Zip_ME87

Edit: http://gozips.com/tickets/2016-17/2016_FB_parking_Map.pdf

Top 2015 Goal scorers Richie Laryea, 11 (gone) Adam Najem, 10 Sam Gainford, 8 Stuart Holthusen, 8 (out most of the 2016 season) I took Victor out of the list because 6 of his 8 goals were from PK's. Source: http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2015-16/teams/akron?view=lineup&r=1&pos=kickers

On the Caleb Porter comment, CP would definitely be all over these guys in practice and during games. He would not just pull them but he would tell them in no uncertain terms what they weren't doing or were doing wrong. I would certainly hope that our coaches are doing that even if not quite in the same way as CP would. I agree that "This season has been characterized by poor discipline, defensive lapses, a general lack of focus, and no sense of offensive urgency.", However, as far as largely the same team as last season, really? We have had some significant changes this season which is part of the issue... We MISS Andrew Souders...no doubt. No one brings what Andrew did to our back line. Often, he was able to make up for others' shortcomings. We MISS Richie Laryea. I like what Nick Hinds and Jonathan Lewis bring, but we just moved Hinds up in the tOSU match. We miss Victor. No one has been able to fill that void yet. Stuart has not been available most of the season. He got in at BG, but is hurting again. His speed didn't seem to be there. We've had to change starting lineups in almost every match this season due to various injuries and losing Victor. Not sure how much consistency we can expect when we can't get a consistent starting lineup going. Also note Adam had multiple opportunities to score at BG from restarts with good position. The ball sailed well over the net each time. I'm not certain, but it looked like he was hurting.

I agree, but also challenge you to ask yourself what you're doing to keep the program elite. Showing up to home games is a huge start, but are you doing anything else? And by "you", I mean anyone who is beating their chest that having a down year now and again is completely unacceptable. A good handful of folks showed up at BG, but the home crowds and folks not being willing to travel a few hours to support this team, yet griping how something needs to be done to keep it elite, is beyond me. Keeping this team at the highest level is every bit as much the fans' responsibility as it is anyone's.

With a few minutes of research, it appears Notre Dame was last not in the NCAA Tourney in 2011. Couldn't find a media guide more recent than 2013. I didn't look for the others listed. I'm not saying that a season like this one is acceptable. It is not. However, it is also not realistic to expect that a season such as this will never happen. Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson says missing playoffs was 'not acceptable'

fknbuflobo, if you're going to make these kind of comments about "elite" programs, then you do need to do some research. When is the last time Maryland, NCarolina, Notre Dame, Virginia, Indiana missed the NCAA Tourney? Look it up and tell us or don;t post these things. No team is perfect as much as I'd like them to be. Louisville, who has invested a significant amount of money in their program, missed the tourney last year. I think the last time the Zips did not host the Tourney was Caleb's first season...2006...but I'll look it up and edit this post if necessary. Edit: It was 2006...hosted by Northern Illinois, as I thought. They were celebrating their last NCAA appearance (which was 2006) when the Zips played there this season. (Source http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2015-16/files/2015-msoc-guide-web.pdf, page 58)

Just as a reference, According to Wikipedia, there are 351 schools in 32 Division I basketball conferences and 128 schools in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Looking at the RPI listing on NCAA.com, there are 208 NCAA D1 soccer schools. Although I agree that we need to keep the standards high, it is unrealistic not to expect a downturn from time to time. There have been and are a significant number of injuries on this current team, in addition to the loss of VS8. This team is frustrating in that one game they play inspired and the next they let the opponent make them look pathetic. Lack of team leadership? Lack of proper coaching/motivation? I don't know. This team can still make the NCAA Tourney, but will likely be playing the MAC Tourney somewhere other than Akron this season.

Anyone else making the drive to BUGS? Go Zips!

At this point, I guess all games (wins) are key, but especially conference games. The MAC AQ to the NCAA Tourney may be especially needed this season and best position is to host the MAC Tourney. MAC Standings as MDZip provided (with soccer points); not sure if NCAA uses W's as a discriminator like MLS or if they go immediately to goal differential for tiebreaker (edit: after head-to-head, of course) Bowling Green 2-0-1 (7 points) Akron 2-1-0 (6 points) Buffalo 1-1-1 9-3-2 (4 points) Western Michigan 0-0-3 (3 points) West Virginia 1-2-0 (3 points) Northern Illinois 0-2-1 (1 point)

According to BUGS website, this KEY matchup will be on ESPN3. http://www.bgsufalcons.com/schedule.aspx?path=msoc

29-6-5 all time vs blOSU Men's Soccer.

Homered by B1G ref, who'da thunk?

Horrid PK. AN10 should never take another one again unless the Zips are involved in a round of pk's that goes to 11, and he is forced to take one.

44:35 PENALTY KICK by AKR NAJEM, Adam MISSED, save Siegfried, Parker. Crap.

Gotcha.

Nate is at RB, as usual.

One would think posting that picture would be far worse than spelling out the F word on this board.

Closest looks like 2002 when the Zips went 7-7-2 during the regular season. Last time the Zips had >5 losses was 2014. http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2015-16/files/2015-msoc-guide-web.pdf

Not sure why it matters that we ever find out what happened. It's something that the coaches and players are keeping close to them, as they should, and something that Victor is likely too embarrassed to fess up to. The fact is that as much as I like love Victor, he f'd up somehow and let his team and us down. He's a good student with good grades who is on track to graduate this Fall. He's been good to me anytime I've ever talked with him, and I think the world of him for what he has accomplished (in a foreign country so far from home with English not his 1st language) and as a friend; however, there is something there that I will likely never know. I'm disappointed at the havoc he has wreaked on the Zips and on himself and that he won't be there celebrating with his teammates on Senior day or in the post season that would have been more likely with him. As much as the thought of what he has wasted sickens me, I wish more than anything that he looks hard at himself, truly owns up to whatever it is (root cause) and fixes it so that he can be successful in whatever he does.

I want folks to understand that I was just pointing out who the on-field leaders were in my opinion last season. No indictment of anyone on the field this season. Ben Lundt has done a stellar job in my opinion. Without him, the Zips would not have won/tied a number of games and would have certainly lost others by much larger deficits. Jake, last season, and Ben, this season, have had to make up for shortcomings in the midfield and on the back line that David Meves rarely had to face. Many a match, Meves could have done his homework back there.

I'd like to see Montreal Impact v Sporting KC MLS Cup. Let it go to PK's. Saad v Evan Bush for the Cup.

I should have put it in bold, but I think #1 is probably the biggest issue with this team. In the Zips system, the attack builds from the back through the middle and then up front. Without the right connections in the middle to get that going, it quickly falls apart as we have often seen. Of course, when you have to quickly get back to defend a counter, the midfield, as well as the back line, is crucial.

Unlike last season, there are only a few Zips in the MLS Playoffs this go around. East DC United - Chris Korb? (unsure of his status) Montreal Impact - Evan Bush West Colorado Rapids - Dillon Serna out with injury (season ending, if I remember correctly) Sporting KC - Saad Abdul-Salaam I think that's it. Huge change from 2015 season that resulted in Timbers v Crew MLS Cup in Columbus

Jake Fenlasson, Brad Ruhaak, Victor Souto from my observations.