soccerbirdie16

Really Zips Nation????I thought we were better than the statements posted above.......How about:What do you feel has changed over the last 3 seasons?What do you feel are your teams biggest strengths? Weaknesses?What are your thoughts on the upcoming season? What are your favorite memories with the AK rowdies?

There has never been a Medina player talked about on the Zips recruiting databases as far as I am aware of.

Just for you Z.I.P. - ask and you shall receive. Lexa Green info just posted......

While you wait for the Men's soccer team, the women's team is posting their signings today......

I think that may be incorrect of Top drawer. Her player profile through CUP and another database shows her committed to University of Cincinnati. http://ssl.hammersoccer.com/TeamSystem/Pla...mp;SystemID=CUP https://sites.google.com/site/soccerrecruits/ Although, I agree about the recruits for 2011. Three of the recruits are on the Top Drawer regional top 20 teams. Lexa Green was at interregional camp to be looked at by the national team.

Here is a better database for the recruits: (Search by college at bottom of page) https://sites.google.com/site/soccerrecruits/ Not a bad list - many ranked on top drawer and 4 that have been to inter-regional camp over the last 2 years! That is some good recruiting for a team that has no history!!! Also, sending out a congrats to Ashley Hughes - a current sophmore on the Lady Zips team - she has been called into ID camp!!

A couple of things I want to add that I think a lot of people are forgetting.......History of the program!! The men's team took 40 plus years or so to win a national title. The last 30 years they have been in the top 10 and Coach Porter took over a program that was number 1 in the country. It is great what he has done but there are a lot of past head coaches that put them on the map and got them to this position. Over the years, recruiting classes got better and better to allow him to get a player like Ampai. History and reputation of the program continue to draw in the top recruits on the men's side. The women's program is going to need time to develop just as the men's did. The women's team just finished up their 10th season and for 7 of those years they were not even competitive. They are also competing against twice as many schools than the men's side. The men win a National Title and now everyone thinks the women's should benefit from this? Agreed - people have now at least heard of Akron in regards to soccer. Yes, they got a new stadium and new locker room. But to gain perspective: have you seen Tennesse's stadium and locker room? Their media room for women's soccer is better than most MAC Football teams. The Big XXII has women's soccer only, which means all of title IX money increases their budget tremendously. Their faciltities are so much better than what Akron has - not intended to sound ungrateful - just a comparison. The women don't even have chairs for the desks, pictures, etc. in their locker room because they don't have the budget for it. The other schools use private jets at times, they have unlimited budgets that allow them to travel and recruit all over the country. Yes, Akron's new stadium is very nice and a great step forward. And maybe up there with any men's program but not compared to any BCS women's soccer programs. So when women's soccer is looking at a top player and they are looking at a Michigan or a Missouri there is no comparison. Players at the National level do not want to compete in the MAC where 11 of their 18 games will be played. The men, as bad as their conference is, only plays 6, giving them better opportunities to strengthen their schedule and attract that National player out of conference. I am a huge soccer supporter on both the men's and women's side. I just don't think that we can make such easy comparisons. I think what the Men have done is incredible. They deserve every accolade and I wish them nothing but the best! Why it is great that we all want the women's team to be successful and win now, look back 3 years ago and see where they were and how they played. There is a saying: how you want to play and how you can play are 2 different things. This 2010 class is really Coach Pfau's first recruiting class. Give him time and see what he can do. In that time - I would guess you will see their style of play evolve, it has in 3 years alone. Look at Memphis and Central Florida, 2 mid majors where both the women's soccer porgam are in the top 30. It took their coaches 7- 10 years to get where they are. Again, not complaining.......just showing different perspectives to the topic.

