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Pacheco is due!

This was well done - I enjoyed learning more about these guys. Thanks for sharing.

I wouldn't have thought the backline would be part of the problem...

Outstanding crowd! I was impressed with their response to an unfortunate PK. They created several quality chances which is a positive sign. And how about some love for Will Jackson? Kid was a beast out there and played with a ton of heart. Also impressed with Cruz - nice skill with the ball at his feet. Pacheco also looked dangerous all night. 0-2 (ugh) but this group is damn good and is going to start winning soon. That was just a heart breaker -- I really felt for the boys.

They took one on the chin - it's all good, they'll be fine.

It seems like there's a ton of depth on this year's squad, especially on the back line -- maybe Tom Smart at LB, but you also have Hernandez and Sohn. Strachan can play either CB position, RB and holding mid (didn't he play there a bit last year?), and judging by TennZip's quote above, Chick at RB? It looks like Lue has had time at RB this preseason. Strachan is such a quality player, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. I didn't see any preseason matches so this going by memory from last year and looking over this year's roster. I guess this is why Embick gets the big bucks - putting together the pieces of a talented team!

Just dropping by to say that I'm excited, as ever, about the start to the season. There's some excellent continuity from last year's squad and some exciting new additions as well. Go Zips!

Awesome. And what's really crazy, I thought they'd played just okay at times. Good work, boys!!

Another fantastic article. Thanks for sharing!

I'm stunned at this group's turnaround. I was at that infamous WVU home game and wrongly assumed 2018 was just a rare down year....it happens to the best, after all. From that moment to now feels like a lifetime. Incredible fight in these Zips!

After finally watching the full reply, I was most impressed by the team's defensive fight. Ritaccio had a couple clutch and skillful tackles that probably saved a goal or two. Wake is/was a very good side. On another note, I was perplexed at the commentators frequent use of "kids" to describe the players. A kid is a child - children don't play soccer nearly that well. It just felt disrespectful. Ok, I'm getting off my high horse now.

I thought they looked solid yesterday. Nice to see Akron soccer back in Akron. I agree that Kahsay had a fantastic game. I also thought Biros looked very comfortable out there, maybe his best performance this year. Friday should be a good one.

Holy cow. Pacheco for the win!

That stinks - I hope he recovers soon.

Is Marcel Zajac injured? I don't think I saw his name pop up in the preseason matches.

It will be interesting to see that back line evolve! I'm especially interested to see who ends up at right & left back - those players are always so damn fun to watch in the Akron system.

Wow. The coaches will have their work cut out trying to narrow that list down. Or are there normally 32 players on the final roster?

Nice win. The fact that they held the NCAA stat leaders in shots per contest to just 4 (and 2 SOG) is very impressive. All 3 goals were superb.

No, it's just so darned tense!!

My weak constitution prevented me from watching this live What an effort from the boys today!!

Agreed. The Pitt announcers got all the details right...can't really say the same for our announcers. However, this has been a massive upgrade over the web stream days of old....it always seemed like the camera person would forget what he/she was doing and you'd be staring at an empty field for 10-15 seconds at a time.

I wonder if the change at the back line was due to injury or a tactical move? Either way, the back four held up well to a lot of pressure. It was nice to see them get a gritty win over a good opponent on the road!

Gotcha! Glad to hear he was at least warming up. His return would be a big boost.

Also Zajac - anyone know if he might return soon?

Absolutely fantastic work from Gainford. Zajac did pretty well, too.