Zip_ME87

Agreed @fknbuflobo ... I loved Will Jackson's play at left back. Nate Metsack stepped up at right back. Lots of work to be done but what a team effort.

Colin Biros was instrumental. CK serve led to Carlo Ritaccio Goal 25 yd rocket to score (set up by a fantastic run down the left side by Jason Shokalook) Free kick serve to Shookalook in the penalty area started the sequence that led to the golden goal

Incredible win!!! I'm very proud of this team. Great posts @TennZip. GO ZIPS!!!

Welcome, and as Blue & Gold said, please stick around! 3 of the last 4 games are scheduled on ESPN+. Also, when MLS and USL start playing, you can see some of Zips Men's Soccer's professional alumni. When MLS Direct Kick went away, MLS games moved to ESPN+ which made the ESPN+ subscription so much more worth the money.

Jonathan Lewis started for US U23s today...

Great win on the road yesterday for our Zips. Most impressive given the travel home from NIU, presumably Sunday night, a day at home and then travel to Edwardsville on Tuesday with the match at 1 pm local Wednesday afternoon...iron man soccer. Kudos to the players, coaches, and training staff for that quick turnaround and positive result. Seems like the players took ownership of the previous result, and showed it yesterday. Keep it going Zips!!! 👊

I’m not so sure about that. As I recall, the MAC uses tiebreakers that are not the usual soccer tie breakers.

For the whole team, I hope. The coaches need to figure out the best players for the positions, and the players have to perform during all of their minutes in those positions. I don't think we've seen either, yet. It will help to have Pol Hernandez back.

Yep.

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2020/10/12/general-mac-announces-fall-sports-operational-plan.aspx "Men’s Soccer To compete in 10 conference matches in a double round robin format over a seven-week period between March 7th and April 18th. The regular season champion will receive the Conference automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. Matches will be played on Wednesday/Sunday "

https://www.massivereport.com/2021/3/9/22321915/columbus-crew-announce-staff-additions-for-2021 ...Gavin comes to the Crew from the USL Championship. The Black & Gold’s new video analyst was the assistant coach for Phoenix Rising FC the last three years in USL. He is also a former MLS player from 2010-17 where he made appearances for Chivas USA, the Seattle Sounders and the New England Revolution. Gavin played college soccer for Akron under current Crew head coach Caleb Porter. ...

Another Zips Mens Soccer alum joining the Crew organization...

George Van Horne only knows the Akron way because he has only been an Akron guy. I love his loyalty, but as many have pointed out, the Akron way has most often been the wrong way. I agree with CK...

Sweet first goal ... for the WIN!!!

Absolutely! I would expect that they will be working on this.

I'm really enjoying reading all of your posts. Please keep posting. There have been times in the past when I felt like I was posting too much and monopolizing the soccer forum. I never meant to do that but rather just being a fan (fanatic) about our Zips Men's Soccer team. Recently, I haven't had as much time to post here: I greatly appreciate TennZip posting all of the previews and other information and love reading others' perspectives. Please keep up all of the great discussions without worry about depth of knowledge of strategies, etc. I never played the game and know I don't pick up on many of the nuances of it, but I learn a lot reading all of your perspectives. Please keep sharing. Go Zips!!!

Thanks for all the great information TennZip. Glad to see you're keeping busy in your retirement. 😃

https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/2021/02/19/colin-biros-akron-zips-2021-ncaa-mens-college-soccer-season-mid-american-conference/6759259002/

Thanks slowroll. Agreed on all of your points. Hopefully, we will see the team come together more quickly this season, and hopefully injuries are minimal although the inclement weather will not help. I like the attacking talent on this team as well as the many important players returning. Coaches can only do so much; I'm looking for some leaders to step up on the field and take charge (like Loren Christian Jackson does for Zips Men's Basketball). I met many of the newcomers last Spring before COVID set in, and I know they are quality people just like those returning and those who came before. I challenge them to take ownership and put in the hard work above and beyond that which they believe is already above and beyond. GO ZIPS!!!

Looking ahead on my ESPN app on my Roku, Zips at Pitt comes up on 2/20/2021 at 3 pm...ESPN+ (or /ESPN3), I believe.

I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't concerned. Although the Zips conceded goals in the last minutes often in 2019 leading to the string of losses that started the season, I was more concerned with the midfield maintaining possession and linking up with the forwards as well as the final third attack and inability to score than I was with the play of the backline. In 2019, and the 2018 regular season, our Zips struggled to finish/score, to maintain possession in midfield, and to make good link ups though the midfield to the wingers and forwards. There was also a discernible lack of speed, in my opinion. Having not seen any of these recent matches or practices, I don't have any idea how the Zips look. Hopefully, these 2 preseason losses are mostly due to trying out different players and formations to find the right combinations.