I agree with you in the fact that I believe the Women's program will benefit from the success of the men. Hower, I respectfully disagree with you about the current state of the women's program. The team has grown leaps and bounds over the last few years. The program started in 2000 and had never qualified for the MAC tournament before last year. They had been playing weak, non-conference opponents and didn't fare well within the MAC during this time - for the most part. They are now playing solid out-of-conference teams and that in turn, will make them better. The team started off with mostly local (OH, PA) mid-level club players - which is expected as you start a program. Then you build on what you have. The talent is getting better and if you have watched them over the last few years you can see that they are building a more possesion oriented focus. However, until you can recruit the top tier players, which this program is now starting to do - you have to play within the scope/skill/mentality of the players that you do have. It looks as if the next few classes of players come from top clubs, ODP, ECNL, etc. where they are used to playing high quality soccer and competing against other athletes. I look forward to seeing these types of players phase in over the next few years. I am pleased with how this team has grown and am excited for the future! I can't really speak to the point of the team questioning the philosophy - but, it seems to me, this "philosophy" has been working well for them up until this point. They have been more successful than ever. I didn't see any questioning looks on their faces when they won the MAC east or were playing in the conference tournament. I would hope that the team could focus on their accomplishments and continue to want more - they will get there - I don't doubt that!!

Internet Stream: http://www.gozips.com/liveEvents/liveEvent...=10800&KEY= Live Stats: http://www.gozips.com/liveStats/liveStats....DB_OEM_ID=10800

First Off - Congratulations to the Women's soccer team for cliching a playoff berth for the second straight year!! Was checking out Top Drawer soccer and the recruitung database...here's a summary: AKRON 2011 Brascia, Meghan - D - Las Vegas, NV - Neusport: 2008 Region IV ODP, Ranked #9 in Rocky Mtn. Region by Top Drawer Soccer Frawley, Alexandra - D - Wheeling, WV - Beadling: Ranked #10 in Pennsylvania by Top Drawer Soccer Green, Lexa - D - Las Vegas, NV - Neusport: 2009 Region IV ODP, 2010 Region IV ODP, Ranked #8 in Rocky Mtn. Region by Top Drawer Soccer Kirkwood, Hailey - D - Las Vegas, NV - Neusport Pimm, Carli - F - Plain City, OH - Ohio Premier Eagles Reymann, Danielle - D - Columbus, OH - Ohio Premier Eagles 2012 George, Katie - D - OH Cleveland Internationals Waskowski, Megan - F - Strongsville, OH - Cleveland Internationals Werth, Hannah - M - Bloomington, MN - Minnesota Thunder Academy: 2008 Region II ODP, Ranked #14 in Midwest Region by Top Drawer Soccer It's nice to see that some of the top local talent has committed to Akron!!

The playing area at the Info is too narrow from what I understand.

I think 8 days between games didn't help matters at all. I agree, top 25 is likely a few seasons away. Not to take away from the program - because they are truly building a good core of players. What they have done over the last few seasons speaks volumes. I look for them to be contenders for the MAC title this year!! P.S. Thanks for the updates yesterday MDZip!!

Surely, they will at least be on Gametracker.......right?!?!

Thanks for the update. Hopefully, the next update will be better news!!

We can't get to the game and live stats don't show on my phone!! Any updates are appreciated!!

Are you sure? USF seems to be playing the Akron Spartans, according to their announcer. I thought I was hearing things....Spartans, really?

I uploaded a pic of the press box into the gallery but don't know how to show it here... Maybe this link?? http://zipsnation.org/forums/uploads/12617...51_39_19370.jpg

We sat in the seats for the home opener last Friday. It was so nice to actually have a back on the seats but they are somewhat stiff. Maybe just because they are new. We sat in the front row and there are raised portions of the retaining bars - which tend to block your view somewhat. I am by no means complaining as it is so much better than the old bleachers and light posts that blocked the view!! When all is completed - it should be fantastic!! The atmosphere was amazing - can only imagine what it will be like during the tournament run!!

Here's the recruiting database for women's soccer: https://sites.google.com/site/soccerrecruits/ Alex Frawley is a defender from PA but goes to school in WV.

Thanks for the pics!!

No problem! Looked like the scoreboard will be behind west goal/end line (nearest shrank) with maybe another paved area for bleachers.... The team benches are on the opposite side of the field than what the plans show - there must be a newer/different set of plans???

ZN won't allow to to post any more...I've used up all my space. Sorry!!

Hi Zips soccer fans, I was on campus today and have a few pics to share. I had to shrink them to get them to fit on ZN - hope they turn out: Graded area behind east goal, concrete slab for bleachers (?) Graded area up to team benches Team Benches Raised Pitch More to follow.....