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Mitch Budler had a little hiccup at the start of the game but he was All American level for the last 87 minutes. Very happy that he is the Zips GK.... Wishing a speedy health recovery for Daragh Reilly.... That being said, Matthew Paiva had an outstanding first game ever for the zips. Ashton Kamdem and Matt Dreas are leaders for this team in the run of play. Good veteran presence on the Field Great Hustle play by Farrell....that resulted in the Morck goal. Farrell Ngongang was my man of the match. Always good to start the season 1-0.

The Beacon Journal has done an outstanding job of honoring the incomparable Stu Parry. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/08/22/akron-zips-soccer-caleb-porter-stu-parry-mls-new-england-revolution-portland-timbers-columbus-crew/85745054007/ "Stu Parry is the godfather of the Akron men's soccer program," Caleb Porter told the Akron Beacon Journal on Aug. 19 regarding Parry, who died Aug. 15 at the age of 92. "He is the founder. I had a great relationship with him. I had a close relationship with him. He was one of the first people that called me when I got the job [at the age of 31] and we were having lunch maybe two days later. "He was a mentor to me," Porter said. "I really made a point every season to have him talk to the team because I wanted the current players to understand the founder and who he was. It is very important when you have a tradition of excellence that the current players understand they are a part of something a lot bigger than themselves. I felt it was important that they understood the man that started the program because Akron soccer didn't just fall out of the sky and become a national contender. He is the one that started it and paved the way.

Sloppy start to the first game / road game of the season but nice turn around since Stefan scored the PK. looking forward to NKU at home Sunday. GO ZIPS!!!

no trip to Mass and DeKalb is a MAC gift to the 2 time defending champion.

Dr. Goodrich is certainly enthusiastic and it’s apparent that he has the personality to build excitement and engagement. I’m hopeful for this new era of Zips athletics.

suffered an ankle injury in the very physical game against Detroit. not sure of severity. I know that the coaches really value Daragh as a positive influence and team leader. Again, wishing the best for Daragh.

Who knows how far Akron goes last year if Indiana doesn't take him out.

Great shutout to start the Budler… I mean Akron campaign. I really think Budler has a shot at goalkeeper of the year. Been a stud his whole time here. Go zips!

Can we cut out the stutter steps on PKs? So painful to watch

New Commit and another from Pennsylvannia

I got this offer the other day and it’s for alumni from 2014-25. I’m honestly very tempted to get it. Glad athletics is getting more creative with its ticket selling.

If 220 is the floor that’s still a great addition compared to the bottom dwellers in the conference. NIU leaving will be a positive in basketball next year

The player families and football alumni usually set up to the left of the scoreboard if you are facing the stadium in lot 9, near gate 1. Look for a larger group of people with some akron flags. Please stop by and say hi and have a few drinks and burgers, we love when visiting fans hang out before the game.

Very sorry to learn of Stu Parry's passing. Tribute to Stu Parry It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of Stu Parry — a man who meant so much to all of us. Stu wasn't just a great coach; he was a deeply kind and generous soul, a loving father and grandfather, and a true role model whose impact reached far beyond the soccer field. His unwavering dedication helped bring varsity soccer to the University of Akron, and his vision laid the foundation for one of the most storied programs in college soccer. The legacy he built continues to grow through the efforts of former players and coaches who carry his spirit forward. Even at 92, Stu remained a vibrant part of our community. He was always eager to meet for breakfast, send an email, or make a call - just to talk Akron soccer. He loved hearing about the incredible young men in our program and was genuinely excited about what each new season could bring. Through the highs and lows, Stu was a constant source of encouragement and support. His love for the game and for this program never wavered. He was a Zip in every sense of the word. To honor Stu's memory, our team will wear a patch on our home jerseys that simply says "Stu." It's a small gesture to recognize a man whose influence was anything but small. We now carry the torch - for Stu and for Akron Soccer - and we will continue to share our passion and pride for one of the premier college soccer programs in the country. . Sincerely, Jared Embick Head Men's Soccer Coach University of Akron

Home versus James Madison Princeton Milwaukee Bucknell On the road versus Purdue Iona Tulane Murray State Great non-conference schedule put together by the staff. The only bummer of the conference schedule is not getting a home game versus Ohio.

