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That is a look toward the future, beyond 2022. Of Henry and Stephens, which one has the more reliable left-footed cross? Stephens will see playing time in the Fall, but probably not as a starter.

https://www.buildlineup.com/shared/6258069a2be93026176936c5 Here is how Zips should deploy vs. Dayton:

AKR 0-1 BGSU FT Zips players, coaches, managers, trainers and administrators, friends of program, etc. LISTEN UP! (Is this thing on?) Bowling Green is our chief adversary. No bout adout it!!! Falcons have beaten Zips in every match that has mattered for several outings, over multiple years. Where is that vomit emoji? They! Own! Us! Do not train your sights on any other foe until we dispatch Bowling Green. I do not want to hear any more rhetoric about national championships, blah, blah, blah. F***ing beat Bowling Green in Akron; then maybe we can talk about larger aspirations. Is this message overly nuanced or too subtle? Good! It is high time the people listed above start taking their work more personally. In yesterday's match, many Zips showed moments of brilliance, only to negate the positives with boneheaded plays or squandered opportunities. A silly foul here, a bad touch there. The little things accumulate. The one player I will salute is Ryan Kingsford, probably our best player. He continues to show grit and savvy, and a very strong work ethic. Playing in the hole is evidently Ryan's best position, so he should remain there. Kingsford's production is top drawer and consistent. Real quality. Too bad we do not have a few of him. And I am going to call out a good player that is underachieving. Because he deserves it. And also because he can take the criticism. Jason Shokalook can and must do better finishing in front of the goal. He is our best option up top. I have watched this guy score dozens of goals in his young career. But right now the goal seems like the eye of a needle to him. Do we still have a Sports Psychologist on the payroll? Relax, Jason. Do not hurry. Make solid contact. Pass the ball into the net. See you all in Columbus come Saturday!

We did not play consistently bad.

Rubbish!

Play FIFA rules/format. Period.

RMU 2-3 AKR FT Presumably due to sloppy conditions, match moved to Joe Walton Field where Robert Morris plays FB, LAX, FH, but not Soccer. There are lines all over the place, none applicable to soccer. And the width is less than 60 yards. It was weird playing with what I think is a LAX Penalty Area. Is the GK out? Who knows!? Like everything else in Pittsburgh, the field is built into the side of a mountain. Easily a dozen balls were sent over the fence during play, possibly gone forever. Malik Henry continues to shine along the right flank with speedy overlapping runs out of defense. What is improving rapidly is his service into the box. The first score of the match was just such a run capped by a (no exaggeration) world class cross onto the head of Jason Shokalook for the score. Sublime! Ryan Kingsford is the Zips' best option at several positions, but his most natural place is in the middle of the 3 in a 4-2-3-1, or in "the hole" as some say. His work rate is off the charts and he sprays the ball all over the pitch with a variety of passing techniques. Kingsford probably passed the ball to every single Zip who saw time. Freshman Stefan Dobrijevic again impressed off the bench, slotting in the winning goal with a right footer to the far post from the left side of goal. Extra drama mid way through the second half when Head Coach Jared Embick was tossed from the match for (justifiably) berating the near side linesman. Not sure, but I think Will Jackson may have been tossed as well. At any rate, WilJax did not return after exiting. It was fairly intense for spring soccer.

Excellent! Have not heard about Shultz in a while.

This is so subversive. I love it! College Soccer is acting in its own best interests, outside the auspices of NCAA. About F’ing time, I say! Times are a changin’! With or without the NCAA. Preferably with. This vote is big.

A very good team victory, in which everyone who played contributed. Jonas Buechte was again outstanding, this time from Center Back position. He organized the Defense, intercepted passes, and made several key tackles that halted counter attacks. He even scored off a restart. Malik Henry was a monster up and down the right flank. His defending was uncharacteristically solid, breaking up opposing offence down the Zips' right. But his half dozen over-lapping runs into the final third were lethal. And unlike last week, his crossing was money. Ryan Kingsford's score was a direct result of Henry's excellent cross. Dyson Clapier again terrorized the opposition defense with well-timed runs and scoring attempts down the left. He was a bit unlucky to have not scored a few times, having beaten his man to goal. He should have finished on at least one of those. Better shooting from Clapier would have ended the match as a contest in the first half.

AKR 3-1 MICH FT

Carlo Ritaccio! Well done!

Anyone have news on Jak Higginbotham?

Yeah. What is up with bringing 1 GK to a double-header? There is a story behind that, to be sure.

CSU 2-4 AKR FT Some regulars disappointed, but I choose to focus on the players who excelled. Jonas Buechte continues where he left off at Holding MF. He is quietly among the best players on the team, winning balls, cutting out passes, disrupting opposition offence, starting Zips offence. CB is probably his best position, but he is our best option at HMF. Those who do not recognize his contribution are not paying attention. Newcomer Joel Sangwa is the real deal at Centre Back. He organizes the Defense well. He anticipates the attack well. He is a judicious and effective tackler. Good speed. Good in the air. Good size. His passing could improve. Dyson Clapier continues to improve right before our eyes. Though not yet our best player, he is arguably the most talented. In this victory he took another developmental step toward becoming a dominant offensive force. Dice just does things most players cannot do, things most do not even try. Consistency throughout the match is his struggle. Oh yeah, he scored 3 goals. ACFC 0-7 AKR FT Full disclosure: I left midway through 2nd half. Props to Akron City for providing cannon fodder for Zips' bench - after existing for 2 whole weeks. Levi Stephens is speedy, light on his feet and decisive. He has been coached very well. His passing shows real purpose and precision. Levi scored on a corner kick header and nearly scored on another just like it. But his well-timed overlapping runs and accurate crosses are what impressed most. I am not sure who will lose playing time, but Levi will see significant first team PT soon. Stefan Dobrijevic is a definite Forward through and through. He plays well with back to the goal, receiving all manner of balls efficiently. He also displayed a variety of shooting skills. Not at all afraid to shoot. Oh yeah, I understand that he scored 3 goals, though I did not see them all. Stefan will also get minutes with first team very soon. I would be remiss in not mentioning Josh Hallenberger. He showed flashes of brilliance in both matches. I need to see more of him.

No. But I sure am curious.

Not at all the case. Match was very competitive, often contentious, throughout. There was even a bench-clearing shoving fiesta at the end. This victory matters in the seeding of this tournament in April. There are stakes. The lack of SID coverage is THEIR fault, not the team’s, not the fans’. You would have been correct in any previous season, but not now. College Soccer is evolving, with or without the NCAA. Too bad our SID is not clued in.

Yedlinny now working for Beckham? A match made in heaven.

I think this is more of the latter. And it is not the only one of its kind. https://umterps.com/news/2022/1/17/mens-soccer-announces-2022-spring-schedule.aspx

Welcome Levi Stephens! How old were you when you attended first Zips ID Camp? ZipsNation already loves Levi!

Look forward to some great things!

Bravo Richmond Laryea!

Four 2021 recruits are highly regarded by TDS. (gozips.com)https://gozips.com/news/2021/12/27/mens-soccer-akron-quartet-earns-tds-freshmen-top-100-postseason-honors.aspx

Welcome Stefan!!

I do not yet know Ashton Kamdem, but I have watched Levi Stephens play many times. Hard for me to believe that there are 80 ~18-year old players better than Stephens. ZipsNation welcomes Ashton and Levi!