Z.I.P.

Lifetime college athletes. Now hear THIS!! 🤷‍♂️ https://share.google/GqQAUIAUPQoakn0Wg

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 ... 😬

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

I'm not buying the "Woe is college soccer" commentary at this point. The game has never been more competitive or probably more exciting. Akron, Marshall, Vermont...National Champions? 🏆 Here's one issue that I didn't know: "Colleges will also be able to give out more athletic scholarships, but in exchange, schools are required to further limit the number of players on each team who are eligible for tuition aid. College soccer teams can now hand out a maximum of 28 scholarships. It remains to be seen how many of those will actually be filled out - or how much money each individual sport will get." ...So, more players, but fewer scholarships?? It was just 9.5 before. What is it NOW? How does that effect recruiting and retention? Does that cause more players to jump to the portal? https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/college-soccer-at-a-crossroads-once-the-primary-pathway-to-the-pros-nil-mls-academies-and-court-rulings-now-threaten-collegiate-game-s-relevance/blt5a83f757fbd2d212

Akron held on to win on the basis of that early score by Fragnoli. 1-0. Not a pretty outcome in the home opener versus a lap dog opponent. We play @West Virginia, a national power this week. Yikes. 😬

Luisa Fragnoli scored first for Akron on a long blast in the fifteenth minute to give the Zips the 1-0 advantage over EIU.

Am I correct that the spread on this game has slipped from an opening 10 pts down to 7.5? I live in a Mountain West city ‐‐ Honolulu, and have some sense about the league. The Cowboys are in the bottom half - to bottom third of a league that is clearly top-heavy. I had Akron winning 6 games this season. To get to that summit they MUST win this one first, and if they aren't able to stay close to Wyo then even 5 wins are in doubt. I like the Zips by a TD.

Full non-conference schedule released. 11/3 James Madison 11/8 Princeton 11/12 Penn St Shenango 11/16 @Purdue 11/21 Iona @Paradise Jam (USVI) 11/22, 11/24 Paradise Jam 11/29 Milwaukee 12/3 Bucknell 12/6 @Tulane 12/13 Murray St (Las Vegas) 12/29 Concord 02/02 MAC-SB Challenge

Full 90 complete. Nil nil draw. Akron had slight statistical advantage on the scorekeeper app, though no possession % given.

65 minutes played in Ft W. Scoreless match, but Akron now leads 14-8 in shot attempts. Emma King has like 7 shots for the Zips.

Halftime in Ft Wayne. Scoreless game with basically equal stats. The Mastadon(na)s were a about .500 team last season, but lost I believe only twice at home. Let's see how the second 45 goes.

Zips first non-conference game that COUNTS! Vs Purdue -- Ft Wayne. No more Indy? 🤔 https://gomastodons.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary;team=away?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMLS7NleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHuFknEwg8_Y6yQ0NkpuZXJFmCUL8r6lOwLp7XjU55LqnDjD9Xs3xwQ_P5e30_aem_7vglJcu3aGUQ_TivYEHrRQ

Akron starts off the Henderson escapades with a 1:00 p.m. contest vs the Fighting Murray's. BTW, wasn't Jack Jones some sort of cabaret singer? Does anyone remember him in Sin City? https://share.google/A2KMI32PXm2jdwYMx

I only hold second-hand information, but I understand Nathan Ferguson scored a first-half brace with an assist to Ashton Kamden. Lineup was Budler, Kamden and Pedro at wing backs. Daragh and Kossehasse center backs. Dreas, Borneo, Roman, Morck, Filsinger and Ferguson. I'll await the release of further secrets from our usual correspondents!

I see that Akron Women's Soccer played the earliest start perhaps in D1 with a trip to Michigan yesterday to take on the Oakland U. Grizzlies. There's no post-game report, not even a score. Can anyone remember last year -- did teams keep score or report exhibition results? Will this be the case for the men's exhibition games as well? 🤔

First 2025 OOC scheduling info: 11/30 coach Jackson returns with her Youngstown State Penguins. Any other preseason news?

Yes. Tell them not to hire Crystal Palace' attorneys!! 😂

Clearing international student requirements was the job Anne Jorgenson was responsible for in the past, and she was expert at understanding a very complicated landscape. I'm certainly disappointed to read that she got swept up in the ineptitude of the earlier Athletic Director. Any ideas if or how the change is effecting international recruiting? I believe coach Ger was the lead on overseas recruitment.

Are Notre Dame or Indiana scheduled that Sat.? How about the Michigan B1Gs? That's what I would hope for...Top national competition. Go Zips! Okay, checked! Irish play the Wolverines in South Bend that Saturday and MSU sched is out and we aren't on it. Hmmm. 🤔

FYI, Sept '24 article from Toledo Blade about the Perrysburg HS team and their two senior stars. Too bad we couldn't have gotten them both, but Camille Francis committed to Ohio per TDS. I really hope coach Simonetti is able to overcome her trials and remain in charge for this upcoming season to show what she can accomplish with a clearly upgraded roster. Stability is the most important thing for a growing program. https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/high-school/2024/09/04/francis-and-ogdahl-form-power-pair-for-perrysburg-girls-soccer/stories/20240904086

Michigan game is at 3 p.m. today Akron time. This is supposed to be the live stream. https://bit.ly/3RVicLC?fbclid=IwY2xjawKLHjdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHuxjBN3mD-NMOnuaQcyEtl1X8vIUfOCEL5zLzF-m3BtY7nHUHL9Kqz0Rst9e_aem_3G4p25ulswbAAeedTHQuWA

The win over Central Michigan was the 1300th win of coach Craig Nicholson's career. Congratulations man, that's a lot of Winning!

So, social media says the Zips are going to the Virgin Islands in November for the Paradise Jam. Other teams are Charleston, Evansville, Green Bay, Yale, UMass, Oregon St and Iona. TV coverage. https://www.basketballtravelers.com/mensparadisejam

For Pete's sake, people! On one page of this thread it seems the consensus that everyone -- basketball players included, have the right to seek their value on the open market. Then on the next page you're expecting "loyalty"?? The "free market" and loyalty don't work together. You and universities and the SCOTUS should have recognized this fact long ago, before the Northwestern athletes tried to unionize! Now the door is open to my grandkids 5th grade basketball team declaring free agency.

Is Lanae Riley returning? Don't know what her season status was, as far as injuries, personal probs, etc., but was very disappointed as she was a tremendous local hs athlete who should be a star at the MAC level. Alexus Mobley, on the other hand has only one more year remaining to play after being a jc transfer. She won't get a lot of attention. Overall, when does the put-up or leave-town pressure hit coach Gensler?