Matt Dreas was off his regularly steady game tonight. Not his best outing. Very pleased with the composure and command of Matthew Paiva. Hope the knock he took was nothing. (FaFa?) Farrell Ngongang showed tremendous hustle and grit. He was MOM for me as well. He earned the start of next match. VCU 0-3 AKR Perhaps the least convincing 0-3 road victory in NCAA history. But on a night when many Big East teams lost, we will gladly take it.

I watched the first half of WVU. They are talented for sure, but Manhattan was really….., really bad.

What happened to daragh?

This was a very solid first-game performance. As expected, a few hiccups early that thankfully never cost us, and a total butt-whooping starting with the PK right before the half.

Ngongang (sp?) is a 21 y.o. freshman with Canada U-20 national experience.

First half was very sloppy especially early. Thankful to get the PK and take the lead into the half. Much improved in the 2nd half.

ate my words real quick

He saw this at half. What a way to develop that attack

They had a big win against Wake Forest last year and were ranked in top 15. Their season unraveled after the Zips stomped them 4-0.

Or put it another way ... 1 game only vs. Toledo, UMass, Ohio, Miami and NIU. Zips should easily dispatch Toledo, Ohio and NIU. UMass is an unknown no matter home or away. Miami on the road is the only real ???, and Zips play them before students return for the semester. Tough to argue with this MAC schedule, no matter how you look at it.

Akron had 14 Q1/2/3 games last year, excluding Arizona. All but 2 non-conference games that fell in those categories were road games. Not including any questionable MAC programs (directional Michigans, Balls, NIU, BUGS, etc.), Akron should have at least 12 Q1/2/3 games this year with 2 of those being home games (JMU and Princeton). The difference is, I didn't count Milwaukee and Bucknell in those 12, and both could end up being Q2/Q3 (similar to how Omaha was a huge surprise last year; Milwaukee would be less of a surprise). With the addition of UMass, the MAC should have an elevated NET this season, meaning 2-3 more programs could sneak into the Q2/Q3 discussion. All of this to say, around half the schedule (at least) could end up being Q1/Q2/Q3 vs. last year which saw 18 Q4 games.

short update on Emil https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/match-report-st-louis-city2-defeats-north-texas-sc-3-1-to-earn-fifteenth-win-of-the-season Emil Jääskeläinen tallied his team-leading seventh assist of the season and has now recorded assists in back-to-back matches Five players have scored six or more goals for CITY2 this season: Miguel Perez, Emil Jääskeläinen, Matteo Kidd, Brendan McSorley, and Mykhi Joyner Interim head coach John Hackworth now holds an 11-match unbeaten streak since taking over CITY2 on June 4

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45968911/2025-preseason-college-football-bottom-10 We didn’t land in the Bottom 10 going into Week 1 (or is it still Week 0?), but we did end up on the “Waiting List.” Two of our opponents, though, weren’t as lucky.

At large conversation or back to back home losses to start the season: the 25-26 campaign rests on a knife's edge.

I'm not standing on a moral high horse. Morality has never been my strong suit. "Being right is the boobie prize." A contractor once told me this. Fighting and winning this case in 2027 would get us nothing and be little more than a distraction. I really don't give a crap what guys are Tweeting. In fact, the transfer portal has given me the go-ahead to not give a crap about them since their loyalty is about an inch deep. I'd rather they put their efforts towards getting ready for the season. After all, they are professionals now. I think winning against Wyoming would give this team more of a jolt in 2025 than winning a lawsuit against the NCAA in 2027.

I loathe the double non DI games, but the rest of this schedule is fantastic. James Madison & Princeton AT HOME to start the season is incredible. The Paradise Jam features 3 games, with Iona being the first game. They have a new head coach this year, so as long as Akron takes care of business, they will play the winner of Evansville/Oregon State. The other side of the bracket includes Green Bay, Yale, UMass, and Charleston, so there is some really good competition in the tournament that could be added to the schedule. Well done Groce & Co.

zero shots is crazy

Akron loses 3-0 to West Virginia, a team often ranked top-20 (but not currently) which was ranked #1 and lost to USC in the College Cup Final a few years ago. Shot attempts 19-0 WVU ... 😬

Not a fan of Borneo

Sorry, folks. This is awful football. Lots of sloppy passing. And poor positioning. Zips had better fix this.