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AKR 1-3 GTU FT A competitive contest with the better side winning. Zips dominated the first minutes of the match before a PK was awarded - after a prolonged VAR. Hoyas converted the PK and took both the lead and control of the game. Minutes later, Zips conceded a cheap goal resulting from slopping possession along the back line. Game was pretty much decided in the first half. Akron rallied in the second frame as Thomas O’Rourke smashed in a lefty to close the gap. But the energy expended was more than the Zips could sustain. Final analysis is that Akron 2026 is very good but they are not quite elite. To contrast, Georgetown is a legitimate contender. Zips need to change some things and/or get lucky to overcome a side like Hoyas. Even so, do not be surprised should these two meet again this year.

In the waning minutes of a game, just in time to concede a goal? You are technically correct.

Yeah. Maybe. But Akron will always play with a back 4. I am not necessarily disagreeing with you.

Our base formation is 4-2-3-1. We will always play 4 in the back no matter what else changes. A back 4 is fundamental to Embick’s ideals.

Perhaps Zips should try a 4-4-2 for the first half hour.

That Zips' performance was simply NOT good enough. Hoyas are licking their chops.

SLU 1-2 AKR FT For the third consecutive match (not counting the WVU no-contest), Zips come from behind to equalize and then go on to score the winner in the waning minutes of the match. GK Brett Kaminski heroically saved an on-target PK with 0:40 remaining. Zips display great resiliency, but surely there is no long future to this pattern. Much better to score first in a sport where scoring is so rare. On the other hand, Akron are not flustered by being down a goal. Coach Embick and Co. should be applauded for utilizing Zips' deep bench over these previous three matches. Over Embick's now long tenure, Akron have averaged about 14 players per match. Without mining the actual data, my guess is around 16 or 17 per match this season. Last night in Saint Louis, Zips employed 19. This is a welcome change, if not one late in coming.

Yes.

Those are the remarks of an exemplary head coach and leader. Factual. Accountable. Supportive. Forward thinking.

AKR 1-0 WF FT Very evenly matched contest, though Zips had more of the ball. WF GK, who played a stellar match up to that point, got caught going for a ball outside his own box. Zips' Noa Testa, who had just entered the match for the first time, punished the GK for that one mistake. Superb cross field diagonal pass by Matt Paiva to assist Testa's goal.

Sadly, seats bought today are just as likely to be WF fans. They travel well.

😐Meh

AKR 0-0 Army FT Army are fit and physical, not to mention large. They are disciplined and organized, as one might suspect. Zips could not unlock such a committed defense. The last pass, and the finishing, went begging. That is all. There is no reason for grave alarm right now. I do think Embick needs to get more players into his rotation, but that is a minor point. This was a hard-fought contest where none had the quality necessary to score. It was entertaining, nonetheless. But I am a football junkie, so... We will know more about this team come Friday.

Zips surprisingly carved up Flyers midfield with only a little trouble. There were several 10-minute stretches of the match where we had our way with the ball and they could not touch us. Are we actually that good? it seems we have adopted a new base formation of a symmetrical 4-1-4-1. This formation was tried in Spring and preseason, along with lots of other things. Now it is here. This formation has recently become very popular globally. At least Embick & Co. are paying attention to the World game. Anybody else seeing this? Matthew Paiva’s sliding tackle in the 2nd half yanked to my feet. It happened directly in front of my seat. Shades of Simon Spelling! (In 1982, not now.) I do not think it was a foul, let alone a yellow card. And it went to VAR for possible red card. Go figure. Keep up the strong work, Matt! That was beautiful!!

Moreover, #12 feels about right.

Freshman Austin Thum may well be a beast in the middle.

FE/CC is among the best playing surfaces in the NCAA. It is also the envy of many MLS franshises. Infocision may be good enough for lower tiered minor league. But not good enough for Zips. Only First Energy stadium/Cub Cadet field is home.

Trapp knew where his pass was going before the ball was even played to him.

Wow. I would be happy if Zips manage a winning record against this home slate. Surely, this will be among the toughest schedules in 2026 NCAA MSOC.

The officiating was deplorably inconsistent. Just awful. By any standard anywhere. There was something about the artificial turf on the training fields adjacent to Historic Crew Stadium. Although the weather was dry and sunny, players from both teams kept slipping and sliding to ground. This persisted the entire match. The turf itself was dry to the touch. Was everyone wearing the wrong cleats? And no one adjusted? These conditions exacerbated the already overly physical play and reluctant refereeing. Terrible! Hopefully, no lasting injuries were sustained. This competition finale had been hosted in the actual Historic Crew Stadium some five (or more) years running. Rumor is that the new UFL franchise renting the stadium as home did not want the soccer field lines showing concurrently with the football field lines. Imagine that. Never mind that Historic Crew Stadium was the first soccer specific stadium built in the USA. Irony abounds! Consequently, the collegiate Spring League (or whatever) was bumped to the training facility. Restrooms were literally one half mile from the meager seating. It is doubtful any of the schools involved will want anything about this scenario repeated, so the Spring League has likely come to an end. It was fun while it lasted. Standouts for Zips were (unsurprisingly) Matt Dreas, Matthew Paiva and Farrel Ngongang.

I believe so.

Ignacio Alem distinguished himself on the left wing. He was consistently dangerous on the dribble. Freshman Leo Morana also impressed with some incisive passing through the midfield. I believe he had at least one assist, depending on how you score it. But the frosh I really have my eye on is Londen Sears. Here is a mountain of raw talent! Fairly good with his right, superb with his left. He played all four years of high school, the old-fashioned way. "... a two-time All-America honoree, he was named as the Ohio Player of the Year in each of his final two campaigns...led his squad to a state title as a senior after advancing to the title game as a sophomore." If Sears plays all four years of eligibility, he will very likely have an MLS career. I will lay that bet right now! His size/speed ratio is fantastic. He is quite rough around the edges and really needs some intensive and focused development. Akron is a great place to receive that sort of attention, the program that turns red chips into blues every damn year. But what is his position? Not sure at this point.

This was a thorough thrashing and mostly one-sided affair.

I find it hard to believe that Michigan does not have (let's say) 15 players available to compete. Or perhaps their recently built field is unplayable due to weather. And I too wonder how this affects the Spring "league". My guess is that Michigan forfeits the match.

Remi Agunbiade looks like he leveled up since last we saw him. More composure on the ball. He was a handful for the Vikings every time he touched it.