zippy-claws

What is happening, anyone watching? Stats froze at 92:52

So stats show emil out last 16 minutes, ashton out since 56’, victor out last 20 minutes, are these guys resting or out?

Is ashton hurt? Hasn’t been in since 56’

I just said to Hubby the same thing!

I don’t think so. If we lost the QF maybe. A loss to G-town won’t keep us out. Maybe no top seeds maybe no home match, but no shut out of college cup

And also where the jobs are!

I agree that #2 is my consensus. It seemed like it took about the IU-Indy match to start to see cohesiveness, but up until then the staff played a LOT of players, giving them pitch time and also seeing what they had. Once Jared settled into a tight rotation (if there even was a rotation!) play improved as players were more familiar with each other, each other's styles and personalities, etc. Just my 2 cents worth...

"The Boys played hard!" was his standard response first thing out of the box at press conferences. I used to enjoy talking to him at Green Hills Golf Course in Brimfield where he "worked" as a starter after The U. What stories! He would always stop where I was at basketball or football games and say Hi and kibbitz for a time. Great Guy.

How many here remember when we had our last NCAA tourney run and the U had a couple of nice watch parties at the JAR, with cash bar and all? How nice would it be to do again for semi-final match Thursday night? Great for students, fans, casual fans.

Then my vote is Marcus Jennings, current CFO of the Athletic Department. He seems to have been the "adult in the room" these past few years.

Bu doesn't this kind of give the coaching staffs a "free pass" card for at least another season, as the new AD gets to know their strengths and weaknesses? Maybe women's soccer, volleyball, baseball coaches are breathing a sigh of relief for the foreseeable future, even Joe?

No longer AD!

I've brought up in the Soccer forum that I had heard the AK Rowdies had disbanded, but got no responses from anyone regarding it. Do they still exist, and if so, why don't they attend the men's soccer matches anymore like the y used to?

Now I respectfully disagree. You must not watch a lot of international "football", because the "draw" is an important factor in most European and South American leagues, where there are no playoffs, just a table where the single point for a draw makes a huge difference in a lot of standings. And yes, there are "inferior" opponents in most of these leagues, as 2-3 monied teams dominate a 20-team league. So a draw between say Brentford and Manchester City is considered a "win" by the Brentfordites, and by the pundits and supporters, and plays into the strategies involved.

I was disappointed with the results from Muncie in the Cross Country meet, although two of our men went 2nd and 3rd. A 6th and an 8th place finish men/women was not what I expected, and I'm sure it's not what the coaches expected either. Pretty strong field this year in the MAC, Toledo women win 4th straight, men won as well, and they do not field a track and field team! It got me interested, so I checked out the upcoming schedule for Indoor track & field. This would have been our year to host the annual Zips/Kent State dual meet, but it's not on the schedule. Anyone know why? Second, I know it was on the schedule last season as the opener, but does anyone ( if anyone would know it would be @Hilltopper )know who the Haynes Lancaster Open meet is named after, or is it a sponsor? Just curious.

I did watch both halves, and I was pleased to see Coach change up her tactics. They utilized the fullbacks in the offense more than in any match this year, and the defensive centers played a higher line as well. They tried to score, and as @adzip said, the defense continued to play tough. Yes, we'll have to see what the missing forwards can do when they return to action. And they were also right - a junior or senior transfer student with experience in playing at a MAC or higher level school would make a huge difference on this team. Yesterday was a nice statement that they weren't going to quit. And I liked that they didn't make a ton of substitutions like past games, which showed in the continuity on the field. IMHO.

I would say yes…show me the offense. Please!

