To have so many power conference transfers, but no power conference games, is a question that needs to be asked. I understand MAC teams are not going to win many of those games. But playing those games first, boost your overall strength of schedule. And second, prepare MAC teams for what they will face later in the NCAA Tournament. As MAC teams have constantly shown, losing these two games does not stop a team from overall 20 wins, or winning a MAC title. Like I said .. not matter what schedule ... Zips favored to win the MAC.