NYC ZIP

The other thing about TDS is their main metric is their own internal player rankings which are at best only somewhat informed, especially when you get outside the top 20 or so that are already pros.

Full schedule announced today. Go Zips! https://www.instagram.com/p/DMdWVnxzsCm/?igsh=MWZuaHoyNGN0NHZ5eg==

Zips transfer CB Simon Guardiero has landed at Nebraska-Omaha according to his Instagram account. Played some decent minutes as a freshman in 2024. Definitely a loss for the back line depth.

Roster on gozips.com updated minus the yet to be announced fall recruiting class. Currently 21 players listed so there should be 7 new players announced for the fall. Players not on roster from 2024: Josh Hardin - transfer to Pitt Simon Guardiero - ? Ryan Kopay - transfer to FDU Max Barboto - ? Nicolas Beier -? Kamden Held - transfer to Green Bay Daniel Firek - transfer to Lipscomb Aaron Meono - transfer to Duquesne Emil Jaaskelainen - graduate Malik Henry - graduate Dyson Clapier - graduate Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal - graduate Victor Gaulmin - graduate Beto Yadrich - graduate Jonas Buechte - graduate Fifteen players return from 2024: McCarty Budler Reilly Filsinger Ferguson Borneo Buebendorf Aginbiade Bartels - injured Dobrijevic Dreas Roman ORourke Kamdem Kaminski 2024 Spring Recruits: Royer Pedro Morck Sullivan Kossehasse Dodig Lots of players with opportunities to step up. Lots of new faces. Challenging schedule. Let’s go Zips!

Some USL2 stats for Zips players this season. Caleb Borneo-4 goals in 12 games for Kings Hammer Stefan Dobrijevic - 4 goals in 7 games for Akron City Remi Agunbiade - 3 goals in 10 games for Akron City Kamdem, O’rourke, Buebendorf - 1 goal each on the season

Remi had the third goal for Akron City FC in last night’s 3-0 win.

Lots of high RPI teams on the schedule. Good challenges and opportunities for the Zips. OOC schedule is very strong and I’m guessing that Xavier on the road will be a battle. Creighton will likely bounce back and be better as will UConn and St John’s. Not to mention an October Tuesday night game in Ithaca, NY at Cornell.

I was just logging on to celebrate the exodus from FloSports.

The more Zips goal scorers the better! 🚀

Another USL 2 goal by Stefan for Akron City in a 1-1 draw with Steel City. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLf5x9Jya73/?igsh=MWloeWJudTUzcTR5cg==

It’s the Zips combining. Cross from Royer, flick by Stefan, finish by Buebendorf. Hope for about 20 of these in the fall…… https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLX2CKaAUXK/?igsh=dGpzeDJnaTFibDl5

Goal James Buebendorf, assisted by Jamai Royer, for Akron City FC in a 2-0 win over Cleveland Force.

The Zips announced their full home schedule for 2025. Some quality opponents coming to First Energy this fall.

Quite possibly the Zips will open their season on the road against another potentially strong opponent VCU on August 21. VCU beat Wake Forest and was highly ranked until the Zips bashed them 4-0 in a monsoon at home. That loss unraveled the Rams a bit and they finished middle of the pack in the A10. https://vcuathletics.com/news/2025/6/16/mens-soccer-mens-soccer-announces-2025-schedule.aspx

5 new members in the month of June.

Add another match against a top team for the Zips this fall. Akron will play at home against West Virginia on August 29. Last season, West Virginia finished 13-2-7, won the Sun Belt tournament , and lost in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament to UVA. They ended at 16 in RPI and 16 in most national polls. Another opportunity for the Zips against a top out of conference opponent. https://wvusports.com/news/2025/6/13/mens-soccer-announces-2025-schedule.aspx

Solid debut!

I think the schedule is done. Traditionally, Jared has steered the ship. The official announcements vary by school, but Akron generally announces first week of July.

Not necessarily NIL, but scholarship money available. All schools are now allowed, but not required, to have all men’s players on the roster receive full scholarships up to 28. Prior to this change, mens soccer teams were limited to the equivalent of 9.5 to divide across the players. I’m sure the Zips gained very little, if any $$ to allocate to men’s soccer. On the other hand, I’m confident schools like OSU did and can leverage a “full ride” deal for transfer players from schools that aren’t opted in. Even an increase to 15 scholarships could be a massive difference to the construction of a roster.

William Arnesen who spent the spring with the Zips after transferring from Old Dominion, has transferred to Ohio State. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKkKo_0Mjby/?igsh=MTVjOTZ5cG05MXp4cA==

ESPN article about possible visa difficulties for international players given new immigration policies. This could impact the Zips somewhat, but could crush teams like Marshall, West Virginia, Pitt, Seton Hall, Vermont, and many others that have heavy non US rosters.

Also our big east conference games against the East Division do not appear to include Georgetown (3) or Providence (18)

If opponents perform similar to last year, there are several Tier 1 RPI wins on the schedule. OSU(1) WMU(30) SLU (37) Cornell (25)were all top 30-ish RPI teams last season. Plus I’m sure a conference opponent or two will be high RPI rank. Big opportunities for the youthful Zips roster.

Zips will play at Ivy League team Cornell on October 7. Cornell lost to Pitt in the second round of the NCAA tournament last year, and finished ranked #22. https://cornellbigred.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2025