So, for those of you out there that think that the current situation in women's soccer is "okay, just be patient", tonight should be a good test of your theory that they inherited a bad situation and it just takes time. May I remind you that they still have only scored 3 goals in MAC play, in 2 matches, with tonight's match the grand finale. Eastern Michigan is in, or was in a similar situation. They went 3-11-4 and 2-7-2 in MAC in 2022, 1-12-6 and 1-8-2 in MAC in 2023. Their coach left in December of 2023. New coach comes in. 6 recruits decide to de-commit, 2 seniors and a junior transfer out. In the new coach's first year, 2024, with not much time at all to try to recruit, they go 6-6-5 and are 2-3-5 in MAC play and have at least scored 6 goals this year. So tonight we get to take a look at how our similar situations pan out. 1 year with little prep work yields 2-3-5, and 3 years with two recruiting classes yields 0-8-2. Hopefully the staff and team will treat this as a stepping stone to 2025 and show they've got what it takes to move up the standings into a playoff spot next season, and to be granted another season at the helm. PS - I've watched closely this season, and I do think that Coach Simonetti is coaching well during matches, and with the injuries that all soccer coaches have to face. I'm convinced she can coach. It's the recruiting end that needs shored up. It's got to be tough to try to recruit to a program that hasn't won anything since 2009. But in watching MAC games, our team is sorely lacking the talent of other MAC schools. Don't give me the "only 2 classes" response. But it's not like a lot of other MAC schools have that much to tout over Akron with recruits. BG, Ohio, Miami maybe. Toledo? NIU? Ball State? EMU, with U of M next door? We need to recruit better players first.

You are absolutely right, and it has affected my desire to watch any NCAA sports right now, except for the Zips. I used to be an NCAA basketball junkie, women and men, and loved a Saturday afternoon big game on TV. Now, if I'm going to watch college kids play a sport and demand 12 million a year for an NIL deal, I'll stick with watching an NFL game with the real professionals. Same goes now for the WNBA and WSL vs. college women's b-ball and soccer.

Back up North, and visited First Energy Wednesday night for the Men's big win, and it was glorious, although there are many empty seats where past neighboring season ticket holders used to be. Don't know if they're not using them, or didn't renew. Anyway, last night went to Dix Stadium and watched the Women Zips play Kent State. Boy, do the Zips Defense play rugged, tough football, and the keeper is pretty brave, facing lots of shots. Unfortunately, no goals, and we know you can't win if you don't score. 9 MAC matches, 7 scoreless losses. 3 total goals scored, and 1 was a penalty kick. If they could only find a scorer or 2, they would be in the thick of things with this Defense. Their style of play is too cautious, and they don't press forward. I read the comments on the Men's team, and the criticisms of their coaching decisions earlier this season, but the style of the Women's offense isn't questioned. It never changes to meet the conditions of the game. I want them to succeed so badly, but there doesn't seem to be a strategy. No playoffs again, for the 13th straight season.

I'm agreeing with @fknbuflobo on this one. I'm saying 1,250-ish! I did get notices from Akron that there's a sale on GA tickets for the game. But student participation is a must! I never did hear any more about the rumored end of the AK Rowdies. Anyone know anything? How wonderful to have the hill full of students for this one. Please!!!

Just fair warning @04Cards, you will be chastised and ridiculed by the Old Guard here for saying something like this. I've been a very good girl and have tried to stay positive this season, especially since the early success. But your analysis is a welcome, fresh approach. I have watched the staff and they are really trying, really working hard, but that doesn't translate to wins. They People In The Know will tell you "she inherited a mess", "she's 1 year away", "if only x hadn't been injured", etc. But your point re: recruiting is spot on. This is year 3 and there does not seem to be a lot coming in. Knowing how to recruit D1 players vs. D3 players and what they want from a soccer/education experience are a major point. I still want them to win, I'm still rooting for them. But...zero wins in the MAC?

Yeah, take a look at how hiring a D3 coach who rebuilt a program has worked out for the Zip's Women's soccer team....

A scrappy performance got the women's soccer team a come-from-behind draw yesterday. Still cleaning up down here from Milton, but still have power and internet and watched the match yesterday. First, Chad Welker continues to do a boffo job on the broadcasts. Second, the team got hosed a little at the end of the half when the referee decided to stop play with 6 seconds left so that Northern Illinois could retrieve a loose ball to play a corner, even though no one on the Zips kicked it away. That allowed NIU to score with 1 second left, although Mr. Welker questioned if the ball actually crossed the goal before the zeros showed on the clock. It tied the match, then NIU scored early in the second half on a mistake from our goaltender. Happens. But the Zips fought and fought and finally caught a break getting a deserved PK with 1 minute remaining and Katie Stafford slotted the tying goal. Lots of grit displayed, seems like the squad is missing a lot of their key players right now to injury? Keep up the effort, Go Zips!

@fknbuflobo wins! Box score on lineshows attendance at 578…