NYC ZIP

Zips are really struggling to start the second half. When #21 doesn’t play the attack is really, really poor.

Devils advocate….why would any kid want to be the 28th non scholarship, tuition paying, player at Akron? You’re not going pro and your degree is debt free. Your parents can tell all their friends you’re on a full ride…..

It’s also possible that some of those schools decide soccer isn’t worth it and drop the sport altogether.

The power four conferences are required to fund up to the roster limits for all sports due to the NCAA lawsuit agreement. I can’t see a world where Akron can do that, remembering that Title IX still exists. 28 for men’s soccer means 28 for women’s soccer. This will greatly impact the ability to recruit against these schools. When every school was 9.9, you had a chance against big schools. Now it’s full ride in ACC, Big 10, Big 12 and SEC, which includes men’s soccer schools UCF (Big 12), Kentucky,(SEC) South Carolina (SEC) West Virginia (Big 12), and any other soccer school (Portland, James Madison, WMU, St Louis, etc) willing to invest. I guess Akron could possibly go to 12 or 15 and then cobble together depth players. I would also guess that some of the Akron players that were recruited by big conference schools prior to this, can hit the portal looking for a better financial deal. This, coupled with MLS Next Pro deals for 15 and 16 year olds, will be quite a challenge.

There will be a large pool of Power 4 conference players looking for homes next season when the 28 roster limit is imposed. Many schools have 35-40 players on their roster. There are already a large number of Class of 25 players announcing on social media that their verbal offers have been revoked and they are looking for a new school. It’s likely a safe recruiting pitch to say to them, that they could come to Akron and “heavily contribute” immediately. It would take some financial creativity because Akron will definitely not fund 28 scholarships, but finding enough for 2 or 3 power four level, attacking players would be worth the investment and effort.

Interesting that the East Division will likely have seeds 2-6, meaning that if the Zips get 1 or 2 seed they will have to play a Midwest division team for the second time this season in the first round. Hopefully Seton Hall and Providence can dispatch Xavier in the regular season. Don’t want to see them again.

DePaul is awful. No heart at all.

2-0 Zips. Half

Zips need to finish this lousy team off.

PK for DePaul overturned on video review. Free kick Zips

2-0 zips. Malik

Goal Zips. Gaulmin

Starting lineup is the standard. The camera angle is very low and lousy.

It’s so ridiculous. I’ll update as necessary.

I have Fubo tv and whatever that marquee network is, it’s included on my plan. Agree it’s a mess

Zips enter the polls this week: Top Drawer Soccer #23 United Soccer Coaches #25 RPI #49

Left footed so I’m betting it was Barboto.

Neither. He hasn’t been on the gameday roster since Temple. As if the press conference wasn’t enough….. He’s appeared in too many games to redshirt.

SFU hands down the most uninspired, lousy team the Zips have played. Did what they should have done to them. They need to flush this one more than any previous wins, losses or draws and be ready for the Hoyas. The Georgetown game can really be a statement that this team has found itself.

Good for Nathan Ferguson! First of many!

Hopefully this is the game that brings the boys together. They looked confident even after going down quickly. They need to quickly turn it around and beat St Francis and launch into G-.town and make a statement.

Good, early season road result. Several Zips made their debuts and were quite good. These Zips can be dangerous if they can gel together. The depth will be important as well over a long season and manage the physical toll, so it was encouraging to see several new, and/or young players show up!

Unfortunately, all the Big East Conference games, home and away, are on the Flo Sports schedule. I put Akron in the search and they all showed up. According to the schedule on gozips.com, the non conference games are on ESPN+ except for Wright State on the Zips Digital Network. There is no mention of the WMU game coverage anywhere that I can find.

Hope the Zip’s attack can find its footing in this final tune up match. Go Zips!

That’s a solid class. The striker from LIU should add some extra punch up top. 3 freshmen GKs behind Budler.