Zip_ME87

Tar Heels Add Transfer For 2011 Campaign Tar Heels Add Transfer For 2011 Campaign Speas was a member of the 2010 NCAA Champion Akron Zips June 20, 2011 CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Head men's soccer coach Carlos Somoano announced the addition of Akron transfer Ben Speas for the 2011 season. Speas appeared in 50 games as a freshman and sophomore in the midfield for the Zips and will have two years of eligibility. Speas appeared in 25 games, with four starts, a year ago as he helped lead Akron to the 2011 NCAA Championship. The Stow, Ohio, native tallied a pair of goals on the season to go along with three assists. Speas netted the game-winner against Western Michigan Oct. 23. As a freshman during the 2009 season, Speas earned a cap in all 25 games earning College Cup All-Tournament Team honors. He made a pair of starts in the NCAA College Cup, including one against the Tar Heels in the semifinal contest logging 95 minutes in the scoreless draw. Speas earned College Soccer News Freshman Top 100 honors after being named the 11th-ranked prospect by Top Drawer Soccer coming out of high school. He was a two-time NSCAA prep All-America and was a member of the U20, U18 and U17 squads. Carolina opens the 2011 season on August 19 with an exhibition contest at Coastal Carolina before officially opening the season August 27 against in-state foe UNC Wilmington.

What sport does he play? He's listed as a guard haha Also, that says "Freshman", but he has played in college for 3 years?!

!La nacion de Akron esta' en la casa! I'm thinking of bringing that banner to HDC for the CD Chivas USA game on Oct 2. (and @UCSB 10/5) Who's with me? +1

+1 +1

Cool that you were actually at that game, and thanks for that summary. I watched that game on Direct Kick but wasn't rooting for either team...just wanted to see the Akron guys do well. However, I did hate seeing DC give up 4 goals with Korb and Kitchen on the back line. It's great seeing Ampai get all the minutes he's been getting lately. The Earthquakes have become one of my favorite teams to watch. A friend of mine who lives in San Jose tells me they love Ampai out there...San Jose definitely got a steal.

Z not playing and Blair Gavin being subbed for Ben Zemanski...NOT right. Blair & Ben should be on the pitch together; not one subbed out for the other. On a more positive note, Fox Soccer Channel's coverage of the Sounders vs Whitecaps on Saturday night included Steve-o in the booth for a few minutes during which, I believe Steve said, he is up and walking (bones healed). Still a long way to go, but very good progress.

Thanks, Johnny. I'll put that shot of 'Z-tine' next to the one of Blair Gavin -- both beating LandyCakes to the ball. Hey -- Chivas plays @Houston tomorrow. I haven't seen Kofie play yet this season -- and I think he has as much potential, skill-wise and athletically as any of the Class of Twenty-Ten. Chivas plays as well or better on the road than any team in MLS. Kofi's lack of minutes early in the season has been the most surprising to me. But it does look like he's been getting more opportunities lately. I agree 100% regarding his potential. Perhaps he's having a little trouble adjusting to playing a more traditional defender role as opposed to the freelancing he was permitted to do as a Zip (the Zip D was so consistent and solid, Kofi was frequently available to make deep runs without the risk of giving up a counter). On draft day, I remember the analysts saying they didn't understand Houston drafting Kofi because they were already loaded with defenders...which may be the issue.

I think Golic mentioned at the beginning that Keith is the current head coach at the University of Akron, and at the end Golic wished Dambrot [and UA] good luck next season. That was all I heard as far as UA.

Great article. I love watching and reading about our professional Zips. And, of course, I never get tired of reading "the college powerhouse" in reference to our Alma Mater! GO ZIPS!

I didn't realize that Michael had played. Thanks for that information...another team to watch. My DVR is limited to 2 recordings at once. SUCKS! I hadn't heard that, either. Thanks for the great info!

Saturday night saw the return, albeit only for a few minutes, of Blair Gavin to the Home Depot Center pitch in a match vs the Portland Timbers. Recap: Chivas USA vs. Portland Timbers When Blair entered the game (87th minute), he joined former Zips Zarek Valentin and Ben Zemanski also playing for Chivas as well as Darlington Nagbe who was on the pitch for the Portland Timbers. At the end of the game, there was a glimpse on the television of Blair wearing a red undershirt minus his Chivas jersey but holding a Timbers jersey. I couldn't see the number but am guessing that it was #6. At any rate, it was good to see Blair get back into the lineup, and it was great to see all 4 former Zips on the pitch at once. I hope Blair's return isn't premature like last season when he ended up missing the remainder of the season after trying to come back too early.

Pete Milich George Nanchoff Simon Spelling Shaun Docking Steve Zakuani Darlington Nagbe Some of the most talented played only one or two years. J. B. Amogua (sp)? And yes, I think Evan Bush was a better collegiate keeper than David Meves. Meves will need to be stellar this year for Zips to succeed. Thank you, Buflobo! JB Amangoa (sp?) . I was trying to remember that name just last weekend. As I recall he was from Ivory Coast, yes? Fantastic player, first team all-America I believe. Speaking of "played only one year" (for the Zips) ... Perry Kitchen

seriously GP1? someone lost their job today and this is how you're gonna act about it? Yes, he made a mistake, but for the most part he was a stand up individual. Why don't you set your OSU jealousy aside for a little bit and show some class. This is one giant jealousy circus and you sir are the ring leader. This is NOT all a "jealousy circus" as you call it. tOSU is a STATE university, supported by STATE tax dollars. Yet, to justify the Big 10 (11, 12, whatever) Network, they have the arrogance to say that watching tOSU football is not a right. Why not?...My taxes support that program. If they want to go private, fine, do so. I'll gladly let the other state universities split tOSU's portion of Ohio's tax dollars. I hate their SCUMBAG ARROGANCE! I used to respect Jim Tressel, but not now that I see he succumbed to the greater than so many other schools attitude.

It's halftime in the Portland vs DC United match with Portland trailing at home for the first time due to Perry Kitchen's 1st MLS goal at approximately 12:54. Throw in off another DC player (Brettschneider?) to Kitchen point blank (kick) in front of the net. DC United leads 1-0 at half. EDIT: Perry Kitchen opens the scoring

It finally happened 74 minutes into the SJ Earthquakes vs Chicago Fire game Saturday night...Ampai fed a perfect kick from the right side of the pitch to Wondo who headed it in from a few feet directly in front of the goal. Also of note, Ampai entered the game at half time and provided a perfect corner kick (as we've seen numerous times) from the left side of the pitch to get his first assist of the game/season. His second assist came 25 minutes later to Wondolowski. Unfortunately SJ only got 1 point for the eventual 2-2 draw, but Ampai got a lot of deserved love from the announcers. Ampaipitakwong to Wondolowski Corrales score (Ampai corner)

Very nice contingent of Zemanski and Valentin fans sitting one section over from me in Crew Stadium tonight, including the Barsons. Both Zarek and Ben were very gracious signing autographs and talking with their fans following the 3-3 draw. It was well worth the 2-hour drive. I hope they both enjoyed the attention. Sorry to see so many empty seats, though, in Crew Stadium. Even $1 drafts didn't bring a better crowd.

My niece and I will be there as well. Where will you be sitting, Jacob? We will be on the side of the stadium opposite the benches in Row A near the goal opposite the stage...I've forgotten the section number and don't have the tix in front of me. (I think it's Section 109.)

I respectfully disagree. We have no guarantee of winning the MAC even though the Zips have been dominant in the MAC. At UNC, he only affects us directly if we play UNC in the NCAA Tourney. There are many other affects he could have within the ACC (EDIT: detrimental to other teams such as Maryland) that could help us.

Tough call. I'm forever grateful to transfer Humpty for saving our bacon and draining the 3 to beat Toledo in 2009. But he left for a team that wasn't really a competitor to the Zips. If he'd have transferred to another MAC school, he'd have become "Bubba." While UNC isn't a direct competitor, like a MAC program, it is definitely a program we compete against for championships. Speas will be trying to score on Meves at some point, so I hate him. Athletically only, of course. I agree that if the Zips face UNC again, I will be supporting the Zips. But, otherwise, I'm happy that Ben came to Akron and helped the Zips in both 2009 and 2010. I hope he does well and that I see him in a Columbus Crew (or other MLS) uniform someday. Glad he's going to an ACC school and not another MAC school or even a Big 11 school (especially that one in Columbus).

If you wish to hate on a player that left the Zips for a competitor, you have my blessing. Not mine. If not for Ben's goal line header save (similar to Barson's leg save in Santa Barbara), the Zips would have lost to UNC in the 2009 College Cup and not have played in the title game.

Not sure if this was posted somewhere on ZN.o previously since it's 11 days old, but I couldn't find it and thought it worth sharing... Academy product Caldwell trains with Revs “It’s a great feeling,” said Caldwell when asked about his emotions watching his former teammates turn pro. “Knowing that Caleb’s such a great coach, producing such great players – obviously recruiting them and taking their game to the next level – I know it’s a great place to be.” With that said, Caldwell plans to take a different path than many of his former teammates who left school early to pursue professional careers. Caldwell has stated his intention to finish his degree at Akron and play the final two years of his collegiate career.

Interesting. Anything on Navarrete? Seems weird to show up for Spring semester and leave before that's even finished. Is anyone else going crazy with excitement about this upcoming season. I cant wait for it to start. I find this odd, why would you show up for Spring to leave for UAB? UAB - Diego Navarrete It does seem odd, but looking at that roster, there is another player from Santiago, Chile at UAB. Perhaps Diego needed someone else to help with his transition.

Thanks Crew8 for that update. I couldn't make it last night nor did I get to watch online (if that was possible).

Speaking of Steve-o and Teal... BTW, Steve-o made it to the game at Qwest Field last night, They showed him sitting in the stadium in a gray hoodie (incognito, I guess), and I believe it was Teal's sister (Kylie) sitting next to him.

Player contributions aren't always noted, either. Take for example, San Jose's 2-1 victory last night over New England. The article states: In a move to inject a spark in San Jose’s midfield, head coach Frank Yallop inserted Anthony Ampaipitakwong on the right side and McLoughlin on the left. It would be the latter move that paid dividends. In the 71st minute — just four minutes after coming on for Ryan Johnson — McLoughlin appeared unmarked inside the box and met a Chris Wondolowski cross with a diving header that beat Reis inside the far post to give San Jose the lead. I watched that game on MLS Direct Kick. The series that led to that score was Ampai forward pass to Wondo, Wondo pass across the field to McLoughlin, McLoughlin header into the net. Wondo gets the assist, but Ampai gets no credit for being involved, not even by the writer. EDIT: From the San Jose Mercury News The last time McLoughlin scored on a header, he added, was in an under-12 game. McLoughlin represents a younger-looking team that is bringing energy onto the pitch at a time the Quakes needed a kick in the pants. "He and Anthony (Ampaipitakwong) changed the game for us," coach Frank Yallop said of the rookie wings that came on early in the second half. San Jose scored all of its goals after their appearance; for consecutive games the Quakes have unloaded in the second half. They have scored five second-half goals in the past two games after scoring only one second-period goal in the first eight.